Forest Green boss Mark Cooper believes Saturday’s FA Cup tie is a “free hit” for new Carlisle United head coach Chris Beech.

The second round encounter will be Beech’s first game in charge after his arrival at Brunton Park this week.

It pits the fourth-bottom Cumbrians against League Two’s second-placed side for a place in the cup's potentially lucrative third round.

Cooper admits it is hard to second-guess how the Blues will line up as they are under a new boss.

In his press conference today the New Lawn chief said: "I'm not sure how beneficial it is for my staff and analysts to worry too much about Carlisle’s last games, because it will be totally different.

“We are going to concentrate on us and it is a free hit for Chris, away from home."

Cooper added that he wants the tie settled on Saturday because he does not fancy a long trip to Cumbria for a midweek replay.

He said: “Please, it's the last thing we want, a replay.

“That's not being disrespectful to Carlisle or the area, it's the travel [that] is horrendous.

“Luckily for us, we got pulled out of the hat first."

United drew 0-0 with Forest Green at Brunton Park earlier in the campaign.

Cooper believes the Blues players will be out to catch their new head coach’s eye.

“There's the new manager effect, Chris has got the opportunity to manage at Carlisle and with that [comes] a freshness and players ready to impress, and we have to guard against that,” he said.

“Everybody loves the FA Cup. We want to get into the next round and have a day out somewhere, rub shoulders with the big boys. I’m sure Carlisle feel the same.”

Cooper reported no new injury concerns ahead of the tie.