Wilder: Cobblers are ‘dangerous’ opponents for Coventry City

Wilder accepts the match at the Ricoh Arena is going to be a testing one for him and his players, but he believes the Cobblers are also going to be a real threat to Tony Mowbray’s side, who currently sit fourth in the league one table.

“I think it’s a great draw for us,” said the Cobblers boss.

“It’s a local game, so that is good for our support and no doubt the backing will be healthy because it is just up the road.

“It pits us against a team that is going really well in league one, although it is not a league one club, the stadium and the tradition the club has, it’s a lot higher than that.

“The tie also gives us an opportunity of progressing.

“We are going to have to play well, but I think it’s a great game for us and a dangerous one for Coventry.

“If they play well they would expect to win, but it’s a good challenge for us and if we want to progress to the next level, and we want to play teams like this week in, week out, we can have a look at ourselves in this game.

“We have nothing to lose and we go there in good spirits, and in good form, and it is a dangerous one for them.

“We know we’ll have to play really well to get a result, and hopefully we can do that.”

Coventry have enjoyed a good start to the season, but have been heavily reliant on the goals of 18-year-old loan striker Adam Armstrong, who has scored eight goals in 12 starts since joining the club on a temporary basis from Newcastle United.

Former England international Joe Cole also joined the club on loan last week, but it’s not been confirmed if parent club Aston Villa will let him play in the FA Cup.

The Sky Blues are also well organised at the back, and can boast the joint best defensive record in the division, conceding 12 goals in 14 games.

It is going to be a big ask for the Cobblers to return from their first competitive trip to Coventry since 1967 with any sort of reward, but Wilder believes it is possible.

“We are away from home and we are going to have to defend well, because they have got a lot of good players going forward,” said the Cobblers boss.

“Tony is a manager who has managed at the highest level, whether that’s up the road in Scotland or in England, so it is a tough task for all of us.

“But it’s a game we can have a right good go at, and we are looking forward to it.”