Armstrong wants Gateshead to take confidence from FA Cup exploits after Walsall defeat ends third round dreams
Gateshead's FA Cup run came to an end with a second round defeat against League Two club Walsall.
Alun Armstrong urged Gateshead to use their run to the second round of the FA Cup as a catalyst for a push towards safety in the National League.
After seeing off Aveley in the fourth qualifying round, the Heed caused a major upset in the first round proper by claiming a 2-0 win at League One play-off contenders AFC Wimbledon. However, a home tie with League Two leaders Walsall proved to be a step too far for Armstrong and his side as a goal in each half from Daniel Kanu and former MIddlesbrough defender Aden Flint helped the Sadlers to a 2-0 win at a rain-sodden International Stadium.
However, Armstrong insisted the run can have a long-lasting impact on his players as they now turn their focus towards remaining in non-league football’s top tier.
He told The Echo: “We have got to take the positives from it. You look, we came up against a team full of confidence, they knew exactly what they were doing and we knew it was going to be tough.
“We knew we needed a bit of luck to win the game but it wasn’t to be. We just didn’t penetrate enough, it was that fear of what if I lose it there. Today was a risk versus reward and they were a little bit tentative because they were fearful of the counter-attack.”
Respect
Armstrong praised his side’s conquerors as Walsall added an FA Cup third round appearance and a possible tie with a Premier League giant to what already feels like an exciting season for Sadler and his players.
With a bid for promotion into League One at the top of the agenda, the Saddlers have also progressed last 16 of the Vertu Trophy following their 2-1 win at Stevenage earlier this week. The Heed boss believes Sunday’s visitors showed ‘massive respect’ to his own side and believes they showed exactly why they are challenging on a number of fronts this season.
“They didn’t come out of the areas we were trying to exploit and we tried to suck them into the areas they didn’t want to be in. They were so professional in their performance, I congratulate them. I think they’re a difficult team and they full deserved their win in the end. I was hoping he (Sadler) was going to rotate a bit but I saw their team and he hasn’t fallen for it, especially with their game on Wednesday.
“That shows the massive respect they paid and Mat said before the game that he has seen the good football we play - and we do. We are just too open at times, things are going against us, two set-plays have cost us today - and we have come up against teams that are riding high in recent weeks.”
Gateshead: Brooks, Elliott-Wheeler, Richardson (Butterfield), Williams (Bakare), Ferguson, John, Home (Newton), Edwards (Telford), Adom, Hurst (Nouble), Pennant Subs: Leech, Flint, Grayson, Bone
Walsall: Roberts, Barrett, Flint, Farqhuarson, Matt (Adomah), Comley, Kanu (Roofe), Clarke (Lakin), Okeke (Harper), Finnigan (Jellis), Weirs Subs: Hornby, Ellis, Warrington, Richards, Browne
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