Smith predicts strong challenge from cup rivals

Photo: Alan Howarth

FESTIVE FUN: Jonson Clarke-Harris (left) and Korey Smith get into FA Cup mode by listening to classic Athletic commentary.

KOREY Smith expects Mansfield to provide a stiff test of Athletic’s credentials as the club bid to land another third-round jackpot.

The captain spent an afternoon with the squad at the National Football Museum in Manchester, where he heard classic commentary of Neil Pointon’s goal, which put Athletic ahead in extra-time in the 1994 FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United.

Athletic have enjoyed a series of high-profile ties against Premier League opposition in the past couple of years in the competition at the third-round stage and beyond.

But to land a place in the draw, Smith has warned that Athletic will first have to cope with a League Two outfit who will provide a similar challenge to that of Bradford last Sunday.

“Last year, this cup competition was massive for the club and the fans and hopefully, we can get into that third-round draw again,” said Smith

“We want to get a big club at Boundary Park and get the place rocking again. But we have to concentrate on each game as it comes.”

Charlie MacDonald’s chances of being involved against Mansfield hang in the balance.

The striker awaits the results of a scan on a thigh injury that kept him out of the 1-1 League One draw with Bradford.


Athletic manager Lee Johnson missed out on a Manager of the Month nomination for November.
Johnson gained four wins and two draws in the month, but only three league games were among them as a result of the postponement of the MK Dons fixture.

Mark Cooper (Swindon), Steve Evans (Rotherham), Simon Grayson (Preston) and Uwe Rosler (Brentford) are the nominees in Sky Bet League One.