Shakers aim to end cup jinx

Throughout all the club's well-publicised financial problems in recent seasons, one source of revenue has consistently eluded them, that of a big, money-spinning tie against Premiership opposition.

In fact it's ten long years since the Shakers managed to win an FA Cup tie against a Football League side, when a late Tony Rigby goal earned them a 2-1 victory over Crewe Alexandra at Gresty Road in December 1994.

If that miserable statistic is to be confined to the history books this time around, Wirral-based Conference North visitors Vauxhall Motors are going to have to be put to the sword on Saturday in a first round tie at Gigg Lane (3pm).

In those intervening years the club have faced non-league opposition four times, winning through twice, against Tamworth and Bishop Auckland (both after replays) and finding themselves on the receiving end of giant-killing acts, courtesy of Northwich Victoria and Blyth Spartans.

With that in mind it's high time fortune smiled on Graham Barrow's men in the self-styled Most Famous Football Competition In The World.

After all, winning the FA Cup with the highest final margin AND without conceding a goal must count for something to the footballing Gods, even if it was 102 years ago!

While a home tie against opposition two tiers down the footballing pyramid is all one could ask for, there's no way the Bury manager will allow his players to take the Motormen easily'.

In a career that spanned both the non-league and lower divisions, the Bury boss has been on both ends of Cup upsets, and will be instilling into his charges that only 100 per cent effort and concentration will do come kick-off time.

"I know what will be going through the minds of the Vauxhall players ahead of the game," said Barrow.

"When I was with Altrincham we beat Rotherham, then Crewe and finished up drawing Liverpool.

"They will feel like our players did when they played Manchester City, they have nothing to lose.

"That is a nice situation to be in, but we must overcome that, maintain our standards and be up for it."

Barrow and his coaching staff have watched Vauxhall three times since the draw was made and they have been impressed by what they have seen.

"We will treat them with the utmost respect," he added.

"There is no way we are going to just turn up and think we can turn them over, thats not going to happen.

"All of us, players, staff and especially our fans are going to have to be patient, we are still a young team and I dont want us to be affected by anything or anybody.

"They have a lot of good quality ex-Liverpool and Everton players in their squad and make no mistake they can play football and also have experience of doing well in the competition before."

That was two years ago when the Motormen caused the upset of the competition when, after a 0-0 at Rivacre Park, they knocked out Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road on penalties.

But as well as earning the club some much-needed revenue that a good run in the competition will bring, Barrow is desperately keen to erase the memory of last season's pathetic first round home defeat by local rivals Rochdale.

"That was one of the worst FA Cup ties I have ever seen in my life," he declared.

"Although it was us that lost the game, both teams were poor and there was no passion or desire from either team.

"Rochdale were there to be beaten and we were worse, we did our best to hand the game to them, Id never seen anything like it.

"It was a very frustrating day all round and I want us to put that right."

Barrow has no selection worries ahead of the game and even long-term injury victim Graeme Jones could figure on the day.

Jones has only played one half of a reserve game but has been progressing well in training after recovering from a chronic calf muscle problem.

"Theres a good case for Graeme to go on the bench," he said.

"We have to go out to win the game, it's as simple as that, and he has the ability to hurt teams.

"If hes feeling okay there should be a substitute's place for him."