FA Cup: Captain Ben Whiteman Says Preston Must Turn Clash with Villa into a Dogfight
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Synopsis
Preston North End is on a historic quest to win the FA Cup while outside England's top flight, a feat last achieved by West Ham in 1980. Captain Ben Whiteman emphasizes the need to make the match against Aston Villa a fierce contest.
Key Takeaways
- Preston aims for historic FA Cup victory.
- Captain Ben Whiteman stresses the need for determination.
- Last FA Cup quarter-final appearance for Preston was in 1965-66.
- Unbeaten in 15 matches at Deepdale.
- Director Peter Ridsdale humorously comments on budget success.
Preston, March 30 (NationPress) Preston North End is striving to become the first club in 45 years to claim the prestigious FA Cup while not competing in England's top tier. The last team to accomplish this remarkable achievement was West Ham in 1980.
Currently, Preston sits at 14th place in the EFL Championship, having secured only 10 victories out of 38 matches, alongside 17 draws. Captain Ben Whiteman emphasized the importance of the upcoming showdown against Aston Villa this Sunday at Deepdale Stadium.
"When we have possession, we must demonstrate our capabilities. We are aware of Villa's strengths and weaknesses, but as this is a FA Cup quarter-final, we need to turn it into a dogfight. This competition has a rich history, and we hope to advance further," Ben stated to BBC Sports.
This marks Preston's first appearance in a FA Cup quarter-final since the 1965-66 season, where they were eventually defeated by Manchester United. The last time they reached the semi-finals was in the 1963-64 season, ultimately losing to West Ham United in the final.
The Championship side remains unbeaten in their last 15 matches across all competitions at Deepdale (W6 D9) and have conceded no more than one goal in any match during this stretch (totaling nine goals conceded).
Preston's director Peter Ridsdale humorously mentioned that the team's budget was aimed at exiting the tournament in the first round, which they have exceeded this time around.
"Typically, this is the only budget I successfully meet each year. This year, we have exceeded it! We've made about a million pounds by reaching this stage, and we expect to generate at least that amount by reaching the semi-finals again. Interestingly, it’s not all about the money; it’s about the football and the glory," Peter remarked.
