IT’S been a sobering weekend for Alresford Town co-manager Danny Robinson.

On Sunday he watched his beloved Arsenal get torn apart by Galatasaray’s ex-Chelsea star Didier Drogba at the Emirates.

And that came just 24 hours after the Magpies had been given similar treatment by Tom McInnes in a shock 4-0 opening day defeat at Newport IoW.

Having finished runners-up in the Sydenhams Premier League last season, few would have expected Alresford to lose on Saturday, let alone get hammered.

But goals by Jake Younie, McInnes (2) and Matt Evans earned the Islanders a well-deserved victory – and Robinson was not in the market for excuses.

“We had no Stuart Green (suspended), Stuart Mott (coaching course) or Zach Glasspool (suspended), but then Newport were missing three players too,” he said. “We defended like we’ve never defended before and got what we deserved – absolutely nothing.

“I take my hat off to Tom McInnes, he ran us ragged. He won headers and held onto the ball. He was outstanding.

“We couldn’t live with him the same as Arsenal couldn’t live with Drogba.”

After a result like that, you might have thought the last thing Alresford would have wanted was a trip to the league champions.

But that’s exactly what lies ahead tonight (Tuesday, 7.30pm) when the Magpies travel to Blackfield & Langley and Robinson expects them to rise to the challenge. “We go from McInnes to Kev Gibbens!” he smiled. “But if we want to put things right after Saturday, there’s no better time to do it than against the champions. I just hope we get a reaction.”

Targetman Steve Brown won’t feature having limped off early at Newport with a thigh strain.

But fellow frontrunner Warren Bentley should be OK after illness. “Warren had been sick and had to come off after 50 minutes at Newport,” said Robinson. “We should never of played him, but it’s a mark of the kid and how important he is to us that we always hope to get a bit of magic from him. He’s feeling better now, so hopefully he’ll be back tonight with Zach Glasspool and Stuart Mott.”

Reflecting on Newport’s victory, manager Steve Brougham said: “I thought before the game a draw would be a good result, but to play like we’ve done, very well organised and hard to beat, and to score four goals, it’s happy days!”

More non-league football in today's Daily Echo