Victorious Fleetwood manager Lee Johnson challenged his players to use their FA Cup exploits as a springboard after beating Kidderminster 2-1 at Aggborough.
Headers from Josh Earl and Shaun Rooney either side of the break were enough for the Cod Army to dump the National League strugglers out of the competition, cancelling out Bailey Hobson’s side-footed opener.
Overcoming adversity in front of a vocal home crowd, Johnson admired the courage of his players at the final whistle.
“We had four golden chances and my criticism is not punishing them and putting the sword through,” he said.
“I was very pleased with the players, particularly after they scored because giving up a goal against a side like this where it’s really important for them to do well in the cup, it gives them something to get hold of.
“We weren’t scoring a lot, now we look like we’re doing that but we’ve got to be ruthless and be killers in front of goal.
“It’s a competition that I really want to do well in and to achieve success, because I think it can be a catalyst to push us on as a football club.”
For Harriers boss Russell Penn on the receiving end of the result, plenty of heart can also be taken, he feels.
“We’re really disappointed with the timings of the goals, because in an FA Cup game you have to have that momentum going into half-time when we’ve scored so late,” he said.
“The whole place was flattened by the second goal and it’s so hard to pin it back especially against better opposition.
“We could’ve been at our absolute best today and still lost the game, and we have to respect that.”
