Ahead of Blue Square North club Fleetwood Town’s trip to Northampton Town in the First Round of the FA Cup, centre half Steve McNulty claims that going there as underdogs is a good thing.
McNulty, who snatched an 87th minute equaliser against Alfreton Town in the Blue Square North last Saturday, said: “We have nothing to lose and everything to gain. They’re expected to beat us and it’s going to be a tough game as they are a League Two side but we’ll go and enjoy the day and see what the outcome is.”
Town travel to the League Two side after beating Kidderminster Harriers 3-1 in the Fourth Qualifying Round replay and McNulty feels Town are more than capable of stepping up to a team placed two leagues above them, he said.
“The step up to League Two is not much. Non-league football doesn’t get as much credit as it deserves, it’s a really tough standard.
“Northampton are obviously going to have a lot more experience than Fleetwood in terms of league football. It’s going to be tough because their players have been in the leagues for years, but we have enough experience to put up a good fight.”
McNulty wasn’t part of the Town team that narrowly missed out to Hartlepool last year in the Second Round but did play for Barrow who were edged out 2-1 by Middlesbrough in the Third Round. Having played against Premier League opposition McNulty insists that ‘anyone can beat anyone’ in the FA Cup.
He said: “At the end of the day the FA Cup is all about dreams and about who wants it more on the day.
“I played against Middlesbrough for Barrow last year and they battered us and could have scored five or six but it went right down to the wire in the end and we were unlucky not to get a draw.”
Over 250 fans travelled to Town’s Fourth Qualifying Round game against Kidderminster and McNulty is hoping that there will once again be a strong turn out from the Cod Amy.
He added: “We took a good few to Kidderminster so hopefully we’ll get a few more going down with us to Northampton and getting behind the lads.”
