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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Jack Rosser

Giant-killing on Kidderminster radar as Harriers prepare to host West Ham in FA Cup

Kidderminster Harriers are relishing another shot at FA Cup history and a potential upset when they host West Ham on Saturday.

The Harriers, who are third in the National League North, two divisions below the Football League, knocked Championship side Reading out in a dramatic third round tie.

They have now drawn West Ham, fifth in the Premier League and into the last-16 in the Europa League, and will welcome David Moyes and his side to Aggborough at Saturday lunchtime ready to give them another battle.

"We will respect them big time but we’ve got to go into the game looking to win it," said manager Russ Penn.

"We’re not going to set up with 10 behind the ball and just look to defend all day. We’ve caused a few upsets this season.

"We’ll go with a gameplan and let’s see.

"We’ve got 5,000 fans cheering us on, nice tight pitch and small changing rooms, so let’s have it."

The tie, which will be shown by the BBC after Kidderminster’s third round upset was not broadcast live, will mark a huge moment for the club and is a repeat of the fifth round meeting from 1994, when Billy Bonds’s West Ham side came away 1-0 winners.

Moyes will be in the dugout this time and Penn could not be happier to face off against the Scot.

"I’m over the moon," said the 36-year-old. "One of the best British managers in the Premier League, I know he will respect myself and the football club and I couldn’t have wished for a better manager to come down to be honest.

"I’m telling the truth, he probably would have been top of my list for any manager to come down for the day."

While Penn is relishing the chance to pit his wits against one of the top British managers, he also wants his players to have the chance to face the best and is hoping Moyes doesn’t make too many changes.

"We would rather see the best out there to be honest, but I think even if they play their second team it will be a tough afternoon," Penn said.

"You would rather get the best of the best. This is our cup final. We have played seven games to get to this situation and if they want to shuffle the pack, so be it, but I believe they will play a strong side.

"What we don’t want is to be embarrassed, that’s a big thing for me.

"On the flipside, can we turn it into a positive and have a real good game? Can we start well, because all of a sudden as the minutes tick by the confidence around the whole place starts to lift. That is how you have to approach it."

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