Kelly backing Latics for Cup glory

LIAM KELLY: focused.

CAPTAIN Liam Kelly has his sights set on sailing through to round three of the FA Cup for the first time in his career — but refuses to be complacent on Athletic’s chances of getting there.

Doncaster boss Paul Dickov returns to SportsDirect.com Park on Saturday with revenge on his mind, following Athletic’s comprehensive 2-0 defeat of Rovers in the season’s opening month.

Kelly says Dickov will have learned from that experience. The 24-year-old former Kilmarnock and Bristol City man isn’t getting too worked up - yet - about the prospect of Athletic landing another tie against a Premier League giant.

But at the same time the skipper says his side has no fears about facing League One opponents.

“We’re certainly up for the weekend,” said Kelly - whose team has now been beaten only once in the 90-minute run of its last 19 games.

“It’s a home game in the most prestigious competition around and there can be big rewards if you get a bit of a run going. There’s a chance we could draw a big Premier League club again if we get past Doncaster, though we know it won’t be easy.

“We played okay against them in the league early in the season when we won 2-0, but I reckon they will have learned an awful lot from that. It’ll be a different side on Saturday.

“There’s a great team spirit and great morale in our camp right now, but we have to be careful not to get too complacent.”