Ricketts aims for Reds tie
Deeney: Survival would rank as one of my greatest achievements
SAM RICKETTS wants to use the underdog tag to see off Bristol City tonight and book a fourth round home tie against Liverpool.
A Sean Goss goal earned Shrewsbury a 1-1 draw when the sides last met and boss Ricketts said: “It’s a big game under the lights.
“We have to take that underdog mentality. We are playing a side who are riding high in the Championship.
“We aren’t expected to do anything but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t possible to get through – that’s the magic of the FA Cup.”
Simon Grayson has told his Blackpool players to concentrate on their own strengths if they want to book a place in the next round.
The Seasiders led twice at Reading in a 2-2 draw and the Royals are set to play a weakened team in tonight’s replay.
Grayson said: “We need to prepare for what we can do to win the game and not focus all our energy on what the opposition do.”
Coventry defender Sam McCallum says a five-match unbeaten run means the City players don’t even notice the extra games.
He said: “The aim is to play as many games as we can – we want to go as far as possible in the FA Cup.
“I am feeling the effects but as you get a consistent run of games you start to get used to the tempo.”
TROY DEENEY thinks that staying up this season would be Watford’s crowning glory – if they can complete a great escape.
The Hornets were written off until they claimed 13 points from a possible 15 in their resurgence under new boss Nigel Pearson, which has led them out of the relegation zone.
But long-serving talisman Deeney, who led Watford to promotion in 2015 and the FA Cup final last season, will let the fans decide if beating the drop would top those accomplishments.
Privately, the skipper would rank it as high as any achievement in his 10 years at Vicarage Road.
He said: “I’ll leave that to the supporters but there’s no debate to be had because there are 16 games left and we’ve done nothing yet.
“Getting promoted five years ago will always be up there with the top ones but yes, six weeks ago everyone had written us off and we weren’t even part of the conversation.”
Deeney revealed Pearson, whose transformation of Watford’s fortunes has been startling, has been on his case in a masterclass of motivation.
He said: “The boss has a go at me – not like a schoolteacher but just to keep me on my toes. He says, ‘You’ve been good – but I want more.’
“I take it as a compliment because if he wasn’t talking to me I would be more worried.”
Deeney’s return from a threemonth absence after knee surgery, and £35m record signing Ismaila Sarr going through the gears, have given the Hornets a new cutting edge.
Watford scored only nine goals in their first 17 games but they have hit 11 in the last five.
Sarr’s searing pace has been a big factor and Deeney, 31, added: “He’s putting in 12km a game and at top speed is going at nearly 36km an hour. “I’m glad I’ll be getting out of the game in a few years because if that’s the breed of player coming through, I’m going to be f ***** .”
Pearson makes no apologies for wholesale changes at tonight’s FA Cup third round replay against Tranmere.
He said: “I have to prioritise our Premier
League status.
“We don’t want all the hard work we’ve put in over the last few weeks to be in vain.”