Cup replay harder: Blakemore

Chasetown boss Charlie Blakemore has warned his FA Cup heroes that Tuesday's Church Street replay will be "ten times harder" than their original clash with League One Port Vale.

The Scholars line up for their second shot at FA Cup immortality nine days after originally holding Lee Sinnott's side to a 1-1 draw at Vale Park.

With a vocal capacity crowd behind them at Church Street the Southern League Midlands club will never have a better opportunity to etch their names into Cup folklore.

But with FA Cup hype reaching fever pitch, Blakemore is keen to stress just how tough the game will be.

"It's a one in 1,000 shot for us to beat them – and it's even more difficult after a replay.

"We won't be surprising them this time because they know what we're all about and they'll be ready," he said.

"We have to give it everything we've got an make it as uncomfortable for them as possible again."

The bosses' tactic of using the M People song 'Proud' to motivate the players has captured the headlines this week – with fans rushing to expressandstar.com to check out his fascinating words of wisdom.

Blakemore is keeping his pre-game team talk under wraps until Tuesday but insists his role in last weekend's heroics was only minimal.

"I might do something for Tuesday – I haven't decided yet. The song was something I thought might help them but my role in the draw was maybe five per cent.

"It was down to those players – they achieved something very special for themselves, their families, the fans and everyone connected with the football club. Now they have to do it again."

Blakemore is naturally disappointed that the game is not going to be beamed to a global audience live on Sky, as was originally planned.

TV bosses have told the Chasetown directors that the club's floodlights are not bright enough to broadcast the game on their High Definition sports channel.

"It is disappointing. Horsham are a division above us and they were featured against Swansea last week, so it seems like they've had their go," he admitted.

While all eyes will be on the huge FA Cup clash The Scholars were brought crashing to earth with a drab midweek defeat against Evesham.

The 1-0 reverse was the result Blakemore was fearing, but he refused to be too downast and admitted it is difficult to maintain a league campaign while the club is still battling to make FA Cup history.

"It was always going to be a danger," he confessed. "In fairness I think we probably did enough to have got the win but there were a few tired legs and bodies out there and it eventually ended up taking it's toll.

"It is a big ask for us to keep challenging in the league now because we will be playing Tuesday and Saturday most weeks to catch up – but I think this squad are more than capable of doing it."

Meanwhile, Blakemore has made two useful additions to his squad – tough-tackling Scott Clamp from Atherstone and Todd Perry from Willenhall.