Why 'grump' Paterson is treating Brackley like Arsenal

9 hours ago 3

Martin Paterson says there is a reason he wears a 'grumpy' T-shirt at home.

It's the same reason the Notts County head coach is preparing for Saturday's FA Cup tie with non-league Brackley Town as if they were Premier League-leading Arsenal.

The 38-year-old admits he is an "intense" character and sees the cup as the most treasured piece of silverware at club level.

"My wife told me that there were people talking about getting me a grumpy T-shirt, and I thought that was a bit unfair because I've already got one," he told BBC Sport.

"I've got a Snow White 'Grumpy' shirt that my daughter loves me to wear at night.

"Sometimes when you see me I'm intense and it's because I want to push the group to continuously be better.

"If anyone can be more intense than me about a game, good luck to them."

And that is from a head coach who started his career at Stoke City under Tony Pulis - a boss that he recalled being "hellbent" on winning the FA Cup.

Between Pulis' approach and playing under Eddie Howe, the now Newcastle boss who Paterson played for at Burnley, the former striker says he cherishes what a cup run can mean for a club.

"I think it's the best competition around the world domestically and it's an opportunity for the lads to try to get a tie against people they may not ever get a chance to play against," Paterson told BBC Radio Nottingham.

"But also it's an opportunity to show a bit of humility to understand that when you go away to Brackley that it will be a very tough game.

"You should approach this game in the same way you approach playing Manchester United or Arsenal - it's an opportunity to get to the next round."

Notts' trip to the Northamptonshire market town of Brackley to face the National League side at 17:30 GMT on Saturday will be broadcast on BBC Two.

The tie against a side that sits 36 places below the Magpies in the English football pyramid will be Paterson's first as a manager in the FA Cup.

He was assistant to Michael Duff at Huddersfield Town last season when the League One side were knocked out of the competition by National League outfit Tamworth.

Paterson knows at this stage of the competition, as a one-time winner of the cup – 131 years ago in 1894 – Notts are seen as a major scalp.

"Obviously we have history, we won it a long time ago, and it's a proud memory of the club," he said.

"I think everyone does look at Notts County as a really good club, especially at League Two level and traditionally being the oldest professional football club, so I imagine it looks like to others that we are a target.

"But I prepared for that. There are no excuses from me in terms of being a target. At the end of the day, it's a game of football, and we don't prepare any different.

"I don't want anything extra or less from my players – I just want the same thing they have been doing in the last month, and that's to just keep competing and improving."

Notts have won three games in a four-match unbeaten league run in October to move up fifth in League Two and within two points of top spot.

"I'm proud a punch to be here as head coach of Notts County and I know the responsibility I carry with it as well," Paterson said.

"And that is why people see me sometimes as this intense, grumpy individual, even when we win.

"It's just an understanding of how important that we can't let our standards slip and we've got to keep getting this group better and I need to keep getting better."

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