With Monday looming Bracknell Town FC of the Southern Premier League, the seventh step on the footballing pyramid, face the Town.

It is one of the biggest games Bracknell have ever played and probably might play for some time. But, what can we expect from the Berkshire side?

Well, if form is the benchmark, they have won four of their last five games in all competitions. Their most recent game against Winchester they scored three in the first 20 minutes of the game, whilst also conceding after the tenth and 90+2.

The small stadium in Sandhurst is also a bonus for them, meaning the 1,900 fans inside will mostly be cheering on the Robins.

On paper Ipswich who sit four leagues above the hosts are arguably the strong favourites. Although, the FA Cup does not always go how you would expect. Already this weekend, Chippenham Town of the National League South have taken Lincoln City and pipped them 1-0 at home in what was a enthralling result for the FA Cup and a jubilant Chippenham crowd. However, it’s never nice to be the team that gets giant killed.

Other big results of lower league clubs beating the bigger ones, include Harrogate Town beating Bradford 1-0, National League side Chesterfield with former Ipswich manager Paul Cook at the helm beating Northampton 1-0, Farnborough took Sutton by surprise with a 2-0 win. Norfolk side Kings Lynn also shocked League Two side Doncaster 1-0, Alvechurch edged Cheltenham 2-1 and another ex-Town manager Paul Hurst thumped League One leaders Plymouth 5-1 with Grimsby.

What could Bracknell do to Ipswich? On their day, I am sure that the home team could get at least a draw from the game if not cause an upset! Ipswich’s recent history in the FA Cup has been shaky at best, only winning one game in the last five FA cup ties, their last four games in the competition having been the first round draw against Oldham which we won the replay 2-1 and then in the second round we drew against Barrow taking them to a replay which we humiliatingly lost 2-0, with what was an abysmal performance leaving us out of the third round for the third year running. Is this year the year we make it back?

It's fair to say that the club is now in much better shape than it was last year when we played Oldham and Barrow. You would expect Kieran McKenna to give a very strong team line-up that’ll go out and give a very professional performance and win the game.

I’d be lying if I said that I would like it to be an entertaining game for both teams. All I want right now is a result on the night that will make us look good. Getting knocked out of the FA Cup by Bracknell is really not the look we need near the top of the league at the moment.

McKenna doesn’t seem to think playing weak teams is an option this season or maybe the depth in the squad is showing that we don’t have much of what you might call ‘deadwood’ in the club anymore. Every player has a chance to play in the starting line-up in the league. So, I’d predict a strong line-up with a few youngsters dotted around starting and on the bench.

Predicted line up:
GK – Hladky
RCB – Agbaje
CB – Keogh
LCB – Burgess
RM/RWB – Jackson
RCM – Camara
LCM – Humphreys
LM/LWB – Vincent-Young
RF – Chaplin
LF – Harness
CF – John Jules

It goes without saying, this is a very pointless prediction as really McKenna might decide to put anyone he wants and play even a very full strength team, the only few I think that will 100 per cent start are Richard Keogh and Cameron Burgess, a good match to bring Burgess to stead with being fit and Keogh to be a strong pair of feet at the back for any young kids who might be starting.

Vaclav Hladky will almost certainly be starting in goal having been the chosen cup keeper this season, letting Christian Walton rest on the bench ready for the next league game.

The players I’d love to see on Monday are Edwin Agbaje who had a terrific game against Cambridge in the Papa Johns Trophy which got overshadowed by a poor red card decision, however, he still looked very solid for most of the game and would love to see him with two experienced centre-halves backing him.

The other who I think is almost knocking on the door for the first team is Cameron Humphreys, it seems like a game that is written for him to play in and get more gritty experience in the centre of the park. He is another player who has showed some great skill and talent whence called upon. I think he deserves the minutes on Monday.

Finally, prediction time, I think it’s only fair to hope that Town win comfortably, but to be conservative with my prediction I shall say 3-1 to the Tractor Boys. I don’t see us holding a clean sheet at the moment, as that is something that we really need to work on, especially in the league.

However, we can easily win this game, like MK who thumped Taunton 6-0 albeit on home turf. At what will be a cauldron on Monday night, Bracknell will be after us and could cause the biggest upset of the tournament so far… But, this game I just sense under McKenna we will just have a bit too much for the underdogs this time round.

SheffordBlue added 15:44 - Nov 6 Not really convinced it will be a 'cauldron'. They have about 3-400 regular fans and don't seem to have sold the tickets as quickly as they thought they would. I think we'll end up with well over a third of the crowd. Lots of Town fans have bought direct from Bracknell was well as the tickets that have been sold by Ipswich.
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