Alexander’s focused on downing Brewers
AMMIES BOSS HAS EYES ON TONIGHT’S FA CUP SHOWDOWN
SALFORD boss Graham Alexander has called for his side to remain focused ahead of their FA Cup first round replay with Burton Albion tonight.
The Ammies travel to the Pirelli Stadium off the back of their first defeat in six games, after a brace from forward Eoin Doyle helped League Two leaders Swindon Town to a 3-2 victory on Saturday.
The draw against tonight’s opponents on November 9 sees Alexander’s men face a second successive first-round replay after they faced League One side Shrewsbury Town across two fixtures last season.
The winner will then travel to face Oldham at Boundary Park in the second round on November 30, but manager Alexander says his side mustn’t get ahead of themselves.
He said: “You get the draw and everyone’s talking about that, but you’ve still got a game to play.
“Sometimes, if you’re not careful and you don’t focus right, can affect the actual performance of the replay.
“We have to make sure we go into the replay as concentrated as we were [in the first tie] and play to the same levels.”
The hosts come into the game after picking up just one win from their last seven games in all competitions, most recently being knocked out of the Leasing.com Trophy after a 2-1 home defeat to Mansfield. it
Brewers manager Nigel Clough admits he’s hoping that the tie will not go the distance to penalties and is aware of the threats Salford may pose. He said: “I think the replay will be pretty similar to the first game and I hope we can control the game like we did in the second half at Salford.
“Their threat on the break and from set plays was there for all to see. It will be about whether or not we can convert chances, we have no problem creating them, but we don’t always convert them.”
Victory for Salford will see them through to the second round for the first time since the 2015/16 season.
Graham Alexander