Peterborough United boss looking to start writing some FA Cup memories

The Posh boss is bursting with enthusiasm for the competition and is looking for a prolonged run in the competition.

The Posh boss began his tenure with a shock victory over League One high-flyers Cardiff in Round One table and they will have to upset the odds against divisional rivals, Barnsley.

Conor Hourihane’s side sit tenth in League One but they are only three points off the play-offs with as many as three games in hand against some of the teams above them.

Barnsley were 3-2 victors over National League side York City in round one courtesy of a last minute goal.

Victory for Posh would represent that first time in his career that Williams has won FA Cup two matches in a season (from round one onwards. His best run in the competition is reaching Round 4 with Swansea last season but that only represents one victory given the Championship side started in round 3.

Williams said: “ The FA Cup is fighting for attention now but it deserves it. It is the only competition where you can get the level of disparity between the teams that you can and it’s wonderful.

“We try to get that across to the players and this group are very aware of what the FA Cup means and looking forward to the game.

“I’d really love to have a run in the FA Cup. I have been fortunate to be involved in two play-off finals at Wembley- one lost and one victory- and the day is magic and that’s cup football. The FA Cup is ultimately the greatest, most glorious cup competition and I would love to be involved for longer as my record has not been great.

“You only need to look at the youth team, they are playing Manchester United at Old Trafford in the FA Youth Cup, that’s a wonderful moment for them and it just shows what can happen.

“Barnsley are a very, very good side. They have some real quality and are finding their rhythm now. It will be a tough game.

"None of us are surprised about how Conor has started his managerial career because of how he played the game and the type of character he is. Hopefully, it will be the start of a very long and successful career for him.

“This period of the season is so busy, whatever competition it is, the squad needs to be managed carefully because players are picking up fatigue is madness when you have a squad.

“We had an uplift in intensity and physical output initially and the group may be finding it hard in the last couple of games to maintain that level. They have earned themselves some more respect because look at Stevenage. They are performing fantastically well and are at the top of the league and they changed their formation to something they haven’t done all season because of our performances.

“The group have to find that energy week in week and and show they can do it consistently. We have seen that they can do it. It has to be there otherwise we are vulnerable.”

Posh are expecting to welcome back Jimmy-Jay Morgan from an issue that sidelined him from the midweek Vertu Trophy defeat at Swindon.