FOREST GREEN FA Cup hero Conal Platt insists the tag of favourites in this Saturday’s mouth watering FA Cup second round West Country derby at Bath City (3pm) will count for nothing.

Platt booked his side’s place in the FA Cup second round with a 91st minute winner at Mansfield in the first round replay, but the former Liverpool winger will afford the Blue Square South side the utmost respect.

Platt, 23, said: “People expected Mansfield to beat us, but to be honest we should have beaten them in the first game.

“Scoring two goals in the FA Cup was an awesome buzz and we are the favourites to beat Bath but that doesn’t count in the FA Cup, - but we don’t mind the pressure one bit.”

City pulled off the shock of round one to upset League Two outfits Grimsby Town 2-0 at Blundell Park.

Platt is acutely aware that a partisan home crowd will certainly make Twerton Park an intimidating place to play.

“We played at Twerton in the FA Cup last season against Team Bath and it is a tough place to play and the crowd get on to you, but we should take a large following with the tie only 25 miles away,” said Platt.

No fewer than six former Forest Green players in Ryan Robinson, Kaid Mohamed, Sekani Simpson, Steve Perrin, Jim Rollo, Mark Badman will be trying to get one over on their former club.

Matt Coupe would have made it seven, but the former Lawn favourite will be serving a suspension.

Platt is looking forward to renewing old rivalries.

He said: “It will be good to see Kaid (Mohamed) and Robbo (Ryan Robinson) again. I have been told a number of their team used to play for Forest Green, so that will add to the day.”

The Preston-based winger is certainly in the form of his life and attributes his marked improvement in form to new boss Dave Hockaday.

Platt said: “ I was in and out last season and struggled at the start of this season, but the new gaffer (Dave Hockaday) has been really good to me and I am feeling really confident.

“He wants to work with me and is certainly bringing the best out of me.”

Platt is trying not to look beyond the second round, but is dreaming of a plum third round draw.

He said: “Any of the big four would be brilliant, but it would be nice to play my home town team Preston.”

Boss Hockaday is hoping Forest Green will continue their love affair with the FA Cup.

Rovers reached the third round of the competition for the first time in their 119-year history last season, eventually bowing out to Derby County in a 4-3 thriller at the New Lawn.

“This club has a great FA Cup tradition and I’m really pleased that this team has another chance to write another chapter,” said Hockaday.

Bath are currently 12th in the Blue Square South and Hockaday is under no illusions about the size of the task his side face.

“Bath away will be a really tough game, but it’s one to relish when it comes around.”

Bath City boss Adie Britton said: “It is a game to show who is the best non-league side in the West Country."