Mansfield Town boss Nigel Clough is hoping his side can produce an even bigger FA Cup giantkilling when they head to Premier League strugglers Burnley on Saturday.
Stags pulled off a sensational 4-3 third round win at Championship side Sheffield United in round three, but Clough knows that, despite the Clarets' recent league toils, this game will be a far stiffer task.
“That is a different prospect to League One vulnerable or even the Championship because the squad of 25 that they will have contains some very, very good players.
Turf Moor - Big FA Cup date at Burnley for Stags this Saturday. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)placeholder image
Turf Moor - Big FA Cup date at Burnley for Stags this Saturday. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)
“We are not sure what team Scott Parker will put out. But whatever it is it will have some quality players in there. And it will be a nice respite for them.
“If they think they can't stay up – and I don't believe they are at that point yet – then they might think, for our supporters, let's have a good FA Cup run.
“It would be a good way to put a smile back on everyone's faces.”
On Burnley's campaign so far, he said: “It was always going to be incredibly difficult for them this season in the Premier League.
“Especially early season, they played quite well and didn't get the breaks or the rewards.
“And when you get into a run of not winning it is very difficult to get out of it, especially in something as unforgiving as the Premier League.
“The achievement of Scott Parker last season was probably more than anybody expected and their defensive record was superb.
“It was probably a season too soon for them, but if they do go down I am sure they will rebuild, regroup and go again.”
Stags roared into a 4-1 lead at Bramall Lane in the last round but almost let the Blades off the hook as they clung on near the end.
“We will have to defend as well as we have done recently – better than we did at Sheffield United, conceding those three goals, to have any chance at all,” he said.
“Then at the other end we need one of our strikers to do what they did at Sheffield United and create something, whether it's on the break or from a bit of pressure, and get us a goal.
“Getting through 120 minutes at 0-0 is unlikely against their quality.
“You never get a free hit, but we do enjoy it as it's a break from the league and no one expected us to be in the fourth round.
“It is the first time in a long time the club has been at this point and we are going away to a Premier League club, so you have to enjoy it and look forward to it.
“But we mustn't lose sight of the importance of the games around it.”
Stags struggled at home in round one before beating League Two Harrogate Town 3-2 after the visitors twice equalised and then needed an extra time leveller at Accrington Stanley after twice going behind in a 2-2 draw before winning on penalties in round two.
“We have had some tough draws so far,” said Clough.
“Harrogate at home caused us problems, despite going 15 or 16 without a win.
“And we only just scraped through at Accrington on penalties before we won at Sheffield United.
“It has been a tough run. We could have gone out at any point in those three games.
“So we have earned this. Now can we go a bit further? Let's see.
“Like at Sheffield United, we need to go there and have a go, in whatever shape or form that takes within the game.
“Having a go can be defending as if your life depends on it.
“Burnley might have 70-80 per cent possession. So it is what you do with your 20 or 30 per cent that counts most.
“We are going to have to defend very well with no mistakes.
“The game is a very similar situation to Sheffield United.
“With whatever team they put out, they are still far superior to us. So whatever team they name, they have still got to have a bit of an off day and we have to perform much better than we have done the last couple of games – we know that.
“But it will be nice to have a break from the league and the fourth round of the FA Cup is exciting.
“I know we have sold out of all our tickets again and I hope we can get a few more if we can.
“Everybody will enjoy the day. And if we can get a result, fantastic.”
Clough's past trips to Burnley have been few and far between as manager and player.
“I have been to Turf Moor a couple of times with Derby as manager, we lost one of them late on,” he said.
“I have been there a couple of times in the League Cup as a player when they used to be two-legged rounds, though I was injured for the second game.
“And I have a silly memory of winning there with Forest in 1977 on the day that Red Rum won the Grand National, the season we were promoted from the old Second Division.”
Stags head to Burnley on a downer after their nine game unbeaten run was halted by Tuesday night’s 2-1 home defeat by Peterborough United, despite probably their best display in those 10 games.
But they paid a heavy price for failing to put away enough of their 27 shots at goal and 19 corners.
They also lost Baily Cargill to injury three days after skipper Ryan Sweeney was injured.
That leaves Clough needing to organise a new-look defence for Saturday and the next six weeks.
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