MANAGER: We'll be looking to cause an upset

“I wouldn’t say this was a glamour tie for either football club,” he said. “It’s got the potential to be a giant killing for us because we’re playing against a team from a higher division. They’re doing well so it’ll be a tough one.

“They’re a progressive football club and year on year they try to push forward. They look to recruit younger players and I’m sure their intention will be to get back into the Championship. We’ll make sure the preparation and mindset is right and the lads will get out there to compete.”

“It’s the FA Cup so anything can happen,” he insisted. “It’s not in our nature to go there to defend and I don’t think the players would want to do that either. We’ll try and get on the front foot and stop them from playing. I think we all know we need to stay in the game for longer than 90 seconds this week.

“It’s an opportunity for the players to enjoy the coverage that surrounds this competition. Everybody looks for an upset and we believe we can go down there and do that. If you look at Bradford in the Capital One Cup - who is to say a team like Carlisle United can’t get all the luck in this competition?

“A giant killing performance this weekend, followed by a favourable draw in the second round, and suddenly you’re in with a potential tie with one of the big boys. That’s where things can get very exciting because it can bring the pay day all clubs at our level want. Upsets are there to be had but we need to stay in the game and give ourselves the chance to do it.”

“I think the lads are excited about it,” he commented. “It gives everybody the chance to forget about the league for a week because we aren't playing for points. We're playing for an opportunity to progress. 

“We know we're going into it as underdogs. They like to play a passing game but their pitch isn't the best. We should be able to use that in our favour. We've got players who are game changers and everything is set up for us to go and perform. 

“I think there's always pressure to win. We aren't going there to be rolled over and the mindset won't change because it's a cup game. We go into every match to be competitive. We’ll need to stay in it, give ourselves a foothold in the game and then we can turn it into a proper cup tie. They're a good club but they've lost a few games recently and sometimes you need to go and take advantage of that.” 

“I think we've still got seven players who are unavailable but Billy Paynter and Danny Kearns will return to the squad,” he confirmed. “That will boost our attacking options with a striker and attacking midfield player being involved. Steven Rigg has been back on the grass for the last couple of days but this week will probably be a little bit too soon. 

“I like Danny Kearns and I’ve been keen to have a proper look at him. He can handle a football and he can go past people, so if I can get him to do his work in the final third he can be a definite asset. He had a recurrence of an injury so we've given him that extra week to make sure he’ll be able to fully express himself. Who is to say Danny won't start the game against one of his former teams and score the goal that puts us through? That's what the FA Cup is all about.”