Forget Mansfield Town in their FA Cup replay, Oldham Athletic manager Lee Johnson has his eyes firmly on Liverpool in January’s third round as the League one outfit look to repeat their giant-killing antics of last season.
Oldham suffered a heart-breaking last-gasp defeat at the weekend to Brentford to sit four points above relegation.
However the thought of tackling Mansfield again on Tuesday after the pair drew 1-1 on December 7 has got Johnson thinking about their FA Cup heroics and a trip to Anfield.
“It gives the lads a showcase, me the chance to pit my wits against one of the best managers in the world and the club a good opportunity financially,” said Johnson.
“It’s so important for the club.”
Oldham made headlines earlier this year when they dismantled seven-times cup winners Liverpool 3-2 at Boundary Park before going on to record a 1-1 draw against Everton and losing the replay at Goodison Park.
Latics gave a good account of themselves again at the weekend where Mark Warburton recorded his first win in charge of Brentford.
The deciding goal was scored by Jonathan Douglas, who headed home a cross from substitute Sam Saunders, as the promotion-chasing Bees made it eight victories out of nine.
Although Latics lost the game in the worst possible fashion, Johnson sung his team’s praises in his post-match interview.
“I thought we were fantastic and our boys worked their socks off against a good side,” said the 32-year-old, the youngest manager in the league.
“We were the better side on the day and we were on the wrong end of some poor refereeing decisions in my book which was disappointing yet again.”
The Oldham boss thought Brentford were fortunate to finish with 11 players and his side ought to have been awarded a penalty for a handball.
“That is what keeps happening at the moment. However, I was really proud of my lads and couldn’t say anything other than well done at the end, because to a man they were outstanding,” said Johnson.
“We had good chances and it was a good game from our point of view and we didn’t get what we deserved.”
Image courtesy of Sky News via YouTube, with thanks.
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