Football VAVEL

Aaron Wilbraham stresses importance of having the "right mindset" in FA Cup

Salop assistant-manager Aaron Wilbraham faced the media ahead of the York cup tie on Saturday.

Aaron Wilbraham stresses importance of having the "right mindset" in FA Cup
Shrewsbury assistant Aaron Wilbraham (Photo by James Baylis - AMA/Getty Images)
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By Ryan Brookes

Shrewsbury Town assistant Aaron Wilbraham is hoping that his side can overcome lower-league opposition in York City, when the two teams clash in the Emirates FA Cup First Round on Saturday.

Town haven't seen the best of form recently, recording just one win in five, although they do hold a strong mid-table position in League One, a division they have endured for eight consecutive seasons now.

Two long away trips to Plymouth and Portsmouth saw Salop claim just a point, but that was regarded as successful, given the nature of the fixtures.

"It was definitely a long week and a lot of travelling, but I think you saw the effort that the boys put into both those trips."

  • On the FA Cup

Wilbraham first discussed the prestigious cup competition, highlighting the importance of having the right mindset going into the early rounds.

"The FA Cup is one of the oldest competitions in the world, and everyone talks about it, and obviously, in these early rounds, you've got to take it as serious as you would if you were playing a Premier League team in the Third Round.

"It's important to have the right mindset going into these games."

A side that gained promotion from the sixth tier of English football last season, York City aren't to be overlooked, having started the new National League campaign very well, sitting in 11th.

Salop assistant Wilbraham talked about his side's preparation ahead of the visit of the Minstermen...

"We've prepared as well as we would for a league game.

"We've had a good look at (York), and obviously they're a good team, so we're not going to take them lightly, and we'll go into it with the same focus as we do for a normal league game."

Shrewsbury fans will be fairly familiar with York's current manager John Askey - beknown to many, Askey had a short stint at the helm of the Shropshire side, however only lasted a mere 164 days in charge.

"I always look forward to going back to my old clubs and I'm sure John will be the same. 

"I don't know him personally, but the manager was very complimentary about him in our team meeting, so we know that John will want to come and get a result, and we want to get the right result for Shrewsbury as well."

  • Third Round target

In recent years, Shrewsbury Town have made Premier League opposition in the FA Cup a regularity, with ties against Liverpool and Southampton in the past three campaigns.

But with York standing in their path to the Second Round, Salop will have to focus on one game at a time, in the attempt to reach the Third Round for the sixth season running.

"It's the old cliche where you have got to take each game as it comes. You can't be thinking about the latter rounds until you've done the job in hand.

"I remember reaching the Fifth Round with Stockport, playing against Tottenham away at White Hart Lane, which was quite a good experience. It's always been an exciting competition, and one that, as a kid, you want to say that you've played in and done well in, and scored in.

"As a player, especially in League One, League Two and below, everyone's looking to get to the Third or Fourth Round and hopefully get a Premier League team.

"That's what everyone dreams of, and obviously, speaking about the ties that Shrewsbury have had in recent times - the Liverpool game last year for instance.

"We'll look forward to that, but not until we've done the job in hand in the first two rounds, and it's going to be a difficult game against York on Saturday, that's for sure."

  • Team News

Striker Aiden O'Brien recently suffered a suspected hip injury, whilst disruption in defence sees Julien Dacosta out with what could be a potential groin injury.

Wilbraham gave an update on recent scans, which confirm that Town will be without the pair for some time.

"It's unlikely that we'll see Julien until December now, and with Aiden, although nothing clear has come back on the scan, we're just going to continue with his rehab and get him stronger in the gym, and hopefully no more setbacks on that one."