Terry Casey has come out fighting after criticism of Maidstone’s 3G pitch from Stevenage boss Graham Westley.

And United co-owner Mr Casey hopes television pundits will give the Gallagher Stadium 3G a fair chance when BT Sport broadcast Thursday’s first round replay live.

It will be the first time a 3G pitch has been used in the main FA Cup and comes a fortnight after Football League clubs voted against their introduction in League 1 and League 2 next season.

Westley claimed to reporters after Sunday’s goalless draw that 3G pitches put players’ safety and well-being in jeopardy but admitted his team train on it.

Mr Casey said: “The comment by their manager that he was worried about player safety and injuries was contradictory to his club, who promote 3G. Their academy even play on it. The only injuries we picked up last season were from playing on grass.

“It’s total nonsense to say players are at greater risk of injuries. It’s been disproved time and time again. What he said was thoughtless. It showed a lack of class or ignorance of the real situation because 3G is used all over Europe."

Mr Casey also took exception to comments made on the BBC FA Cup highlights show comparing 3G to the old plastic pitches of the 1980s.

He added: “It concerns me listening to BBC pundits and the stupidity of comparing 3G to the pitches at Preston and QPR all those years ago. They’re showing such an ignorance of the situation."