More on KentOnline
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Gillingham are in the hat for the FA Cup second round draw but manager Steve Evans won’t be taking much interest.
He knows there is still work to be done before they can look any further ahead in the tournament.
An impressive display at Sunderland on Saturday earned them a replay, which is due to take place at Priestfield on November 19.
Evans said: “We’re both in the draw, we’ll see what it brings and hopefully it brings an incentive for both clubs.”
But he added: “We’re only in it if we can beat Sunderland in a replay. We have earned the right probably to go through but what we have got is an opportunity to take them to Priestfield.
“It will be as tough as it was in Sunderland, no doubt. They are an excellent, hard-working side.
“They are full of good players, you see them bring Duncan Watmore off the bench. The last time I saw that kid against me he was going for £10-15million.”
Sunderland are the big team – financially – in League 1 and Evans was delighted with how the Gills competed on Saturday, particularly second half.
He said: “We had to tweak the team after a little bit of illness.
“We have put the team out with one or two (more) changes to what we would have done but you couldn’t ask for any more of the players in terms of how much they grafted second half.
“You measure quality against quality and player against player, you look at what is out there for Sunderland. You think it is a good result in terms of taking it back but it’s only good if you win the replay. It’s no good getting a replay and being beat.”
Two-time FA Cup winners Sunderland named a full-strength team on Saturday.
Evans wasn’t surprised and said “It’s Sunderland Football Club, it’s the FA Cup, put those two together and what does it tell you? Bob Stokoe running across the pitch (after leading them to the FA Cup win in 1973 against Leeds United), that’s what it tells you!”
Visit www.kentonline.co.uk/gillingham for details of the draw after 7pm on Monday.
