Wed Dec 09, 2015 8:03 am
BOTH managers agree that Cardiff City v Grimsby Town would be a cracking FA Cup Third Round tie – but Shrewsbury Town might have something to say about that!
Following Monday's goalless Second Round clash with the Shrews, next Tuesday's replay in Shropshire will determine who will travel to face the Bluebirds in the New Year.
For Town, it would mean a reunion with former boss Russell Slade, who was in attendance for the draw in Cardiff.
During his two-season tenure at Blundell Park, Slade led Town to League Cup victories over Derby and then Tottenham Hotspur and took them to the League Two Play-Off Final at the Millennium Stadium, where they lost 1-0 to Cheltenham.
Speaking after the draw was made, he said: "The cup ignores the level, it would be good to get my former team Grimsby."
On the draw, his opposite number at Town, Paul Hurst, said: "Cardiff City is a good carrot for us going into the replay. It would be another step up going to a Championship club.
"Location-wise, it's not a million miles away from Shrewsbury but for us, the board and a few members of the staff who were here when he was, it would be a meeting with a former manager in Russell Slade – so there
"You think of the stadium and the fact not so long ago it was hosting Premier League football, so of course it would be good to go there, but there's a long way to go yet.
"Have we missed our chance by not winning on Monday? I don't know, we'll see next Tuesday!
"We thought that when we played Port Vale a few years ago – albeit we were coming back to Blundell Park – but we managed to get the victory then.
"I'm pretty certain we'll be underdogs going into that game given the fact that it's at Shrewsbury this time, but it doesn't matter where the bookies have us, that's their business.
"We'll do what we can and go down there looking to put on another good performance like we did on Monday and who knows where that could take us."