After cup exploits, it's back to reality; BLUE SQUARE PREMIER.

FORGET the FA Cup, Ian Bogie has told his Gateshead side, insisting the club has bigger fish to fry now.

Relatively speaking, writes STEVE BROWN. The Tynesiders gave a good account of themselves in the knockout competition, holding League One Brentford to a draw at the International Stadium before losing at Griffin Park on Tuesday night, when they were outgunned but far from outclassed.

Now though, attention returns to league matters with the visit of Julian Dicks' Grays Athletic, and Gateshead's priority of retaining Blue Square Premier status.

"The FA Cup is very important, it's about prestige and it can be good financially for a club like Gateshead," said Bogie.

"But I've said before 'Let's be honest, we're never going to win it', so let's forget about it now it's gone, and re-focus our efforts in the league.

"Our main aim this season was always to stay in Blue Square Premier, and that's what we'll concentrate on now.

"We're not just here to make up the numbers but it's a very tough league, we're fifth bottom and there's probably eight or nine clubs down there in the mix. We have to try and put a run together and pull ourselves away from the teams below us and that starts with Grays.

"They're a couple of points below us, so this is a six-pointer for both teams and if we can win it we'll open up a little bit of a gap.

"With Julian Dicks as manager we know they'll be tough and competitive, and he'll be telling them exactly what we're saying to our lads, that a win is vital.

"If you can win against the teams around you, especially when you're at home, then pick up the odd bonus at places like Oxford United and Stevenage Borough, then you should be all right.

"We took a point off Grays down there so to back that up with a win at ours would be ideal.

"We were disappointed to concede 10 goals across our last two games but you have to look at the opposition first, then consider that we actually performed very well.

"We scored three goals at Stevenage, which very few teams will manage to do. Then we've held a Football League side in Brentford and taken them to 7-4 on aggregate.

"We're not going to be playing the likes of Brentford and Stevenage every week, so it's back to reality for us now and if we work hard and put in the right performance we'll get the right result."

CAPTION(S):

FOCUS Ian Bogie.