They’ve sent over spies to watch them play, have some of the biggest names in the country and play a devastating attacking game. However Bayswater FC are confident they can replicate the efforts of Adelaide City and cause a huge Westfield FFA Cup shock by beating Melbourne Victory.
The WA NPL leaders host Kevin Muscat’s side in a mouthwatering tie on Wednesday night at the Western Australian Athletics Stadium.
In the last of the round of 32 matches this week, Hyundai A-League champions Brisbane Roar face Stirling Lions, South Coast Wolves take on Central Coast Mariners and Hakoak Sydney City meet Palm Beach Sharks.
Victory will bring a star-studded line-up to WA with the likes of Besart Berisha, Gui Finkler, Carl Valeri and Kosta Barbarouses in their side but none of that is a concern to Bayswater boss Chris Coyne.
“Names are names, they look good on a piece of paper but it’s what they do on the night,” Coyne told www.theffacup.com.au
“How many times have you seen Premier League sides go away to smaller clubs in the UK and lose.
“Yeah it’s great to have them in your squad and it’s great to have names to attract the crowd but I think you have to disrespect them slightly and say ‘we’ll see how good you are after we’ve played you’.”
Victory certainly aren’t taking their opponents lightly, sending assistant coach Jean-Paul de Marigny across the Nullabor recently to watch Bayswater’s 5-0 demolition of Subiaco.
“It shows people that the FFA Cup should be taken seriously and credit to them to fly over. I asked the club to fly over to Melbourne and they laughed at me,” Coyne joked.
“It shows how much a club of that stature want to win the inaugural FFA Cup. We all know what victory are capable of. I’ve played against them on numerous occasions so we know what to expect.
“The good thing is we like to get the ball down on the deck and knock it about and we’re quite an aggressive team as well so it promises to be an action-packed night.
“We’ve got nothing to lose, they’re expected to win, it will be nice to go out and enjoy it, if we do things probably maybe nick a result. Whereas Victory lose the pressure is on them.”
Bayswater have some impressive talent of their own, including ex-A-League players Jamie Coyne, Todd Howarth, Sam Mitchinson and Devon Spence.
Coyne said Adelaide City’s win over Western Sydney gave all the smaller clubs hope of pulling off an upset as well as a chance for everyone at the club to prove themselves against the best.
“It’s a good test to put yourself up against the best coaches in the A-League at the moment. It’s a good litmus test for as an individual and also for some of the younger players,” the former Perth Glory defender said.
“We’ve got players that have played in the A-League and played in the UK, so it’s a good test for the younger players who want to knock on the door and start asking questions of whether they are good enough.
“Everyone’s buzzing and looking forward to it. You can’t ask for a better draw, everyone in WA is talking about it.”
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