Cup weekend starts on the Turf tomorrow
Burnley travel to the Etihad Stadium this Saturday to play Manchester City in the FA Cup but it is our youth team who kick off the cup weekend with a home FA Youth Cup 4th round tie against Plymouth Argyle at Turf Moor.
It was back on the 27th November that we became the first team to reach the 4th round this season with a somewhat fortunate 1-0 win against Leeds which came courtesy of a Jordan Cropper (pictured) goal in the 83rd minute. Leeds, overall, had been the better of the two teams. We looked a little nervous at times but got through and hoped for another home draw.
When that draw was made we got the good news of a home draw but the not so good news that our opponents could be Manchester City, finalists for each of the last three seasons. All they had to do was beat Plymouth in their tie and I don’t think anyone outside of Plymouth would have expected anything other than a City win.
But Plymouth held them to a draw and went on to win the penalty shoot out and so it is they who we face tomorrow night.
It’s difficult to know what sort of form we are likely to be in. That Leeds game, over five weeks ago, was the last time we played. The next three fixtures, all away from home, were postponed and that took us into the Christmas break.
The lads will have prepared well and it is likely that players such as Oliver Younger and Dwight McNeil, who have been regulars in the under-23s this season, will again be available to give Danny Cadamarteri, who missed the last game, the chance to field his strongest team.
Plymouth play in the Youth Alliance League South West Division. They are currently eighth in the eleven team league having won six and lost nine of their league games but they’ve progressed well in the FA Youth Cup having beaten both Eastleigh and Wimbledon in the first two rounds before that sensational win against City.
Tomorrow sees them play away from home in the competition for the first time. Coach Kevin Hodges admitted: “I think we’re still the underdogs, no doubt about that, but it’s a massive challenge. It’s a completely different challenge to what we had against Man City.”
Kick off tomorrow is 7 p.m. and admission charges are £4 adults, £2 concessions with season ticket holders of both clubs admitted for £1. You must purchase a ticket at the ticket office before going into the ground via turnstiles 5,6, and 7 in the Bob Lord Stand.
if you can’t make the game, online radio station Live Sports FM will be running an online commentary on the game. Go to http://livesportsfm.co.uk for more details.
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