Kidderminster Harriers v Doncaster Rovers: Respecting the FA Cup is key to Rovers' recent record

Doncaster Rovers have become adept at navigating tricky FA Cup first-round games away at lower-league opposition in Grant McCann’s time. It is just their manager is ready for a home game.

Two years ago the then-League Two side won away at National League side Kettering Town in a first-round tie chosen for television, on their way to a fourth-round exit when finally back on home soil at the hands of eventual winners Crystal Palace.

Then last season, Crewe from the division below were overcome in the first round, en route to a third-round exit against Southampton.

This year, Rovers have been handed a trip to Kidderminster Harriers, two divisions below in mid-table in the National League.

McCann says there is no secret to why they have done so well in these types of ties in recent years, other than paying the competition respect.

“I don't think we do anything different. We always try and approach every game as best we can, given the opposition we're playing against,” he told The Yorkshire Post.

“I don't think there's any real special ingredients behind it.

“You've got to try and pick the best team for the game that's coming up.

“That Kettering game was probably a banana skin. TV cameras there, and we end up scoring a few great goals to win the game.

“The National League's a decent league, it's a strong league this year. I said to the players after the game at Rochdale (won 4-1 in EFL Trophy), this will be harder than that game. Make no mistake about it.”

And on their recent draws, he added: “It would be nice to have a home game. The analysts have shown me that since I've been here, I don't think we've had a home game in the first or second round in four years.

“It would be nice to get through, draw somebody at home, and then see if we can have a little bit of a run at it. But we know it will be a tough game.”