Source: Bournemouth_Echo
Cherries: Howe delighted with Sunderland incentive
EDDIE Howe admits the prospect of facing Premier League opposition in the FA Cup will whet the appetite ahead of Cherries' rescheduled clash with Notts County.[LNB] The prize for the victors of the second round tie postponed on Saturday due to a frozen pitch at Meadow Lane is a trip to two-time winners Sunderland on January 8.[LNB] Cherries will be hoping to set up their first FA Cup tie against a top-flight club since 1993 when they head back up the M1 to face the Magpies a tomorrow week.[LNB] Howe, asked by the Daily Echo whether yesterday's draw would provide an added incentive, replied: It should be the same because you just want to progress. Both Notts County and us know the opposition in the next game and it is a great draw.[LNB] We have got to try to get past Notts County and that won't be easy. With a trip to a Premier League club awaiting the winners, neither of us could have asked for much more.[LNB] Reflecting on Saturday's late postponement, Howe said: We were hugely disappoin1ted, both for ourselves and for our supporters. It was called off an hour before kick-off when really it had very little chance of going ahead.[LNB] We wanted to play and didn't want to go back on a Tuesday night. I don't think 10 days will make a massive difference to our injured players and we will have to see how things go this week. We will be well prepared and, in some ways, a week's rest for our players at this stage of the season might not be a bad thing.[LNB] Cherries have never played at the Stadium of Light and last met the Wearsiders when the two clubs locked horns in the second flight in 1988-89 and 89-90. Sunderland also eliminated Cherries from the League Cup in 1989.[LNB] Since going out to Blackburn in 1993, Cherries' greatest FA Cup triumph was a 1-0 victory over West Brom in the third round in 1999 when Howe was on target in front of a crowd of 10,881 at Dean Court. He also netted their consolation in a 3-1 defeat at Barnsley in the next round.[LNB] Howe, who today celebrates his 33rd birthday, added: We've had some good draws in the League Cup down the years but some disappointing ones in the FA Cup.[LNB] Sunderland are seventh in the Premier League and are a massive and well supported club. The FA Cup is a fantastic competition and this is the type of draw that you want to be in the third round for.[LNB]
