THE prospect of facing Chelsea again in the FA Cup has got everyone at the Manor Ground excited, but Mickey Lewis says the players are keeping their feet firmly on the ground.

And no-one is counting his chickens just yet. For United well remember what happened the last time they forced an FA Cup replay with Nottingham Forest.

That came in the 1995-6 season when, in very similar circumstances, they came back from a goal down to earn a 1-1 draw at the City Ground, Stuart Massey heading in a late equaliser at the same end, in front of all their fans in the Lower Bridgford Stand.

The U's had brought Forest back to the Manor and the winners were drawn to face Tottenham.

The game was even chosen for Sky TV, so it would have been a real money-earner for the club. But the two-times European Cup winners, who were then in the Premiership, ran out 3-0 winners in the replay.

Substitute Paul Powell's brilliant equaliser last Friday night means Forest return to the Manor next Tuesday with the winners of the replay now guaranteed close to £150,000 after being drawn away to Chelsea in the fourth round on January 8. But before that there's an important Division 2 game at Dean Court, Bournemouth tomorrow.

"I think we all fully appreciate that while the FA Cup is good fun we still need a lot more points to get to safety in the league," said Lewis.

"We really need to start climbing up to the middle of the table before we can feel comfortable.

"Some of the players have even said to each other 'let's forget about Forest' so they know that it's important to concentrate on this game first.

"And Bournemouth are a good team. I know they lost 5-1 to Notts County last weekend, but I think that was a one-off, and sometimes when your opponents have just suffered a defeat like that, it can work against you."

It's been a relief not to have had a midweek game for a change. The U's coach has been able to work with the players on some of the things that went wrong in the first half at the City Ground, when only some great defending and good goalkeeping prevented them shipping two or three goals.

"We know we were defending too deeply but often there are reasons why you do that," Lewis said.

"We've been trying to get people to hold the ball up better and also to get others supporting better.

"But it's true we have been defending well. Whoever's been in that three-man defence, and with Les (Robinson) there just in front of them, they have defended well in recent games."

Story date: Friday 17 December

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