Paul Hayes hasn’t forgotten the last time he played against Spurs and is dreaming of another FA Cup thunderbolt on Saturday to send Harry Kane and co tumbling out of the competition.
The veteran Newport County striker saves his best goals for the FA Cup and scored twice against Mauricio Pochettino’s men at White Hart Lane in the fourth round last year when Wycombe were beaten 4-3 thanks to a 97th minute winner from Son Heung-min.
“I don’t think they will remember me,” said Hayes, who has scored 17 FA Cup goals in 39 appearances for six different clubs.
“We hoped we were going to get a replay out of it, but the referee played nine minutes of over- time and they won it at the death. We were gutted, but we just had to get on with it.
“The FA Cup has been good to me and the volley at White Hart Lane last season was the second best goal of my career. The best was for Shrewsbury against Chelsea in the third round in 2005 when I was 21.”
The 34-year-old Hayes, whose elder brother Martin was a Division 1 and League Cup winner with Arsenal, also scored for Scunthorpe against Manchester City in 2010 in the fourth round.
“I’ve done well in the FA Cup and scored against three Premier League clubs. I’ve been very lucky to play against these clubs and some great players,” added Hayes.
“You cherish games like these because you never know when it is going to be the last one. I thought the game at White Hart Lane last year was going to be my last chance against a Premier League side.
“Now I’ve got another chance against Spurs and if I’m picked I’m going to enjoy it. The key thing for the Newport players is not to think too much about the game and make sure they enjoy the experience -you play better with a smile on your face.
“Take away the money and the ability they have got, and it is just another Cup tie. But he magic of the FA Cup means that anything can happen.
“Every year something does happen and let’s just hope it can be us this year. Ability wise they are better, but in a one-off cup game anything can happen.
“We are at home, we’ve got a big crowd behind us and we are in good form at the moment. So why not!
“Confidence is a big thing in football. If you are confident in your ability you are going to do well.
“It’s going to be an interesting, fun, exciting game and it is going to be on TV. It doesn’t come much better than this.”
