- Owls head back to Manchester City on Sunday
- FA Cup third round tie at The Etihad
- Second City challenge for Wednesday
‘If you can’t get excited about a game like this, you can’t get excited about anything.’
That is the mantra of Stuart Gray ahead of the Owls’ second trip to Manchester City this season, in the FA Cup third round on Sunday.
And the head coach is calling on his side to replicate their first half showing at The Etihad in the Capital One Cup earlier in the campaign.
He said: “It was an even game for 45 minutes and I thought we performed very well.
“But Manchester City showed their qualities as one of the best teams in the world after the break and we all know what happened.
“So we know what they are capable of, we know what they can do to teams. What we have to do there is go there with no fear and remember how we did well in the first half.
“There is no fear of the unknown this time, we know the stadium, the pitch, and we want to give our supporters something to cheer.
“I am excited about this game and so are the players. If you can’t get excited about a game like this, you can’t get excited about anything.”
The Owls will be back by a Sheffield contingent in excess of 5,500 and Gray has again paid tribute to the travelling hordes.
He added: “I can’t thank them enough. They have been magnificent all season, from Brighton on the first day in the sunshine to Wigan in the freezing cold in December.
“Their support means everything to all of us and first and foremost the players, who are lifted as soon as they see the numbers out there cheering them on.”