Ipswich Town manager Paul Cook intends to field strong side for FA Cup tie against Oldham Athletic
Ipswich Town manager Paul Cook has stressed that his team selection tomorrow afternoon will show that he is taking the Emirates FA Cup seriously.
The Tractor Boys have a poor recent record in the world's oldest cup competition, having won just once since the start of the 2010/11 campaign.
However, ahead of tomorrow's home meeting with lower-league Oldham Athletic at Portman Road (3pm), Cook has insisted he will be putting a side out to win the game.
"Everyone wants managers to tell everyone teams and different stuff, but I can only reiterate to you how serious we are," he said.
"We're in the competition, we told our supporters at the start of the season when we'd be making changes. We told them the level of seriousness we'd take each competition.
"We are approaching tomorrow's game as the biggest of our season, and that will be reflected in the team selection."
With neighbouring Colchester United to come on Tuesday evening in the Papa John's Trophy, the suggestion has been that there is likely to be plenty of rotation between the two starting line-ups and the one that won handsomely at Wycombe Wanders earlier in the week.
Asked about that, Cook replied: "You've got to be careful because what's come into football over a period of time is the negativity towards cup competitions in English football.
"Within that, the squad rotation that happens and some managers basically more or less give up the game by their team selection – that's the brutal truth of it. And if you get through with that team, then the reality is you probably didn't want to get through.
"I think we made it quite clear through Mark Ashton (CEO) at the start of the season where our preferences lie – we are attacking the FA Cup, simple as that."
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