MK Dons manager Karl Robinson insists his side will not be taking next month’s FA Cup with Budweiser Second Round Proper tie with Dover Athletic lightly.
.mkstadiumRobinson’s men were paired with the Skrill Conference South outfit in Sunday’s live draw, having seen off FC Halifax Town 4-1 the day before at
The Dons have once before faced a non-League side in the Second Round stage, a meeting with Cambridge City in the Club’s first season, and Robinson is adamant his players will treat this contest like he would any other.
Speaking earlier this week, the Dons boss said: “It’s an incredible achievement by Dover Athletic. I think if you look back over the years, Dover are always a team that upset the apple cart within cup ties and they are always there or thereabouts in the FA Cup First Round. They have a wonderful history with this wonderful competition.
“Once again, we will not be taking it lightly. By the time this game comes around, we’ll do our usual match preparation session on them, just as we would for any League game. The lads are off for a few days after we play Coventry City, which was already in our plan for them as they need that rest period but after that we’ll be right at this game and desperate to win it.”
Despite the potential for an upset, the draw does give the Dons a realistic chance of progressing into the Third Round of the FA Cup with Budweiser for the third season in a row and if his side were to do just that, Robinson says it’ll be a wonderful achievement by the Football Club.
“It is a realistic opportunity for us to progress but we’ll only progress if we win that game” he added. “We want to be in the Third Round because it’ll be a wonderful testament to us to get to that level for the third year in a row; we’ll be very proud of that.
“Financially it’ll be good for us too but we’ll only get excited about the prospect of facing a big team in the Third Round if we’re successful against Dover. They won’t be coming here just for the party, they’ll be coming here to win the game.
“Regardless of the difference in Leagues, it’ll be 11 men versus 11 men and on any given day, anyone can come out victorious, the FA Cup allows that to happen year in and year out. Who could have predicted Macclesfield would beat Swindon 4-0? I first thought that must have rested some players but it was strong as when they played against us.
“We need to make we focus solely on that game when it comes around but between then we’ve got three massive games against Bradford City, Colchester United and Coventry City. They are massive games and we want to compete in them.”
