Soccer: Scunthorpe dreaming of another Chelsea upset

LONDON - When Scunthorpe goalkeeper Paul Musselwhite assumes the daunting role of forming the last line of defence against Chelsea in the FA Cup tonight (NZT) , his mind will no doubt wander to his team's shock victory over the London soccer club 17 years ago.

Musselwhite played in the Scunthorpe side that knocked Chelsea out of the League Cup in 1988 and now in his second spell with the Lincolnshire side he is the only survivor from that team in the old fourth division which humbled the west London side in a two-legged tie.

"I was 19 at the time and the first leg was only my 10th game against a good team who won the old division two that season," the 36-year-old goalkeeper said ahead of the trip to Stamford Bridge.

"On the first night at The Old Showground we played absolutely brilliantly and everything we hit went in. We even scored an own goal but we went out in the second half and absolutely battered them 4-1.

"In the second leg we got a 2-2 draw even though most people expected us to get a hammered 5-0.

"I suppose you could say they're the ones that are on a revenge mission. It's certainly a bit like that. It's been a case of turning back the clock 17 years but they are a team of international stars now so it's slightly different.

"A lot of their foreigners probably haven't even heard of Scunthorpe never mind that game although (Chelsea assistant manager) Steve Clarke was playing in the first leg and he'll remember.

"He's probably revved them up and told his players not to take us too lightly and will make sure that sticks in their minds before they head out."

Scunthorpe are currently second in the English League Two -- the equivalent of the fourth division of 1988 -- three flights below Jose Mourinho's Premier League leaders.

"They seem to be rolling over the teams in the Premiership," added Musselwhite who has also played for Port Vale and Hull City. "I watched the Middlesbrough game the other night and they did well to keep it down to 2-0.

"Chelsea have the strongest squad in the Premiership and whatever team they field we'll probably be playing against 11 internationals.

"The ones who aren't playing regularly will come in and want to do really well to get into the team every week.

"We know it's not going to be easy and the longer we can keep it down to 0-0 the better.

"The most I've ever let in is five goals and that's in over 700 games and I don't intend that to change now."

Scunthorpe manager Brian Laws is unfazed by the prospect of his team "playing against the best in the world".

"Chelsea are flying at the moment but we've got to go there optimistically and positively because if we go there scared we shouldn't turn up because Chelsea would get a bagful," Laws said.

"The Chelsea players will not know anything about our players so there is an element of surprise that we can have for 10 to 15 minutes when they go head-to-head and you might get a chance to do some damage."

- REUTERS