TIM Langford is hoping history repeats itself tonight as his Stourport Swifts side bid to topple Nationwide Conference Chester City at Walshes Meadow in their third round FA Trophy replay (7.45pm).
The Swifts' player-manager was a giant-killer with Telford United when they knocked Stoke City out of the FA Cup in 1991 and he believes tonight's clash shares similarities with that match.
"We went to Stoke and drew 0-0 and brought them back to Telford and beat them 2-1, and it's a similar situation tonight," said Langford.
"We managed to get a draw on Saturday and now the players have got a chance of becoming giant-killers themselves."
The teams shared a 1-1 draw at the Deva Stadium with a Simon Marsh strike cancelling out a Jimmy Haarhoff goal, but Langford insists his team have the confidence to cause an upset.
"It's my job to instil the belief in players and I think they had that on Saturday and if we had scored first it would have been a different game," he said.
"Apart from victory I couldn't have asked for more from the players and as long as we show the same desire tonight you never know what could happen.
"It will be a completely different game and we know what our pitch conditions are and that will work in our favour, but from their point of view they will not have the crowd on their backs.
"Now that we have played them once I don't think they will be able to pass the ball around as much as they did."
Chester, struggling second from bottom of the Conference, have showed little improvement since Langford first saw them a month ago and he admits he is glad he is not in Mark Wright's shoes.
"I think their league position says everything and I don't envy Mark Wright he's got a very difficult job in front of him," he said.
Langford is hoping for a bumper crowd and believes they can play a big part especially if the tie goes to penalties.
"I've told the club secretary Nigel Green that if it goes to penalties I want all the supporters behind the goal whistling, hissing and making as much noise as possible," he added.
Alex Cowley is the only slight injury doubt with a groin strain but Langford expects him to play.
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