Conor Shaughnessy has opened up on one of the darkest days in Leeds United’s recent history.
Now 23 and on loan with League Two Mansfield Town, Shaughnessy was halfway through his first season with the Whites when he travelled with the club to Newport County.
It was the tie all of the television channels had dreamed of, the fallen giants of West Yorkshire visiting lowly fourth-tier opposition on their own poor excuse for turf.
The story is a well told one now. An early lead for United with a rare Gaetano Berardi strike before a Shaughnessy own goal, Shawn McCoulsky winner and Samuel Saiz red card.
“It was a tough day. It was my first experience of the FA Cup and it was a learning curve for everyone, for me,” he told Mansfield’s official website.
“I know going into these games you can’t take your foot off the pedal at all. You need to go into it 100 per cent because anything can happen.”
National League Chorley visit the Stags, only one division higher, on Saturday in the latest round of the FA Cup.
“I love it, growing up watching the FA Cup and it’ll be great for us as a club to go on a little run. It’ll be great for confidence and helping us out in the league,” said Shaughnessy.
“They [Chorley] are going to put up a strong fight – I’m sure it’ll be a physical game. It’s one of them where we have to start well and our quality will show.”
He added: “You see underdogs coming forward all the time in these games and putting up a good test. Anything can happen in the [FA] cup so we won’t be taking it lightly at all, we’ll be looking to win.
“Everyone ups their game in this competition, especially when you’re playing teams from the league above you so we’ve got to be ready for that on Saturday.”
The former Reading trainee found himself frozen out at Elland Road by Marcelo Bielsa, but started all but one of Mansfield’s matches since arriving on loan.
