DANNY Scopes believes there are similarities between his Concord Rangers side and Hampton & Richmond Borough.

The two sides will go head-to-head in a National League South contest at the Jezzards Beveree Stadium tomorrow.

And Scopes is expecting a tough clash against the 21st-placed hosts.

The Concord boss said: “It is always difficult at Hampton and I’m expecting it to be no different this time around.

“They haven’t enjoyed the greatest of starts to the season and they had a big turnaround in the summer.

“But they have some experienced players and exciting youthful players who have come up through the levels, similar to us.

“It’s going to be difficult but that’s how it is when you’re going into every game in this league.

“I think it’s all about fine margins, so we have to turn up and play to the best of our ability if we want to come away with a positive result.”

The Beach Boys make the trip to Hampton having recorded a 2-2 draw against Essex rivals Braintree Town in midweek.

Although Concord played more than half of the encounter with 10 men after Jack Cawley’s dismissal, goals from Decarrey Sheriff and Aron Pollock ensured a share of the spoils.

But Scopes admits he felt the Beach Boys deserved to emerge triumphant.

“It was an eventful game, like all Essex derbies are,” added Scopes.

“We started the game pretty well and if we had done the business in the final third then we would have gone ahead.

“But then we allowed them into the game and they opened us up, which led to them scoring.

“Soon after that, we had a man sent off and that didn’t help.

“We got in at half-time and reorganised, which paid off because we were the better side in the second half.

“I thought we created the better chances so it was disappointing to concede a sloppy goal and then Aron Pollock’s goal was only an equaliser than a winner.

“But we have to respect the point after going down to 10 men with more than half of the match to go.

“It was the first time this season where we had someone sent off and I was pleased with how my players reacted to it.

“The boys stuck to the gameplan and did really well because they could have capitulated.”

Cawley is available for tomorrow’s clash despite his midweek red card.

However, Joe Gardner has left the club in search of game-time.