Swindon’s rearranged clash with Salford in round three of the FA Cup has some added spice for the players, as they know that the reward for a win is a trip to the Etihad Stadium in the fourth round.
The Ammies know just what that is like, having lost 8-0 there in the FA Cup last season, although none of the current Swindon squad were with the club when they hosted City in 2022 – as an academy player at the time, Joel McGregor said he was unable to get a ticket for the game.
Getting through would mean that Swindon face a Premier League side away from home for the first time since their 4-3 win over Stoke City in the League Cup back in 2012.
Swindon have already lost twice against Salford this season, and have only beaten them once in their last nine meetings.
However, Holloway said that, whilst it was a lovely reward, he would not be thinking about it until it happened.
He said: “Why would you want to consider a hammering? They \[Salford\] played them last year and lost seven-nil, if I'm right, Exeter lost ten-one, and Man United just beat them two-nil.
“You have to get there first. I used to keep parakeets, and you could look in the box when they were laying eggs, you could count the eggs, and you never had the same number of birds come out of them.
“So, you are wasting your time anticipating anything; you've got to do the job.
“Hopefully, we can get a great result, because there's a great side waiting. Who wouldn't want to play against Manchester City at Manchester City's ground, the Etihad Stadium?
“\[Will you use that as motivation for the players?\] No, I'm still going back on Saturday, and this is the next game. So really, what we have to do against the same team. It's 180 minutes, not 90 minutes.”
Holloway brought his Blackpool side to the Etihad Stadium in the Premier League in 2011, falling to a 1-0 defeat against a side containing Vincent Kompany, Carlos Tevez, and Yaya Toure.
The 62-year-old revealed that he had also done some commentary work at the stadium, and said that looking at the facilities they have gave him huge motivation to manage at that level again.
He said: “I've been there, I've commentated there, I've been on Manchester City TV, so I've seen the setup, and it is absolutely incredible. All it does is make you sick to your teeth that you're not involved in that.
“If I can get Swindon anywhere near them one day, what a wonderful thing I've done for Swindon Town.
“Many congratulations to Pep and Man City, but it's not even relevant yet. If it is, I'll be delighted; if it isn't, we'll get on with the rest of the season.”