TAMWORTH boss Andy Peaks hopes the ‘big coup’ return of Dan Creaney can provide the platform for another FA Cup upset on Monday.
The Lambs host League One side Leyton Orient – echoing round one a year ago when they beat Huddersfield Town.
Tamworth then won at Burton Albion to set up a memorable third round clash with Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham Hotspur.
Orient are 14th in League One and have lost seven games so far – but Peaks is under no illusion about the task ahead.
However, he has been boosted by the return, on loan, of Creaney who scored 19 National League goals for Tamworth.
Creaney joined Midlands rivals Solihull Moors last summer but has not played as much as he would want recently.
But the bonus for Peaks is that he has not played in the FA Cup for Moors, so would be eligible for the Lambs against Orient.
Peaks told the club’s X account: “Obviously, Dan’s record speaks for itself.
“We’ve got a great relationship with myself and him and with the club. He became available due to not getting the minutes he wants at the moment, so for me, it was a no brainer.
“He had something different. We’ve done well as a group, but Dan just adds a different dimension and it’ll add to the group, that’s an awesome a plus for me.
“This opportunity came up and we took it, veryone knows what Dan brings this club. To get him back is a big coup for the club.”
Peaks has happy memories of the FA Cup – not just last season’s run to the third round.
He added: “The FA Cup has always been massive, even from day one when I was at school.
“I used to follow the FA Cup, and iit was big, you know, you look for the draws and you want to do well. I played at step three, step four, step five, you want to get good ties.
“Last year gave us a taste of what you can really do when we played Tottenham live on TV, extra time and all the big stars, that’s what the FA Cup’s about.
“Anything can happen on the day. We have to hope that on Monday, Orient have a bad day and we play to our capabilities and make an occasion of it.
“But it’s ironic, really. It’s great to be chosen for a game on TV, but realistically, it’s probably killed us in the fact that they’ll all be going to work Monday, so the prep is not going to be as good as if we’d have played Orient on a Saturday afternoon.”
