THE PREVIEW: Billericay are looking for a response against newly-promoted Merstham tonight following the disappointment of Saturday.

Blues lost 2-0 against Grays Athletic in difficult conditions, and they will be hoping for a return to form after their impressive 3-0 win in their last home encounter.

Merstham have struggled since their promotion last season, but took their first points of term with a 3-2 win over Met Police at the weekend, and will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of Needham Market, a fellow promoted side who have already taken a point at New Lodge this season.

And Billericay will be expected to win the match tonight on a much slicker surface than they endured on Saturday.

WHAT HE SAID: Billericay boss Craig Edwards, said: “It will be good to get back on the pitch after Saturday, and a much softer pitch at that. It was as hard as granite at Grays, even the Aveley secretary Craig Johnson (Grays are tenants at Aveley’s home ground) said so.

“But the rain will have made the pitches much more playable and I expect a better showing against Merstham. I don’t know much about them but we will have reports on them and they got a great result at the weekend.

“I don’t want to overload the boys with information as there is very little time to take it in and will inhibit them if anything.

“I expect to beat Merstham, just as I would be hopeful of beating any team in the division at home.

“But we have a fresh squad and we will be ready.”

FORM GUIDE: LLWDD

TEAM NEWS: Billericay have an unchanged squad from Saturday.