Michael Doughty has urged Town to concentrate on what they do best ahead of tonight’s Emirates FA Cup First Round tie away at Eastleigh (7.55pm Kick-Off).
The Reds will be hoping to get the better of their non-league counterparts at the Silverlake Stadium and reach the Second Round of the competition for the first time since the 2011/12 season, a goal Doughty knows is achievable as long as he and his team-mates focus on themselves and how they play.
“I know that for their status in footballing terms they have quite a significant budget and they have had a good rise in recent years,” he said.
“They are used to winning games of football and having played in quite a few FA Cup games, you can’t have a look at where people are in the league because it is a complete one-off, especially under the lights and with the TV cameras there.
“Any of these players are capable of producing a performance that is League One standard or better, but so are we and we can’t be focused on who they are, what they stand for and what they’ve done because it is irrelevant.
“If we go there and concentrate on what we can do and play the way we know how to, then we’ll win the game – it is as simple as that.
“If we don’t turn up then it could be a bad, bad night and once you get your head around that and if you need any more motivation then you shouldn’t be playing the game.
“There’s a lot at stake for us.”
The FA Cup is a competition that is close to Doughty’s heart and the midfielder shared some of his favourite memories from the competition.
“We got to the Fourth Round and played Everton on TV when I was at Stevenage,” he added.
“I’ve got quite a few FA Cup memories and I remember watching Nottingham Forest a lot in the competition.
“It was always a feeling of something special.
“I scored my first-ever professional goal in the FA Cup as well for Crawley against Bury, so I love the competition personally and I think it is a welcome break for us.
“It takes you to places that you might not usually go and it gives you opportunities to play in the national forum, like on the BBC.
“Some of the boys would never have done that and I certainly haven’t played on the BBC before in my career, so tonight will be a first.
“If we can deal with that pressure and that responsibility going forward then it will be a positive experience.”
