Gateshead will face League Two title contenders Walsall in an FA Cup second round tie at the International Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Gateshead goalkeeper Tiernan Brooks is relishing the challenge facing his side as they prepare to face League Two promotion contenders Walsall in the FA Cup second round.

The sides will meet at the International Stadium for a televised tie on Sunday afternoon as the Heed look to cause another major upset after sending League One play-off challengers AFC Wimbledon out of the competition in the previous round. Top goalscorer Kain Adom and former Middlesbrough youngster Fenton John both found the net in the 2-0 win over the Dons as an inspired performance from Brooks provided a solid foundation as his side claimed an FA Cup victory against an EFL club for the first time in quarter of a century.

That win at the Cherry Red Records Stadium remains the last time Gateshead came out on top in a game in any competition after they suffered five consecutive league defeats to slide into the National League relegation zone for the first time this season. Despite that deeply disappointing run of form, Brooks has stressed the Heed squad still believe they can cause a major upset and secure a place in the third round for the first time in a decade.

He told The Echo: “It’s not every day you’re playing in the FA Cup, especially in the second round when you play in the National League. It will be a great challenge and it will be exciting. They’re a very good team, they showed that last season, I thought they were very unlucky not to go up but there’s the magic of the FA Cup. We will do our side and let the result take care of itself.

“You see the lads, you see how we all are together, you wouldn’t think we are where we are. Look, we turn up, we will do our part. You never go into go into games thinking you’re going to lose. It’s just the way it’s going at the minute. It seems like everyone wants to throw challenges at us so it is another thing to overcome.”

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