Post by admin on Nov 13, 2015 3:38:29 GMT
Braintree Town boss in awe of Iron fans ahead of Oxford United replay
By Stuart Ballard
PRAISE: Danny Cowley has lauded the Iron fans
Braintree Town manager Danny Cowley has been left in awe at the support of the club and is happy to give them an FA Cup replay to look forward to.
Kenny Davis' equaliser at home to Oxford United at the weekend ensured Braintree entered the hat for the FA Cup second round draw and the winner of the replay will face Forest Green Rovers at home.
They'll face an uphill task away at Oxford United to get a result but Cowley admits it's fantastic for the loyal supporters of the football club.
"We've obviously got a very tough game at Oxford next Tuesday but we saw the draw and Forest Green will be tough for anyone because they're the best team in non-league at the moment," said Cowley.
"We've got a lot of games in between that so we're just going to focus on what's in front of us but we've got a league game this Saturday before a tough trip away at Oxford to focus on first.
"It's brilliant for everyone at the football club to see Braintree playing against League Two club in a big stadium.
"I'm really happy the supporters get that opportunity because they've been fantastic for us all season.
"We took a full supporters coach for the game on Tuesday against Woking just days after the FA Cup match.
"The noise they created was immense and at a ratio of probably ten-to-one our supporters out sung them.
"The supporters are really proud of what the players are doing and likewise the players are playing in a way that reflects the supporters' love for the club.
"That is why we're creating such a unique bond between the supporters and the club.
"We fuel each other for every game and I think the supporters see the efforts the players are putting in and rightly as a consequent are supporting the players.
"Likewise when the supporters are behind the boys it keeps the players honest and keeps them energised.
"To be able to reward them with an FA Cup replay is fantastic and hopefully we can give them more reason to cheer."
The Braintree manager wasn't in such high spirits going into their Tuesday night league game against Woking, just 48 hours after finishing their FA Cup tie.
With an already congested fixture list Cowley fumed at the National League for not rearranging it and wants a rule to be put in place for the future.
"Woking are a massive team with big resources and they've had a ten day recovery whilst we've had two days so we're disappointed with the league.
"I wouldn't have said that if we hadn't got anything from the game because it just would have sounded like sour grapes.
"We feel the league should support us in our achievements in the FA Cup because form their point of view they should want their member clubs to do well.
"It raises the profile of the clubs and league, which will only help with sponsorship.
"There should be a clear rule that if clubs are successful in the FA Cup fixtures will be rescheduled if a league game falls within 72 hours of the FA Cup game.
"We played Sunday so to be asked to go again within 48 hours is a massive demand on the players.
"We went into the game with six key injuries in Mark Phillips, Kenny Davis, Simeon Akinola, Michael Cheek, Anthony Edgar and Danny Sparkes.
"They're six starters for us and to go into the game with the amount of fatigue we had in the group then to be competitive and get a successful result was fantastic.
"I'm probably the proudest I've been of our group because I thought they were immense."
By Stuart Ballard
PRAISE: Danny Cowley has lauded the Iron fans
Braintree Town manager Danny Cowley has been left in awe at the support of the club and is happy to give them an FA Cup replay to look forward to.
Kenny Davis' equaliser at home to Oxford United at the weekend ensured Braintree entered the hat for the FA Cup second round draw and the winner of the replay will face Forest Green Rovers at home.
They'll face an uphill task away at Oxford United to get a result but Cowley admits it's fantastic for the loyal supporters of the football club.
"We've obviously got a very tough game at Oxford next Tuesday but we saw the draw and Forest Green will be tough for anyone because they're the best team in non-league at the moment," said Cowley.
"We've got a lot of games in between that so we're just going to focus on what's in front of us but we've got a league game this Saturday before a tough trip away at Oxford to focus on first.
"It's brilliant for everyone at the football club to see Braintree playing against League Two club in a big stadium.
"I'm really happy the supporters get that opportunity because they've been fantastic for us all season.
"We took a full supporters coach for the game on Tuesday against Woking just days after the FA Cup match.
"The noise they created was immense and at a ratio of probably ten-to-one our supporters out sung them.
"The supporters are really proud of what the players are doing and likewise the players are playing in a way that reflects the supporters' love for the club.
"That is why we're creating such a unique bond between the supporters and the club.
"We fuel each other for every game and I think the supporters see the efforts the players are putting in and rightly as a consequent are supporting the players.
"Likewise when the supporters are behind the boys it keeps the players honest and keeps them energised.
"To be able to reward them with an FA Cup replay is fantastic and hopefully we can give them more reason to cheer."
The Braintree manager wasn't in such high spirits going into their Tuesday night league game against Woking, just 48 hours after finishing their FA Cup tie.
With an already congested fixture list Cowley fumed at the National League for not rearranging it and wants a rule to be put in place for the future.
"Woking are a massive team with big resources and they've had a ten day recovery whilst we've had two days so we're disappointed with the league.
"I wouldn't have said that if we hadn't got anything from the game because it just would have sounded like sour grapes.
"We feel the league should support us in our achievements in the FA Cup because form their point of view they should want their member clubs to do well.
"It raises the profile of the clubs and league, which will only help with sponsorship.
"There should be a clear rule that if clubs are successful in the FA Cup fixtures will be rescheduled if a league game falls within 72 hours of the FA Cup game.
"We played Sunday so to be asked to go again within 48 hours is a massive demand on the players.
"We went into the game with six key injuries in Mark Phillips, Kenny Davis, Simeon Akinola, Michael Cheek, Anthony Edgar and Danny Sparkes.
"They're six starters for us and to go into the game with the amount of fatigue we had in the group then to be competitive and get a successful result was fantastic.
"I'm probably the proudest I've been of our group because I thought they were immense."