York City manager Martin Foyle wants a flying start in FA Cup third round clash at Stoke city

12:09pm Friday 1st January 2010

By Dave Flett

York City manager Martin Foyle has told his team to target a flying start in tomorrow’s FA Cup third round clash at Premier League Stoke.

Foyle believes the best chance his Blue Square Premier players have of causing an upset is by scoring the first goal at Stoke’s Britannia Stadium and wants his side to have no regrets about their performance.

He is also guarding against nerves as the Minstermen run out in front of a five-figure crowd.

Foyle said: “I don’t know whether the players will be daunted by the occasion and we will learn a lot about them in front of a big crowd.

“All (assistant manager) Andy Porter and I can do is pass on our experience of playing against the top players.

“At the end of the day, it’s 11 against 11 and we’ve got to make sure we get off to a good start. I don’t want the players to suddenly find their confidence when we’re 2-0 down.

“We need to get among them from the first whistle because anything can happen over 90 minutes then.”

A realistic Foyle, however, believes bookmakers’ odds of 12-1 for an away win are ungenerous and, even though Stoke are expected to field a much-changed side from the team that lost 1-0 at home to Birmingham on Monday, is ready for a challenging afternoon.

He said: “It looks like Ricardo Fuller and Mamady Sidibe will both start up front and they are fantastic players who would walk into any Championship side – don’t worry about that. Sidibe is very popular there and Fuller has pace, power and can score goals and, in my opinion, is more of a Premier League player than the other strikers at the club.

“If you look at their squad, Robert Huth probably earns a lot more in a week than our whole squad put together. There’s a massive gulf but we have to perform the best we can.”

Stoke’s long-throw specialist, Rory Delap, is a possible starter for the home side and, should he play, Foyle feels combating his touchline contributions might hold the key to avoiding defeat.

He said: “If Delap plays, his throw-ins will be very important to defend against. With Sidibe at 6ft 4in and the centre-backs coming forward as well, it can cause you big problems.

“I don’t think they will really change the way they play whoever they select however and that helps you prepare a bit. Michael Ingham is alert and always a big help to us when balls come into the penalty box.”

The Minstermen travel to the Britannia Stadium having won ten of their last 11 games while Stoke have won only once in ten, but Foyle added: “Form won’t count for anything as we are talking the top league against non-League.”

Alan O’Hare and Djoumin Sangare are expected to be the only injury absentees for City, while Craig Nelthorpe has returned from his loan spell at Barrow but is unlikely to make the bench.

Despite Cup fever gripping the city with 4,000 fans travelling to the Potteries tomorrow, Foyle is looking ahead to Tuesday’s league trip to Altrincham.

“Whatever happens we won’t be losing focus,” he said. “Mine and Andy Porter’s eyes are on Altrincham and I’ll be watching them against Wrexham today.”