JORDAN Gunter has told Knutsford’s players they can perform without pressure when they try to claim a piece of silverware on Saturday.

Reds meet Rawdon Old Boys, from the West Yorkshire League, in the Association of Northern Counties FA Senior Cup final at Vauxhall Motors, kick-off 2pm.

They were invited to take part in the competition as a reward for winning the Cheshire FA Amateur Cup last season.

“There is zero expectation on us,” said the co-manager.

“We’ll be telling the lads to go out onto the field and express themselves.

“If we come back with a trophy then that’s a bonus.”

Knutsford progressed to the final following a 2-1 win at Chalk Lane in November.

They travelled to Hull as underdogs to take on hosts who were riding high in the Humber Premier League and defied expectation to make it through.

Gunter told the Guardian it is a trait a young side has demonstrated more than once since he took over with Jamie Mottershead last summer.

He added: “They may be inexperienced, but they’re not shy.

“If an opponent wants to try and bully them, then these lads won’t be fazed and they’ll keep trying to play with the ball on the floor.

“Sometimes that has been naïve and they’ve been punished but it’s served them well when they’ve come against teams expected to beat them.”

Reds’ management team is likely to adopt a similar approach this weekend.

A 1-0 defeat at home to Denton in their penultimate fixture was followed by a heavy defeat in a friendly against Congleton Town last weekend.

However Gunter expects Knutsford to respond when they take on contenders he confesses to knowing little about.

“That hasn’t deterred us previously,” he said.

“When we’ve gone into the unknown it seems to have brought out our best.

“It was disappointing to lose in the way we did [against Denton] but it was one of those afternoons when we could have played for hours and not scored.

“All of our ‘Mr Reliables’ had an off day at the same time!

“I’m confident they’ll relish playing on a big pitch with a decent surface on Saturday and we’ll try to get at their defence in dangerous areas.”

If the scores are level after 90 minutes on Saturday then extra-time and, if necessary, a penalty shoot-out will follow.

Admission for spectators is free.