Crawley Town interim manager Kevin Blackwell has warned his players to expect a difficult FA Cup test away to non-league Wimborne Town this Sunday. Blackwell stressed his side, currently 24th in League Two with nine points from 12 games, must earn their place in the competition rather than assume victory against the seventh-tier hosts. The team's league record stands at two wins, three draws and seven defeats, having scored 13 goals and conceded 21.

"It's good we're away from home, it’s non-league, it's live on TV because they expect a shock, so let's make it quite clear this is going to be a tough game," said Blackwell. The 67-year-old, appointed after Colin Kazim-Richards was dismissed last month, is treating his role with long-term focus. "I will treat this job as if I'm going to be here for 100 years," he added.

Cup pedigree and recent struggles

Crawley have a notable FA Cup history, reaching the fifth round in 2011 and 2012 and famously beating Leeds United 3-0 in the fourth round in 2021. However, they have won only one of their seven FA Cup ties since that 2012 run. Blackwell brings his own deep cup experience, having been assistant manager at Sheffield United in 2003 when they took Arsenal to a semi-final replay at Old Trafford, a game remembered for a late save by David Seaman.

The cup tie offers a brief respite from a challenging league campaign. Crawley's recent form reads one win, two draws and two defeats from their last five matches. Their last outing was a 1-0 win at Oldham on Saturday 31 October, secured by a Danilo Orsi goal in the 65th minute, which moved them off the foot of the table. That result followed a 1-1 home draw with Tranmere on Saturday 24 October, where Dylan Morgan scored, and a 2-3 home defeat to Shrewsbury on Tuesday 20 October. They remain 22 points behind leaders Salford City.

Blackwell's immediate task is to handle past Wimborne, who play in the Southern League Premier Division South, three divisions below League Two. A positive result could provide momentum ahead of the next League Two fixture, a trip to 22nd-placed Rotherham on Saturday 14 November. The interim boss has made it clear that every game, regardless of the opposition, demands full commitment from his squad.

The original report is at SussexWorld