Devonshire wants league focus before FA Cup excitement (From Gazette)

Devonshire wants league focus before FA Cup excitement

9:00am Friday 26th October 2012 in Sport By Simon Spurgeon

Alan Devonshire. Picture: SEANA HUGHES

With Braintree Town’s biggest-ever day looming, manager Alan Devonshire is having to keep his players focused on the immediate job in hand.

Before their FA Cup first round date with Tranmere Rovers at the Amlin Stadium on November 4 – a game that is being screened live on national television – the Iron have the small matter of a Blue Square Bet Premier fixture against Wrexham to deal with.

Ahead of their big FA Cup date against the League One leaders, Braintree will be looking to extend their unbeaten run to four games against the Welsh side tomorrow.
 

Wrexham are one of the favourites for promotion this season and come to Braintree sitting second in the Blue Square Bet Premier table, but they will face an Iron side bubbling with confidence.

A notable win at Luton two weeks ago was followed by a draw at Hereford and victory against Lowestoft Town in the FA Cup fourth qualifying round last weekend.

That win and the subsequent draw have brought cup fever to Braintree’s fans, but Devonshire is keeping his players focused on their league obligations first.
 

He said: “It’s terrific news that ITV have picked us for their prime slot and it can only be good for us.

“I’m pleased for the lads who have stayed with us as it’s a big game against the highest ranked team we could have got.

“Any money matters (about where television revenues will go), I leave up to the powers that be and we’ve got a big game against Wrexham to concentrate on first.

“People will talk about the cup, but I want them to worry about Wrexham because we want to extend our three-game unbeaten run.”

Devonshire said he expects Ryan Peters to miss the game due to a gash on his shin, but he is hoping Sam Habergham and Danny Sparkes will return from shoulder and knee problems respectively.
 

He also confirmed that centre-back Alan Massey will make his home debut tomorrow.

See next week's paper for a special FA Cup supplement and all the latest news and exclusive views from the Iron.