Cup heroics can act as a spur in the league says Guiseley boss Marcus Bignot

An epic week for the Nethermoor Park outfit will culminate in tomorrow’s National League North home encounter with fifth-placed Spennymoor.

Many managers in the shoes of Bignot and Russ O’Neill may justifiably be fearful of an ‘After the Lord Mayor’s Show’ scenario following Sunday’s pulsating 4-3 victory over League Two outfit Cambridge United in the tie of the first-round weekend.

But with a round-two date with Joey Barton’s Fleetwood Town looming on the horizon early next month, the need for players to keep their form levels high in the coming weeks or run the risk of missing out should ensure that no-one takes their eyes of the ball.

Bignot said: “The stage is set for the boys to put a case in and want to be involved come that day.

“Getting through can act as a spur as the players will all want to be involved in the next round as they have experienced what it is like and what comes with winning football matches like that.

“We have suffered a little bit, not in terms of performances, but results in the league. The performances have been there, but what people saw is that we got a performance and a result in the FA Cup and we look to carry that on now on Saturday.

“It is a case of ‘more of the same’ in terms of performance, but let’s be ruthless like we were in the FA Cup and take that into the league.

“Spennymoor will be a good gauge again as they are in the play-offs and it will show what we need to do in terms of going in the right direction.”

Meanwhile, Bignot has revealed that he was always confident that Guiseley’s second-round tie would be selected for live coverage – following the decision by BT Sport to screen the tie.

The Nethermoor encounter with Fleetwood will be shown live on BT Sport 1 on Monday, December 3 (8pm kick-off).

The move will provide the Lions with another welcome financial windfall.

Guiseley will receive a live broadcast fee of £75,000 – adding to the £85,000 in prize money that the club have already banked for reaching the second round for just the second time in their history.

Should Guiseley beat League One side Fleetwood, their total cup income will pass the £200,000 mark, with £54,000 on offer in prize money for sides who triumph in round two.

Bignot added: “I was confident that we would get a TV game. I imagined our exploits in what we did in the last round in taking out League Two opposition and now having League One opponents would. I am sure facing Joey Barton as well, with the personality he has, gathered interest.”

On whether the celebrations were extended after Sunday’s unforgettable victory, over the U’s he added: “To be honest, the group did the job and enjoyed the moment and mixed with the supporters after the game in the bar.

“But it was pretty much a case of watching the Manchester City v Manchester United game and then everybody went home.

“There were no big celebrations – not into the early hours anyway – as our cup final would be the third round. We are a step closer though.

“Fleetwood is a tough draw, but we wanted to be at home for our fans and we also wanted league oppoisition as a platform for our young players to go and perform. Then, you never know what will happen.”