Paul Dickov knows all about cup upsets, having been manager of the Oldham side that knocked Liverpool out of The FA Cup two seasons ago, so the Doncaster boss is wary of the threat posed by part-timers Weston-Super-Mare.
Dickov played for 12 clubs including Arsenal and Manchester City, for whom he scored a memorable late equaliser in their dramatic Play-Off Final victory over Gillingham at Wembley in 1999.
He also played for his native Scotland around the world, but it will be his first time at the Seagulls' Woodspring Stadium.
Weston Super Mare v Doncaster Rovers
The FA Cup
First Round Proper
3pm, Saturday 8 November
Woodspring Stadium, Weston Super Mare
Winning club will receive £18,000
“This is a new one for me and it will be a nice trip down the coast for us,” said Dickov, who has been in charge of the League One side since the start of last season.
Having masterminded Oldham's famous win over Liverpool in the Fourth Round a few months earlier, he knows what can happen in The FA Cup
He added: “I’ve seen their manager talking of a giant-killing so we must be professional down there and get the job done.
“This season we’ve been a little bit inconsistent but the last couple of games we’ve picked up four points out of the last six, so hopefully we’ll hit a bit of form now.”
For Weston Super Mare, this is their first appearance in The FA Cup First Round and an upset could result in the club receiving £18,000 in prize money.
A cup run would benefit both sides after disappointing starts in their respective leagues. The Seagulls’ are just two points off the bottom of the Conference South while Rovers sit 17th in League One after last season's relegation from the Championship.
Rovers’ saving grace of avoiding an upset may be that seven out of their eight victories this season have come on their travels.
