Shrewsbury to have underdog mentality at South Shields

Michael Appleton knocked then-Championship side Newcastle United out of the FA Cup while in charge at Oxford United in 2016-17

Shrewsbury Town boss Michael Appleton says his League Two side will approach Sunday's FA Cup first round tie at South Shields with the belief that they are the underdogs, not their non-league hosts.

Town go to Mariners Park hoping to avoid an upset against the side currently top of National League North.

With the 12:00 GMT kick-off live on television, Appleton is aware a lot of attention will be on the tie and the potential for a home win.

"There's a reason why we're on TV - I'm not stupid," he told BBC Radio Shropshire.

"I've been in the game long enough as a League Two manager playing a team a few steps below us - but we're looking forward to it."

Both side go into the tie in decent form, with Town unbeaten in four matches and the Mariners, 27 places below Shrewsbury in the football pyramid, having won 10 of their 13 league games so far.

Appleton said there is "no written rule" over how sides avoid becoming victims of a giant killing but was clear the one thing his squad has to get right is how they approach the game psychologically.

"We'll have to play well but the biggest thing on the day will be mentality," he said.

"Treat it like we're the underdogs. I've always tried to get that message across - that we're the ones under the cosh.

"As soon as the whistle goes on Sunday I'd like to think we'll be ready to go."

Salop's recent FA Cup record is consistent, having reached at least the third round in seven of the past nine seasons, including taking Liverpool and Wolves to fourth-round replays in 2019-20 and 2018-19 respectively.

'We get why people are intrigued by this tie'

With no replays part of the current format Appleton, who is a fan of having no second games, said he has not spent a lot of time focusing on the prospect of extra time and penalties.

"We want to get the job done in 90 minutes if we can," he added. "I'm more than comfortable that we've got enough experience and quality that, if it comes down to an extra 30 minutes and penalties, we've got enough to cope with that.

"There's no second chances in this with no replays.

"It's a little bit like a league game when what happens on the day happens.

"I want us to go there and play well, obviously, but win the game."

South Shields have come through three qualifying ties to reach the first round for the third time in six seasons and Appleton knows Sunday is a "great opportunity" for the non-leaguers to "showcase themselves" against league opposition.

"We get why people are intrigued by this tie but we can't wait," he said. "They play a really good brand of football and we're taking them very seriously.

"I'd like to think we've gone into games recognising we need to earn the right to play and win rather than just expecting to turn it on.

"They are clearly well backed and are full-time so that tells you how seriously they're taking it. They want to go through the leagues."

Town are unlikely to make many changes for the tie, with Appleton saying their recent upturn in form has made picking the side "very easy".

"I think the players who are not playing at the moment can affect that and push the players in the team," he said.

"I think the lads have stood up and answered a lot of questions.

"But there's no doubt the players in the team have earned the shirt and it's up to them to keep it."