Darren Freeman believes Whitehawk have a ghost to exorcise in today’s FA Cup tie at home to Sutton United.

The Hawks produced arguably their worst performance of the season when they lost 2-0 in the Conference south game away to Sutton at the end of August.

Since then Freeman’s men have built a four-match unbeaten run and the Hawks boss hopes they can prove that previous meeting between the sides was just a one-off.

He said: “We didn’t give a good account of ourselves up there. Hopefully this time we will.

“We let ourselves down badly last time. Too many players had an off-day but we have slowly got our act together since them and we are looking forward to the game.”

Despite what some people think, Hawks are operating with a small squad and are unlikely to be able to fill their permitted seven substitute positions today, particularly if Tommy Fraser does not recover from a calf injury which forced him off last weekend.

Freeman is trying to add to his squad. He said: “We have quite a small squad and I will be looking to bring a couple of people in but they have got to be the right people.”

Goalkeeper Chris Winterton, who was sent off last Saturday, plays against Sutton but serves a one-match ban next weekend when Whitehawk visit Farnborough.