Chris Kinnear believes that, no matter what happens in his side’s FA Cup game on Sunday, his team are still the winners of the tie.
The Dover Athletic manager was speaking at a press event ahead of his side’s FA Cup third round tie against Premier League side Crystal Palace; “we have three outcomes, even if we lose we have won with the money and everything else, a win would be unbelievable, a draw would be unbelievable, any result is good for us”.
Kinnear doesn’t expect an easy game for the Whites’ top flight opponents and he knows that the club will revel in the situation “Everyone will get behind the side, it’s an experienced side”.
“We’re looking forward to it, we’re on a great run, we’re 16 games unbeaten whereas they have only won one in 13 or 14”.
Kinnear has said that his side won’t change how they play to suit Palace and supports his point with the tournament’s world renowned history
“We have a chance, I know it’s a massive jump but somewhere in history sides have beaten Premier League Sides, maybe it’s Dover’s turn.”
Dover have already made £57,500 from the FA’s tournament prize fund and will get a further £67,500 if they win at Crabble on Sunday, Kinnear explained the effects of this financial injection “the money will allow the club to invest and improve, luckily we aren’t one of these clubs who is desperate for money so we are able to invest the money and improve as a club.”
Dover have already beat two Football League sides in their run to the third round and have experience in the competition after a run last year ended in defeat to MK Dons but Connor Essam, who scored the winner in the second round, has said that “Although there is a huge difference in the levels of the sides I don’t see why we can’t get something from the game.”
Essam also said that the team’s recent unbeaten run has given them confidence as the fixture comes closer “The run we’ve had has made us so confident, this is the most together side I’ve been in and I know a lot of the lads will agree with that, we don’t fear anybody”.
Craig Stone will be available for selection for the first cup game this season after he broke his ankle earlier in Dover’s season. The full back be fresh again whereas the rest of the squad will be coming off a busy Christmas schedule “we’ve had other games to concentrate on but now we are able to enjoy it as we should do, we’re looking forward to it.”
The Dover players are happy to be underdogs as the game approaches and Stone believes the team’s previous experiences will help the side on Sunday “we know what it’s like to be underdogs but it’s slightly different as they are a Premier League side, I know most of the lads haven’t played a Premier League side before so we’re looking forward to it.”
Stefan Payne, who sent the Whites into the second round with his goal against Morecambe, thinks that the fans will play a huge role in the game “The fans will get behind us, they will influence the game a lot.”
Payne summed up the feeling within the team well, saying “if you’re on a 16 game unbeaten run it really speaks for itself”.
The side seem to be relaxed as the game approaches but understand the size of the fixture; Kinnear explained “It’s massive, it’s the biggest competition in the world and this will be the highlight of these lads’ careers.
With the game sold out, you can watch the Dover FA Cup third round tie against Crystal Palace, who are expected to field a strong team, on BT Sport, kick off is at 1PM at Crabble.
Pictures supplied by PSP Images and Dave Budden.