NIGEL Clough wants his players to grasp the opportunity to bring some Emirates FA Cup glory to Burton Albion by booking a Fourth Round tie.
After tasting success and landing big ties in the Carabao Cup in the last two seasons, the Albion manager now wants his players to experience some FA Cup glory as well as they face Northampton Town at the Pirelli Stadium on Sunday (kick off 2.01pm).
He said: “If you have anything about you as a player you want those big games and want more of them. In the last few years we have had quite a few but I don’t think you can ever have enough. Getting Leicester here in the Carabao Cup when they are second in the Premier League was a great game of football and an experience for everyone.”
But Clough says that his team should not underestimate the League Two opponents that stand in their way of potentially booking a money-spinning Fourth Round tie.
He said: “I hope the players are thinking in those terms and that’s what we will be emphasising to them. We know how tough it was at Oldham despite us playing well in the first half when we should have been more than one goal ahead. Second half they came out and had a right go at us. And the same with Salford who got a late equaliser at their place.
“These League Two sides are very competitive, organised and if we are not on our game they are more than capable of beating us.
“It’s even bigger for Northampton in some ways as for a League Two side to get to the Fourth Round is a hell of an achievement and you might get Manchester United or something like that. Their supporters will be up for it and they will fancy their chances.”
It’s a break from league action with the Brewers having picked up nine points from four games over Christmas to sit just three points off the play-off places.
Clough said: “If come the end of January we are in and around the top six then you have a chance. And victory against Northampton with the money it brings might help us boost the squad and bring more success this season.”