AS a young boy growing up in France, Drissa Diallo was a big fan of the famous French midfield that featured Jean Tigana.

Tomorrow afternoon he will be hoping to help dump his former heroes Fulham side out of the FA Cup.

"When I was young, Tigana played in the midfield with other great players like Alain Giresse and Michel Platini," explained Diallo who recently signed a contract to keep him at Turf Moor until the summer.

"Tigana was a great player and he has done very well as the manager of Fulham but I don't think we have any reason to be afraid of them.

"They also have some great players but that should not worry us."

The Fulham side is packed full of fellow Frenchmen, and Diallo added: "I have played against Steve Marlet when he was playing in the second division in France and I was at Sedan.

"They have other good players like Malbranque and Legwinski but there is no reason for us to worry.

"This match is a good opportunity for everyone at the club, for the players, for the manager and for the fans. We are playing against Premiership players, big stars and that will be a great experience. This is the sort of match you love to play in.

"But the important thing is to treat it like any other game. Playing against Fulham has to be the same as playing against Coventry. We need to work together as a team.

"It was very good to have a clean sheet when we played against Coventry last week and now we want to have another one."

While his team-mates were training out in Portugal, Diallo went home to Belgium to tie up a few loose ends following his departure from Mechelen.

"It was a big mess there after the club went into liquidation and I had to deal with things like my furniture," he explained. "But all that is done now and my mind is just on the match against Fulham.

"I have watched them on the TV but I know in my heart that we can go through. I have read that Burnley has not been in this round for 20 years and it is a good chance to go even further."

Diallo's commanding form alongside Ian Cox a week ago was a big factor in the win at Highfield Road and the partnership looks certain to be kept in place.

But almost as important was the return of Graham Branch from suspension at left-back and he is relishing the prospect of locking horns with another top flight team.

"We have seemed to do well when we have played against Premiership teams in recent times," said the in-form player who is battling to earn a new contract in the summer.

"We played very well against Spurs and Manchester United in the Worthington Cup and I think we can do well at Loftus Road.

"We are confident and we think we have a very good chance of beating them or at least getting a draw down there. I don't know if it is because we raise our game 10 or 15 per cent for the big games but it will be a good match. They are comfortable on the ball but we like to play football as well."

And he believes that the large away following that will be crammed into Loftus Road can have a vital part to play.

"Our away speccies are brilliant and wherever we go they make a lot noise," he said.

"It sometimes takes a section to get the fans going at Turf Moor but away they make an unbelievable noise.

"It is partly down to the players though, we need to do something that will get all the fans going in the opening minutes.

"If we can start well then we know the fans will be right behind us."

There is no doubt that Branch, Diallo and the rest of the defence will have plenty to keep them busy tomorrow.

But equally clear is the belief that this is one battle the underdogs can win this weekend.