Last Saturday's home defeat to Rushden and Diamonds was a massive disappointment as we lost our unbeaten run following a poor second half display.

For me personally it was hard to take after my slip on the half-way line led to the goal that put them in front but these things happen in football.

I obviously felt like I had let the team down. It was a tough, bitter pill to swallow but life goes on.

We were all hugely frustrated with our second half performance last week because in the first 45 minutes it looked like there was only going to be one winner and I thought we were unlucky not to be in front come the interval.

We've hit the post, created plenty of chances and had two goals disallowed for offside. We have since found out that the second goal that was disallowed should have stood but we can't use that as an excuse.

Our second half display was not good enough. It was miles away from our first half performance and a complete opposite and we are struggling to put our fingers on why it was so different.

Perhaps you have to give credit to the opposition. They may have tinkered the way in which they played but overall to say it was a game of two halves is an understatement.

Today, however, gives us a break from league action and gives us the opportunity to bounce back and go on another unbeaten run.

Rochdale are in fine form and come to Kenilworth Road this afternoon lying in second place in League 2.

That's a place where we certainly want to be and believe me we face a big challenge this afternoon if we are to progress into the next round of the FA Cup.

Keith Hill's side won 4-0 away to League 2 leaders Bournemouth last Saturday so any supporter expecting us to ease into the next round of the competition should think again.

Many people will see us as underdogs today which is strange given our history in the competition but reputations count for nothing in this game and Rochdale are in top form at the minute.

We will respect them like we do when facing any team but we are well aware that failure to do will more than likely result in us exiting the competition.

That said, however, we have a lot of confidence in our own ability as we have shown plenty of times already this season, including in the first half last Saturday.

You can add to that coming to Kenilworth Road is never easy for any team no matter how big and as a group of players we are hopeful of getting a positive result that will see us in the hat for round two tomorrow.

It will also be Richard Money's first game in charge after he watched the Rushden game from the stands with chief scout Gary Brabin.

The manager will bring his own ideas and no doubt a different way of playing and doing things so today promises to be the start of an interesting period for the club.

Enjoy the game.

Nico.