Cup can bring the best out of Latics

LEEDS United travel across the Pennines for tomorrow’s FA Cup historic first round tie at Boundary Park (5.15pm kick-off) full of confidence.

However, despite holding a seven-point advantage at the top of Coca-Cola League One, history suggests that Athletic should not be overawed by Simon Grayson’s in-form side in the competition’s first-ever tie to be broadcast live over the Internet.

While United have only lost once to League One opposition all season, scoring a joint-best 29 goals in the process, Athletic have an enviable record at this stage of the competition.

SECOND STAGE

Last season’s 1-0 first-round replay defeat to Cheltenham Town at Boundary Park represented the first time Athletic had failed to make the second stage of the FA Cup since the 1972-73 season.

Leeds don’t have a good record at Boundary Park, either. The Whites have picked up a win in only three of their past 21 visits, though they have only lost once in the last four at the ground.

When the sides met in the league last season, Chris Taylor’s double handed Athletic a 2-0 win at Elland Road, while the televised return fixture saw a Lee Hughes goal equalised by Luciano Becchio in a 1-1 draw.

The only-ever meeting between the clubs in the FA Cup occurred in 1995, when Leeds won 3-2 in the fourth round on home soil.

While famously taking Manchester United to two semi-final replays in the early 1990s, Athletic have also enjoyed a couple of scalps in more recent years.

Premier League outfit Everton were the latest In January 2008, Gary McDonald striking a spectacular winner in the third-round tie at Goodison Park.

That added to a 1-0 victory of similar magnitude at home against Manchester City in early 2005.

Scott Vernon scored the only goal that day, with on-loan Birmingham City man Neil Kilkenny playing a key role in the build-up.

Now at Leeds and involved from the bench of late, the midfielder is without a first-team start since the home draw with Charlton in early October.

It would be going too far to suggest that defeating Leeds would be a comparable achievement to defeating Premier League opposition, but Athletic are second favourites in the eyes of bookmakers at least for tomorrow’s tie, rated as a best-priced 5-2 to progress to round two on the night.

Having completed a loan move from Crystal Palace along with left-back Lee Hills, new Latics goalkeeper Darryl Flahavan is relishing the challenge of taking on the West Yorkshire giants.

“It is the biggest draw you can ask for in the first round, so it will be a very tough game,” said the 30-year-old, who has spent the majority of his career at Southend.

“I was at Leeds towards the end of last season, doing a month on loan there after coming back from injury.

“It is a great club with some very good players and it will be a real test for us.

“I was only there for a brief spell, but I thought they would have enough to go up last year.

“I was quite surprised they didn’t and it will be a very difficult game.

“But with cup football, league form goes out of the window and anything can happen.”

While Athletic’s home form has been sketchy this season, Leeds appear to have moved past their slight recent wobble in form.

After drawing 0-0 at Elland Road to Charlton, it took a last-gasp effort from 11-goal top scorer Jermaine Beckford to defeat Norwich 2-1 at home and that was followed by that sole league defeat, a 2-1 reverse away at Millwall.

Since then, though, Grayson’s men have won consecutive matches 4-0, away at Bristol Rovers and at home against Yeovil, to get right back on the promotion track.