Nathan Pond is hoping of an FA Cup run for Fleetwood Town this season – but has his mind fully focused for Gloucester on Saturday.
Town were paired with the Skrill Conference North side for the first-round draw, to be held at Cheltenham Town’s Whaddon Road, and have played the Tigers before in 2009/10.
Last season, the Cod Army slipped out of the competition at home to Aldershot in the second round, but Pond is hoping to go further this time – and wants to draw Manchester City, the team he supports.
“It would be nice (to play Man City), but I wouldn’t fancy marking Aguero and Negredo,” he said. “We need to get past Gloucester first, though, before we get ahead of ourselves because they will be tough opposition.”
The sides faced each other in the Conference North in October 2009, with Town winning 2-1 away before a 3-1 win in the fixture at home.
Pond said: “I can’t remember those games in detail, but it shows how far we've come in a short space of time. Saturday is a break from the league and we’re in a good position at the top (of League Two).
“The league is the bread and butter, we want to do well in that, but it’s good to get some cup action, and it’s good to try and get a glamorous cup tie in the later rounds if we get through - everyone dreams of that.”
28-year-old Pond, the longest-serving player for the Fleetwood, also believes that, for all the changes at Gloucester, they would be surprised to see the position Town are in now – their highest ever on the football ladder.
“It’s a home tie for Gloucester but, if we were playing the game at Fleetwood, I’m sure they would be surprised at the changes here,” he said.
“They’re in a lower league so they will be underdogs, so they’ll be up for it and we’re not going to take them lightly. We'll respect them as any team can win on their day."
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