Forest Green boss David Horseman praised his side’s fast start as they avoided an FA Cup embarrassment by beating Scarborough 5-2 in their first round replay.
League Two strugglers Rovers took an emphatic 4-0 lead after 35 minutes thanks to goals from Teddy Jenks, Kyle McAllister, Jamie Robson and Harvey Bunker.
Alex Wiles pulled one back for the National League North visitors but Tyrese Omotoye added a fifth before a late consolation from Michael Coulson as the hosts set up a second-round trip to Blackpool.
Horseman said: “It is important that we started well.
“In these cup ties you have to try and impose yourself on it, especially as a higher-league team against a lower-league team.
“And the boys, like I said, they were up for it.”
Horseman was impressed by the visitors, who had been minutes away from winning the tie in the first meeting.
“I thought Scarborough were absolutely excellent and ran us all the way and kept pushing,” the Rovers boss added.
“I thought the players had to show a really professional attitude to get it done and some moments of real Football League quality.
“It is a shame that it was not (more goals), if I am being really honest. Luckily enough we got through at the moment as far as we know with no more injuries.”
Scarborough boss Jonathan Greening, the former Manchester United and West Brom midfielder, was disappointed his side’s slow start ended their cup hopes.
“I am disappointed we have not gone through, but also very proud of the players,” he said.
“We gave them a good game over the two ties.
“What killed us tonight was we did not start the game very well for 20 to 30 minutes.
“We knew it was going to be difficult, but we are all disappointed with the first 20 to 30 minutes.”
Fonseca urges focus as Milan face bottom-placed Bratislava
Milan head coach Paulo Fonseca has urged his players not to underestimate the challenge posed by Slovan Bratislava in Tuesday's Champions League match, even though the Slovakian side are bottom of the standings after losing four straight games.
Slovan Bratislava have yet to earn a point and have a minus-13 goal difference, while Milan are 20th with six points and within the play-off section.
"Am I at risk of underestimating tomorrow’s match? I expect that won’t happen. Today we talked about the importance of winning tomorrow. We mustn’t look at their history," Fonseca told a press conference on Monday.
"We must think that tomorrow we are playing at their home. It will be important to have the right attitude."
Fonseca added that his side often perform better against teams that on paper appear stronger than them, such as their 3-1 win against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu in the previous Champions League matchweek.
"What I know is that against the big teams we have done well and that [we have] done less well against the small teams," Fonseca said.
"We work to be a team with the attitude and ambitions shown against the big teams. We work to always be the same team.
"The Champions League is the Champions League. Everyone likes to be in these games, the motivation is greater. I expect them to be able to play the Champions League tomorrow with this motivation."
Milan faced criticism following their dull 0-0 draw with Juventus at the weekend, with Fonseca admitting his side fell short of their best.
"We are aware of what we did well and what we did less well. We did several things less well," Fonseca said.
"The problem is that the dimension of things in Milan seems different to me: a draw with Juve for us is a defeat, for others a victory."
Simeone: New Champions League format more difficult
The Champions League's new format is more difficult than its predecessor was, Diego Simeone said ahead of Atletico Madrid's trip to Sparta Prague.
Each of the 36 teams in Europe's premier club competition must play eight group-phase games, with the top eight sides qualifying for the last 16 and the next 16 in the standings taking part in playoffs to decide who joins them.
At the halfway point in the first phase, Atleti are a lowly 23rd with six points, two points and three places above Tuesday's opponents.
The likes of Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain also find themselves 17th or lower, while surprise packages Sporting CP, Monaco, Brest and Aston Villa are flying high in the top eight.
Simeone believes the change in format has had a major effect this season, with the Opta supercomputer now giving his team a 55% chance of reaching the last 16 and just a 1% probability of lifting the trophy.
"From what the results are showing us, and what happens in the games, I understand that this format invites everyone to pay even more attention," Simeone said on Monday.
"Once we move forward and this first experience is over, we will have a clearer idea of what we really think.
"They always put pressure on you to win. That happened before too, but now it is a league where everyone plays against everyone, and it is not easy for anyone."
Atletico boosted their hopes of avoiding elimination as they came from behind to win 2-1 at Paris Saint-Germain on matchday four, courtesy of a last-gasp goal from Angel Correa.
"The Champions League demands the most from you. It forces you to win," said Simeone, who celebrated his 700th game as Atletico head coach last weekend.
Sparta, currently fourth in the Czech First League, have failed to win in six of their last seven matches in all competitions, but Simeone does not expect a routine outing.
"They're tough opponents. At home they have a fast pace," Simeone added. "I can't imagine any other situation than taking this game to where we think we can do some damage.
"It often happens that all teams, at home and at the start of games, show intensity and strength.
"It's logical as they are with their fans. You have to adapt to the pace of that start. We're away from home and the opponent will push very hard."
Luis Enrique calls for PSG to show resolve in Bayern clash
Paris Saint-Germain head coach Luis Enrique has urged his side to be brave in Tuesday's Champions League clash at Bayern Munich, admitting their stuttering start leaves no room for error.
PSG are languishing just under the play-off section of the Champions League standings in 25th, having won one, drawn one and lost two of their four matches to date. Bayern are 17th with two wins and two losses.
The difficult start to the campaign has made things more challenging for the Ligue 1 leaders, Luis Enrique said at his pre-match press conference on Monday.
"It's obvious that after four matches, including three at the Parc des Princes, with fair or unfair results, unfair for me, we have to have good results to qualify," he said.
"We made things difficult for ourselves. Football is what it is. You have to score.
"We will give it our all, we will be brave, we will take risks, as we usually do."
Bayern have won their last three games against PSG in the Champions League, with the French side failing to score in each of those matches.
Luis Enrique accepts it will be a tough match and that his side need to perform above and beyond.
"It is very clear that we are two teams that are similar. We want to have the ball, we press very high... we have similar statistics," he said.
"We are among the best teams with goal chances, but there will only be one ball. And so one team will have to suffer. Them, or us.
"We'll probably have to go further against Bayern. Run more, raise the level, especially against Bayern at home."
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