Harry Forrester says Brentford’s players are excited at the possibility of hosting Chelsea in the FA Cup – but insists they will not underestimate Southend.
Brentford were 2-0 up in the third-round clash at Roots Hall on Saturday but were pegged back to draw 2-2 and now face a replay against the Shrimpers.
The winners will be at home to Chelsea in round four and Bees star Forrester admits the prize of a west London derby against the European Champions will give his team extra motivation.
“All the players are buzzing about the draw,” Forrester told West London Sport.
“Clearly it would be an amazing day for the club to host the European Champions – some of the best players in the world.
“But we have Southend to get through first and it is not going to be easy. They beat us in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy and grabbed that draw with us on Saturday. They’ll fancy themselves.
“It’s easy for me to sit here and say ‘we won’t be thinking of Chelsea, only about Southend’ – but it’s true.
“The only way our players will be thinking about Chelsea is using the possibility of playing them as motivation to beat Southend and make it happen.”
Brentford are in the thick of the League One promotion race following an excellent run of results.
And Forrester believes they are capable of giving Chelsea a run for their money if they do get to face them.
Forrester said: “It has been a fantastic season so far and this would just be the next chapter if it were to happen – and an amazing chapter at that.
“For all the players it would be the chance to test ourselves against the very best – I think that’s what we’d look forward to the most.
“Hosting players like Eden Hazard and Juan Mata would be surreal but we’re a good side. Griffin Park has become a fortress and they wouldn’t like to come here.
“Of all the places they could have drawn we would be one of the hardest.”
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This post was last modified on 06/01/2013