Long road to Wembley for Mags? Plymouth v Newcastle in the FA Cup 3rd Round!
Posted on November 29th, 2009 | 60 Comments |
Having beaten the Green Arrrrmmmyyy already at home this season, the reverse fixture was always one that most supporters weren’t going to look forward, considering the 800+ miles round trip. And just for good measure we’ve now got to do it twice in one season, though history is on our side, because our last tie at Home Park in the FA Cup saw us run out 6-1 winners back in the 1957/58 season. Although our last trip down there was a dismal 2-0 (un) festive defeat in the run-up to Christmas ’91, in a fairly depressing season. Thankfully, my dad wasn’t mad enough to take us down there for that one. Although this time round, as coincidences go, I might be in the area and it would be a bit rude not to go?
So far as recent form goes, Plymouth are struggling near the foot of the table and the visitors were left sodden and fuming on Saturday after their home clash with Barnsley was abandoned due to the waterlogged pitch with Barnsley 4-1 up. And with our current form so good, if that pattern continues, we would surely go in as favourites to go through to the next round? But of course the FA Cup is cliche-ridden and ‘form goes out of the window’, particularly as we’re away from home. So if the worst were to happen, considering our main priority is clearly promotion, would that be a blessing in disguise? Called me old-fashioned, but the Bowburn branch of nufcblog.org fancies a bit of a cup run too…
We usually do rubbish in the cup, but having said that I honestly wouldn’t put too much importance on it.
Fair enough a handful of senior players, but I think fringe and youth players should be given a chance – cup runs added to the extra games at the end of a promotion push season will catch up, with injuries and international duties.