Darlington manager Martin Gray says an FA Cup run this season is very important.

Quakers come into this season’s competition with an away tie at Lancaster, two divisions below them, and MG has targeted a good run, that hopefully will bring some glory and prize money.

“It’s the biggest cup, competition in the world, the biggest competition that a player wants to play in at any level. Saturday’s game gives us a great opportunity to have a good run in the FA Cup.

“I’ve been to Wembley with Sunderland for the FA Cup final. It’s great to experience each round that comes along and what goes with it such as the expectations, pressure and the publicity, and it gives you a sample of what the league doesn’t offer you.

“We discussed after the Bradford game on Wednesday night that it would be nice to concentrate on the FA Cup competition only. To progress is the most important thing, because we haven’t done very well at all since I’ve taken over because we’ve had other priorities such as winning promotion.

“This time, we’ve talked about the importance of having a real big FA Cup run and hopefully Saturday gets us off to a good start.

“We’ve got to make sure we go there in the right frame of mind, and hopefully get off to a great start by taking our chances. It’s not an easy game, there will be a big, big crowd following us, but at the same time we know what we have to do, and if we do what we’re capable of doing, then we’ll go on and win.”

Quakers are unbeaten in six away league games this season and lie fourth in the Vanarama National League North, while Lancaster are currently 13th in the EvoStik First Division North having won two and drawn one of their five league games.

Last year Quakers were knocked out of the competition in the first qualifying round at home to Hyde United, having fallen at the same stage a year before to Blyth Spartans after a replay.

Victory on Saturday would see the Quakers two wins away from the first round proper.

We met Lancaster City in both the 2013/14 and 2014/15 seasons in the Evo-Stik First Division North and on both of our trips were held to 0-0 draws. The game at the end of the 2014/15 season was a crucial one in the final week of the campaign, as we missed out on the league title to Salford City. Peter Jameson was sent off in the second game, and Gary Brown went in goal.

[caption id="attachment_26005" align="alignnone" width="300"] Gary Brown in goal at Lancaster[/caption]

Lancaster have already won away to West Auckland and Brighouse Town so far in the FA Cup.

Kick off on Saturday afternoon is 3:00pm, updates on the game will be made from the club's Facebook, Twitter, Mobile App and Website. Live Commentary will be broadcast from Darlo Fans Radio at 2:50pm