Giantslayer Stead at it again... and he’s not finished there
JON STEAD’S dreams of a fourth-round FA Cup tie at Arsenal, after rolling back the years to fire Notts County into the hat for tonight’s draw, were dashed following their shock exit against County’s bitter rivals Nottingham Forest. The 34-year-old had hoped for his first-ever trip to the Emirates as a player but saw those ambitions unravel as Forest shot down the Gunners. Stead, who never played at the ground Arsenal have called home since 2006 during spells in the Premier League with Sunderland and Sheffield United, will now fall back onto his Plan B–a home tie against anyone at Meadow Lane. He will be hoping to watch the draw live, father duties permitting, with County due to be ball No 13. ‘To be honest bring anyone on,’ he said after their 1-0 win at Brentford. ‘But I would say Arsenal for me on a personal note, as I never got to play at the Emirates when I was in the Premier League. ‘So I would say them, or basically anyone at home where we can give other teams a real game and be a match for anyone. Hopefully I’ll be able to watch the draw at home, if I can get out of bath-time duties with the kids to make sure I don’t miss it. That’s glamour for you!’ While he may have to help out at bathtime, Stead can soak up his performance at Griffin Park as Kevin Nolan’s side stung the Bees to become only one of six League Two teams remaining in the FA Cup. He was the matchwinner with a sublime 25-yard left-foot curler, guiding County to this stage of the competition for the first time in six seasons. Stead’s 65th-minute goal evoked memories of yesteryear when he played in the top flight — beginning with a stint at Blackburn Rovers in 2004. ‘It is very pleasing to know you can still go up against defenders of this level and do well at this stage of my career,’ he added. ‘And it is very special after a long career and playing in the Premier League to still be having days like this. ‘I just love football, I love playing.’ Brentford manager Dean Smith made eight changes for the tie but bemoaned his side’s luck. ‘It’s one of those FA Cup goals,’ he reflected. ‘It’s a great finish from them but I can’t remember Luke Daniels having much to do apart from making a save to keep it at one-nil when we were chasing the game.’