Town boss eyes FA Cup shock

Town boss eyes FA Cup shock

Published Jan. 29, 2011 1:16 p.m. ET

Clark, under intense pressure to deliver npower Championship football at Huddersfield next season, will send out a side with nothing to fear at the Emirates Stadium and eager to showcase their talents on a national stage. The 38-year-old, who enjoyed limited success in the competition as a player with Newcastle, Sunderland and Fulham, said: "Arsenal are an outstanding side. The pace and the tempo they play at and the way they pass the ball so quickly and accurately to each other is unbelievable. "Despite this we have to go there with a gameplan and try to stick to it to the best of our ability. "If we do, you never know. The Cup is about shocks and this would be a huge one because as I've said we are massive underdogs. All we can do is focus on our own performance." Arsenal's pedigree surfaced in their third-round replay defeat of Leeds and against Ipswich in the Carling Cup, flashes of brilliance accounting for two Championship sides. Clark added: "We won't fear them. We have certainly got the utmost respect for them, but we won't fear them. We have to go and try and cause them one or two problems. "We know that for large periods of the game we'll be up against it and if anyone thinks any differently, they're living on a different planet. "But we know that if we do the right things and defend our goal properly we can cause them one or two problems with the attacking players we have, that's for sure. "Nothing is impossible. Shocks have happened over the years, so we'll give it a good go and see if something can happen." Town were held to a goalless draw at Blue Square Premier side Cambridge United in the first round and required stoppage-time goals from Lee Peltier and Gary Roberts to squeeze through in the replay. Macclesfield were thumped 6-0 at the Galpharm in round two while early goals from Scott Arfield and Roberts ended Dover's gallant run to the third round and set up their first trip to the Emirates. Clark said: "We know it's going to be tough. We're huge underdogs, but I said to the players at the start of the week that we've worked very hard to get this. "We've come through some tricky ties. If you're lucky enough to get home ties against clubs who are lower than yourself, you might get to the far end of the FA Cup, but if not, why not experience one of these days?" Huddersfield will be without leading goalscorer Jordan Rhodes (ankle), so Lee Novak is expected to start alongside Alan Lee. Arsenal teenager Benik Afobe was all set to play against his parent club, but under FA rules is ineligible as he arrived at Huddersfield under a youth loan. Town will also be without on-loan Newcastle defender Tamas Kadar (hamstring). Clark added: "We're in good shape but we've obviously lost Jordan at the weekend which is unfortunate for us. "The group is looking quite healthy. Obviously the big blow for us is that our top goalscorer is not available and won't be for the foreseeable future, but you have to move forward. "I believe a lot of our young, gifted players have the opportunity in their future careers to enjoy this type of occasion again, maybe in the Premier League, whether that's for Huddersfield in the long-term future or for them as personal individuals. "I want them to do it right on Sunday and enjoy the occasion."

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