Dickov: 'Ryan Hall, one of the best players in the division'
Latics boss Paul Dickov is well aware his side will be in for a tough test when they travel to the Shrimpers for Saturday’s FA Cup second round meeting between the League Two leaders and the Lancashire boys from a division above.
Dickov told http://menmedia.co.uk: "Whoever it was going to be, Southend or Preston, it would have been a tough game. I went down there on the Tuesday and they’re a hard-working team in good form, (and) as much as Southend are a big, strong, organised team, they do like to play football as well. They've got Neil Harris and Liam Dickinson up-front, as well as Ryan Hall, who is one of the best players in the division. I was on loan at Crystal Palace when he was a kid there and he was highly thought of. We know what to expect; we'll go there with a bit of confidence ourselves and the boys are really fired up for it. Southend are full of confidence and playing well but it's a game we can win."
Fair enough and Dickov also spoke to www.oldhamathletic.co.uk on how the next five days will be vital for the club as well as for him personally as the Latics also face Bradford City in the JPT Northern semi-final.
Money, money, money; £27,000 to the winners at the weekend.
He said: "They are two big cup games for the football club and the fans and it's possibly one of the most important weeks I have had as a manager for a lot of different reasons. We want to get to the third round of the FA Cup and we desperatly want to get to Wembley and the Johnstone's Paint Trophy is our best route. It's also massively important for the club financially with a prize fund in the FA Cup as well as gate receipts and that is why we want to do well on both counts."
And with only one defeat in the last 7 games, though we trump that with 16 games unbeaten, this is certainly a clash between teams in fair nick!
Dickov continued: "We are in a decent run of form and, until last Saturday, were scoring lots and lots of goals and creating lots of chances. Defensively we are getting better and we were as solid as we have been for a long time at Bournemouth."
The former Manchester City striker has been involved in many cup ties, and for him the competition still has a special appeal.
Dickov explained: "The FA Cup is a special trophy for lots of people. For a lot of clubs like ourselves it has to be to get to the third round and get a decent draw. Being realistic we are not going to win it so getting to the third round for a lot of clubs is their cup final. Hopefully we can get a positive result at Southend and be in the bag for the draw on Sunday afternoon. That will be exciting with everybody sat in front of the television looking forward to it."
Who knows, we could meet again at the end of March sometime, somewhere in north-west London for the JPT Cup Final!