BROMSGROVE Sporting manager Paul Smith hailed his side’s mental strength after they bounced back from Saturday’s FA Cup defeat to maintain their unbeaten start in the league.

The Rouslers missed out on a chance to play Redditch United in the first qualifying round of the competition after they lost 6-2 to Hinckley AFC at the Victoria Ground on Saturday.

But they bounced back on Monday with a 5-0 demolition of Pilkington XXX in Birmingham as they stretched their undefeated run in the Midlands Premier to seven games.

Smith felt Saturday’s defeat to Hinckley was heavily influenced by the sending by Simon Fitter’s straight red card for a challenge on defender Javia Roberts early on when the game was evenly-poised at 1-1.

Smith said: “I don’t like to moan about referees because it’s not an easy job but I didn’t feel Simon Fitter’s challenge deserved a red card.

“The game was shaping up to be a very close affair between two good sides and I feel the dismissal was a big influence on the match."

“But we bounced back brilliantly on Monday and while I didn’t want to lose, I would rather have three points on the board in the league than a win in the FA Cup.”

Winger Dale Edwards made his debut on Saturday and scored his first goal on Monday.

Sporting go to Heath Hayes in the first qualifying round of the FA Vase on Saturday (3pm ko).