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FC United travel to Sporting Khalsa for enthralling FA Cup tie

FC United travel to Sporting Khalsa for enthralling FA Cup tieFC United are one victory away from reaching the first round proper of the Emirates FA Cup for the second time in our 10 year history but a tricky tie awaits this Saturday at Sporting Khalsa.

Playing at level nine of the English football pyramid, Khalsa are the lowest ranked team still left in the competition. On paper, it appears to be one of the easiest ties the Reds could have faced.

However, anyone who knows anything about football will know that Khalsa’s status as overwhelming underdogs means that they have nothing to lose and pose a huge potential banana skin for FC United.

Manager Karl Marginson has no doubts about that. He said: "We’re in for a very tough game. No one should pay any attention to the fact Sporting Khalsa play three divisions below us. They are a quick, attacking side who know how to score goals. They will be up for it and will give it their all. We have to match that.

"We know all about how the FA Cup is the great leveller and provides the opportunity for shock results. We beat Rochdale five years ago when we three divisions below them and we’ll want to avoid being on the receiving end of an upset on Saturday."

FC United have got through to the fourth round by beating Witton Albion 3-1 and Buxton 2-0 in a replay after a 1-1 draw. Meanwhile, our hosts have already had to beat five teams to earn the tie with the Reds. The West Midlands club have overcome Malvern Town 5-0 away, Cadbury Athletic 4-0 at home, AFC Wulfrunians 3-2, Basford United 2-3, and they won 2-1 at Spalding United in a replay.

Khalsa manager Ian Rowe told the official FA website: "Hard work and commitment has been what it’s taken and obviously we needed the draw to be kind. Not that we’ve come up against weak opposition by any stretch, but the best we’ve played have only been a level above us.

"This type of game is new to our players – most weeks they play in front of one man and his dog. I think our lowest gate this season so far is 25 and we’re expecting 2,000 people at the game as FC United have told us they’re expecting to bring a four-figure support down.

"Some players might freeze, some people might thrive. I just hope that if we go out that we do it in the right manner and compete, and I’ve got no doubt in my mind we can do that."




First Posted ~ 09:38 Sat 24 Oct 2015
News ID ~ 6463
Last Updated ~ 16:00 Fri 19 Feb 2021