MICK HAS NO TRUCK WITH HIS FLY BOYS
JON STEAD is on the FA Cup goal trail again – and that should strike fear into some of the big guns in tonight’s fourth-round draw.
The veteran marksman scored one of the best goals of his 16-year career for League Two Notts County to see off Championship side Brentford.
He has now scored in the first three rounds – with echoes of his astonishing run with Bradford in 2014-15 when they knocked out Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
The former Blackburn, Sunderland and Sheffield United striker notched in the first five rounds that year, including a cracker past Petr Cech.
But he admitted his 65th-minute leftfoot curler at Griffin Park may have eclipsed even that effort. Stead, 34, said: “After scoring in round two I began to think of the Bradford run three years ago. Then, I scored a few including that win at Chelsea. And so I fancied myself to get another one against Brentford – and that’s the first three rounds now.
“I probably need to take that form into the league as we try to achieve promotion. Goals there have been harder to come by!
“But this win is right up there with that one for Bradford at Stamford Bridge. Brentford are very good at home and full of young, exciting, quick players I wasn’t looking forward to keeping up with.
“It was a good goal I got against Chelsea back in 2015 . . but maybe this edged it, also being the winner and I was delighted with it.
“In the early part of my Notts career I cut in a lot like that and got goals and forced saves with shots like that.
“This season and the back end of last season I have been spooning a lot over MOTM ROSS FITZSIMONS (NOTTS COUNTY) IPSWICH boss Mick McCarthy wants his players to stay and fight instead of taking flight.
Defender Tommy Smith, 27, is the latest man to be linked with a move away from Portman Road after the Tractor Boys crashed out of the FA Cup.
Sheffield United did the damage thanks to a first goal for the club from Nathan Thomas (above).
Smith was missing due to illness but American side Colorado Rapids are keen.
McCarthy (below) said: “Tommy was poorly. Apparently there was speculation with Colorado Rapids.
“I’ve just been told that – but I haven’t seen any pictures tweeted from the first class lounge at Heathrow just yet. I’m hoping he’s still poorly. Well, not really, but you know what I mean.
“I’ve not spoken to Colorado Rapids and I’m not looking to get shot of players. We’ve got to have a team that competes.
“We were on the back of the top six four weeks ago. I’d like to be tagging on the back of that again.”
Blades boss Chris Wilder has confirmed he will seal a deal today for sign midfielder Ryan Leonard from Southend.
He said: “We’ve got Leonard in and we’re looking at hopefully adding two or three others.”