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MIDDLESBROUGH v CARDIFF CITY - ENCKELMAN SPIES CUP UPSET
Cardiff goalkeeper Peter Enckelman hopes they can become the latest Coca-Cola Championship side to upset the odds and shock Barclays Premier League opposition in this season's FA Cup.
The Bluebirds travel to Middlesbrough on Sunday for what will be their first quarter-final appearance for 81 years - the year they went on to become the only non-English side to lift the trophy.
It will be the first occasion they have faced top-flight opposition in the competition this season after dispatching Chasetown, Hereford and Wolves to reach the last eight.
Dave Jones' side have coped with the pressure of being favourites so far but the roles will be reversed at the weekend, with Boro - who struggled past another Championship side, Sheffield United, in the previous round - the team expected to progress.
Sides from the second tier have already shocked the elite this term, however, with Barnsley's victory over Liverpool at Anfield in the previous round the most high-profile of them all.
And Enckelman sees no reason why the Bluebirds cannot become the latest side to defy the odds and cause an upset.
He told PA Sport: "I think when you get as far in the competition as we have you are eventually going to run into a Premier League team.
"At this stage it might actually be better for us. Now we are going to be the underdogs and there might be less pressure which might suit us.
"Hopefully we can have a good game and in the cup anything is possible.
"You have to treat it as another game. If you start treating it differently that will add to the pressure and I think it as just another game and trust your abilities once the day is there."
While the Bluebirds' cup form has been exemplary - they are yet to even need a replay - their league form has dipped of late with just two points from a possible 18 leaving them 10 points adrift of the play-offs in 14th place.
But the City keeper insists the contrast is coincidental and denied suggestions the competition has been an unwelcome distraction.
"I don't think so personally," he added. "You're going to have your good runs and bad runs. Obviously before Christmas up until late January it was a great run for the club but that has now been followed by a worse run.
"You are always going to get that in the season. It's just one of those things. I'm sure it will only take us one goal in one game to get back on track in terms of scoring goals and defensively we have been okay.
"A couple of mistakes may have cost us a few goals but at the end of the day we are not conceding many so it's a good base to work from."
CARDIFF CITY FANSONLINE HERE...
By Bettingzone.co.uk
Used with permission.
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