FA Cup run could help build confidence says St Albans City manager

St Albans City joint-manager James Gray. Picture: Bob Walkley (Image: RJW.Photography)

Saints host Deal Town on Saturday in the second qualifying round, knowing they stand a good chance of progressing to the next round.

Their Kentish visitors are currently in the bottom half of the Southern Counties East Premier Division, three levels below City.

But Gray is not taking the game lightly.

He said: “It’s a massive game for them, possibly one of the biggest they’ve had in a few years.

“They’ve had replays in every round but it’s one of them, if we get an early goal it could make for an easier afternoon and one that gets the confidence throughout the squad.

“The pressure comes off us a little bit although the FA Cup is mightily important to us.

“If we can get some finances in, it means I can maybe knock on a few doors and try and get a bit more out of the club because I do think there are a few areas we need to strengthen.

“Things are tight but if we can get a half-decent cup run then the finances start coming in.”

He admitted the cup will provide a welcome distraction from their league campaign.

“It’s a great opportunity for us to break off the shackles of the league,” he said.

“It’s an opportunity to literally go all-out, get the ball on the deck, play the way we want to play and try and get some goals.

“And if we can get two or three different players scoring goals, it could be a massive confidence booster.

“I can’t keep going overboard and going on-and-on about the same old things.

“We just have to put it right and there’s no better opportunity than having a good couple of training sessions this week and a handsome victory in the FA Cup.”