Planet Swans ArchivesRoberto Martinez believes that the Swans FA Cup tie at Billericay is the classic FA Cup tie and he expects that it may be seen as such in BBC towers, joining the predictions of many when he thinks live TV coverage.
Martinez was at Huish Park celebrating the win over Yeovil when he heard the draw and he has – as most managers would – warned his sides of the potential banana skin. The Swans are in a no win situation – they are expected to win comfortably and will not receive many plaudits for doing just that but anything less and people will point and claim flaws within the side. And then there is the unthinkable of losing to a side ranked 107 places below us – the equivalent to a Conference side beating Premiership opposition in terms of the difference in those placings.
”It’s a classic FA Cup tie,” Martinez said. ”Everyone will be looking for the upset and the surprise and it will be a hard game for us. I think the weather will play a big part in the game because pitches at that level normally get affected by the rain, but that’s the magic of the competition. ”I wouldn’t be surprised if TV shows an interest and if they do that will be great. ”Whatever happens it will be like a final for Billericay and we’ll need to be ready for that.”
The Swans are only too aware of cup upsets, having caused one of their own last season with a 3-0 triumph over Premiership Sheffield United and you only have to remember the likes of Nuneaton (1993) and Bognor Regis (1984) to think back to days the Swans have been victims of the same. And although it is 14 years since non league opposition beat us in this competition – it was as recent as last season that the Swans fell to Port Talbot in the FAW Premier Cup. Shocks can happen.
”We saw them a few times as we followed one of their players for a while and they are a team who know how to impose themselves at home,” Martinez added referring to their tracking of Chris Whelpdale who eventually joined Peterborough ”We will have to adapt to the conditions, and we will treat the game as if it is a league match because the FA Cup is the best cup competition in Europe. It would be a huge mistake to take it lightly.”
