Gillingham boss Steve Lovell has been looking forward to the club’s entry into the Emirates FA Cup this weekend as they welcome Hartlepool United to Priestfield for a First Round tie on Saturday afternoon.
Speaking to KSN this week, the Gills boss admitted, “We’ll go into the game giving them all the respect that we give all the sides we play, but it is a game really that we can’t win as everyone will look at the tie between a League One side and a team that are in the lower half of the National League.”
“People will come to the game expecting us to win by a hat full, but I’m realistic about things and as long as we’re in the draw for the second round on Monday.”
“The game’s come at the right time for us – we’ve found a bit of form in the League and of course will be looking to take that into Saturday and into the Check-A-Trade game against Crawley on Tuesday.”
Hartlepool make the long trip South to Priestfield that will have the Rainham End closed, five points out of the National League Play Off places in ninth place in the table.
“We’ve had them watched a couple of times,” Lovell said. “I saw them at they drew at Wrexham and they are a big strong side, who are good at set pieces and that’s of course something that we have to watch.”
“We had them watched at Bromley too last weekend and I will be speaking to Smudge (Bromley boss Neil Smith) before Saturday.”
“Yes, it’s a game that we cannot win, but the main thing is concentrating on our own performance. I love the FA Cup, we want to respect the competition and get through. We will go out and give it everything. There will be no pressure on them, they are hard-working and it’s a tie we want to win.”
“The FA Cup is something very special to me. I’ve got some great memories from the Competition as a player and do believe that it is one of the best competitions in the world.”
“I got to the quarter-finals while playing at Millwall and it would be nice to have a run of our own. My best memories came when we had a run one year where we reached the Quarter Final at Luton.”
“I’ll never forget the Third Round tie that year when we were drawn away to Chelsea and we won 3-2. I scored twice at the old Stamford Bridge and they missed a penalty in the last couple of minutes. Dave Speedie missed it,” smiling Lovell added, “I see Dave quite a bit and remind him quite regularly!”
Focusing on his squad availability for the weekend, Lovell told us, “Billy (Bingham) was back in training Thursday as was Bradley (Garmston) and Josh (Rees).”
“Callum (Reilley) is the only player missing out. Josh Parker came back into the squad on Tuesday and I’m pleased with the way he and the others have responded to the challenge that I gave them.”