BOURNEMOUTH BOREHAM WOOD
FA Cup 4th round, live on ITV4, kick-off 6.30pm
BOREHAM WOOD boss Luke Garrard reckons he’ll be partying all week if his non-Leaguers can pull off another FA Cup shock.
The National League side beat League One AFC Wimbledon in the third round. And that set up this clash with second-tier Bournemouth, who sit 74 places above Boreham in the English pyramid.
Garrard said: “If we win, I probably won’t get home until Thursday... and that will probably be just to get a change of clothes to go out again.
“It’s massive, massive, and I’m not saying ‘this is what the country wants’, but we’re on the box for a reason.
“So let’s go and do the unthinkable, let’s go and create even more history as a group of men, as a staff – and if we do that, yes, it will be frightening.
“We watched AFC Wimbledon in depth before that game – the goal was played out in our sessions and there was a real belief to go and win a game of football. This one – and I’m not being defeatist, we’re going to Bournemouth to cause an upset – there’s a realism to it.”
Garrard (above) has made no secret of the fact he will ask Cherries boss Scott Parker post-match if he can go down to the south coast to observe him for a few days when this game is over.
And while he taps into Parker’s football brain, he will also be seeking some sartorial tips.
Garrard added: “Well, first of all I want his clobber. Seriously, he is the best-dressed manager in all the divisions.
“But as well as all that, he’s just a stand-up guy. He has gone and done the hard yards.
“As a manager, I am in awe of him. I really, really like the way he plays, the way he sets his teams up.
“I love his aura on the side of the pitch. He has gone and done the Under-18s at Tottenham, then he got the gig at Fulham, and then he went to Bournemouth.
“They play a massive, expansive game, trust every individual to stick to what they ask of them, and it’s just so good to watch. I’m not trying to butter him up, but he’s really good at his craft.
“His side try to create overloads and it’s our task to marry up and nullify them as best we can – if we do that we will have a massive chance.”