Wilson Reacts to FA Cup Criticism

Danny Wilson has defended his side's performance against Blue Square South side Woking this weekend.

Many fans voiced their displeasure at Swindon's less than entertaining showing but Wilson put that down to 'anxiety' as opposed to genuine anger.

Sometimes I find myself scratching my head and wondering how people forget how embarressing losing these games can be!

Yes, we all want to be entertained - we all pay to watch football and desperately want our entrance fee to be justified but we also have to appreciate that these fixtures against more lowly opposition must be approached with caution and respect. Non-League sides love to play football too but they will also grind out ugly victories that hurt and embarress their victims.

Charlton Athletic, Hartlepool United, Yeovil Town, Shrewsbury Town and Grimsby Town fans would have all dearly loved a dour 1-0 win over lower league opposition. Indeed, WE would have loved a dour 1-0 win over Histon one year ago, wouldn't we?

I still recall sitting in the Don Rogers Stand watching Fraser Digby kicking the football into high winds only for the ball to drop lovingly to Giuliano Grazioli's feet who duly went on to score the winning goal for Stevenage Borough against a then 2nd tier Swindon side.

Before that there was Hastings United, Kettering Town, Tooting & Mitcham United and Dagenham who have all knocked us out of the F.A. Cup during the post-war years. Yet we still insist on disrespecting Non-League football.

Although I agree that as long as we are a Football League side we should be expected to beat those who are not within the top four tiers of English football I do believe that what makes this game so watchable is the notion that a team like Bath City can beat Grimsby Town away from home and that Kettering can feel they've beaten Hartlepool comfortably. It's an old cliche but that is the 'glory of the cup'.

We should approach Wrexham with the same caution and then if successful we can dream about putting on a show at Old Trafford, The Emirates, Stamford Bridge, Anfield..........

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