Sheffield Wednesday’s Barry Bannan relishing Manchester City FA Cup test

Barry Bannan is looking forward to the chance to take on England’s best midfield for what could be the last time with Garry Monk urging his Sheffield Wednesday players to show no fear.
Bring it on: Owls star Barry Bannan.Bring it on: Owls star Barry Bannan.
Bring it on: Owls star Barry Bannan.

The Owls host Manchester City in the fifth round of the FA Cup this evening, and playing Championship football at the age of 30, Scotland international Bannan knows he does not have many such nights left.

“Yeah, I’m coming to the end of my career and these chances might not come again so you want to be playing on the biggest stage possible,” he said.

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“You’ve got to take it with both hands and not let it go past with any regrets.

“Hopefully I can match these players.

“I just don’t want to come off the pitch thinking I could have given a bit more.”

The Owls’ last big cup win was arguably the 3-0 2015 League Cup victory over Arsenal, but Bannan says this is another level up again.

“It would be amazing to have another night like that,” he said. “This will be a bit different because the opposition are a lot stronger but that’s not taking anything away from that night, we put on a great performance against a strong Arsenal team.

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“This will be a harder task but it’s 11 v 11 and we’ve still got a chance. You’ve got to go into games still expecting to win otherwise there is no point.

“There have been shocks before so I can’t see why we can’t produce a shock and to be fair to the fans it would be the least they deserve. They come in their numbers week in, week out so if we can give them a cup upset, something to cheer about, it would be great.

“The way the draw’s been, even QPR (away in round four) people will have written us off because they were flying at the time and Brighton (in round three), a Premier League team, no one gave us a chance.

“We are underdogs, but we have nothing to lose.”

Although Liverpool are clearly the best team in the country, City have won eight of the last nine domestic trophies, including Sunday’s League Cup final victory, and their strength lies in midfield.

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“I watch a lot of football and try to take bits from everyone who plays in my position and Manchester City’s are phenomenal at what they do week in, week out,” added Bannan. “If it’s good enough for them, it’s good enough for me.

“City and Liverpool are pretty different in styles but if you’re talking about keeping the ball I’d say Man City are better. Liverpool have got more of a killer instinct, but Manchester City’s midfield has special, special people on the ball and I think if I had to pick a midfield I would pick Man City’s because they play the way I like to play.”

Wednesday’s Championship form has been terrible, with only two wins since Christmas, but one of those was at Leeds United. They are capable of rising to the big games.

“I’ve got a feeling these lads will give their all for this game and work away to give themselves the best chance,” said manager Monk. “They’ve earned the right to play against this type of team and be in this round. We’ve got a chance, even though it’s a small chance, to make it to the next round. It can happen.

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“It needs a lot to go right but if you don’t believe in that, you shouldn’t be in professional sport.

“I sense that in the players.
We’ll try to use it to showcase what we can do and try and take that into the rest of the league. It’s a massive game, massive occasion, one to really get our teeth into, and hopefully we can give a justifiable performance.

“If that (the Owls’ record against the top teams) means we can do it on Wednesday, great. We’ve got a run of big games coming in the league against the top end of the division, so if that’s the case, I welcome it.”

Youngsters Alex Hunt, Osaze Urhoghide and Preslav Borukov could all be involved tonight but winger Adam Reach has suffered a setback and is now due back in training “possibly, hopefully, the end of next week.”

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Massimo Luongo and Mo Odubajo are not ready having only returned to training yesterday, but Steven Fletcher will feature after going off halfway through his first league start of 2020 on Saturday.

“The normal process with someone who’s been out for a period of time would be to have a few weeks blocks of training and some games with the under-23s,” said Monk.

“Needs must, and with the influence he’s had on the team, we put him back him.

“He’ll definitely be involved, but to what extent we’ll wait and see.”

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