Match Day Preview: Lincoln City v Plymouth Argyle

Lincoln City v Plymouth Argyle

FA Cup 1st Round, Saturday 9 November 2013, Sincil Bank (kick-off 3pm)

30 years ago it was heartbreak for Plymouth manager, John Sheridan, then in his playing career as a top flight midfielder. In a replay on 20 May 1993, Sheridan and his club Sheffield Wednesday felt the dejection of FA Cup final defeat, as Arsenal scored a winner in the last minute of extra time to seal a last gasp 2-1 victory.

Over the last five years, Argyle have failed to get out of the starting blocks. Defeats in the first round to Arsenal (1-3), Newcastle (0-3 in a replay, after a 0-0 draw), Swindon (0-4), Stourbridge (0-2, after a 3-3 draw) and Dorchester (0-1) over consecutive seasons, tell a sorry tale. In fact, the Pilgrims have not won an FA Cup match since January 2008.

Sheridan may have every reason to be wary of a competition that has brought little joy to him or, at least in recent years, to the club; but he takes the Greens into Saturday's first round tie at Skrill Conference Premier League side Lincoln City, with his passion for the Cup undimmed.

“The FA Cup is a brilliant competition,” Sheridan told the club's website.

“In the last couple of years, non-league teams have knocked us out and I will be trying my damnedest for that not to happen again.

“Any first-round game is a big appetiser for non-league clubs to do well, and financially do well out of the competition.

“They will think it is a good tie for them, so we’ll go there expecting a really tough game. We’ll go there full-strength and try to get through the tie. It’s important we get through the tie.

“We have got to be realistic. We are never going to win it. But you have got to try to get as far as you can and you try to get through the early rounds and get a big team at home, financially get a bit of money in the bank.”

Sheridan has revealed he will rest keeper Luke McCormick with Jake Cole coming in as able replacement:

“I am going to give Jake a game. It’s a game where I can throw him in. I’ve got total trust in him. He’s training really hard and it’s an opportunity to give him a game. There are no worries whatsoever.

“Luke has been really good; really positive; part of the good, strong back line; and has been playing really well. No matter what the situation, Luke will be back in for the league programme.

“They are two very good ’keepers and Luke is probably playing well because Jake is behind him."

With Argyle's results seeming to have finally turned a corner following consecutive 1-0 wins in League 2, they will feel they have the strength to outclass their weekend opponents who lie mid-table in the top non-league division; but this is the FA Cup remember.