Isaac Buckley-Ricketts backs Macclesfield to upset Brentford in FA Cup

Isaac Buckley-Ricketts insists non-league Macclesfield are capable of delivering another giant-killing act after drawing Brentford in the fourth round of the FA Cup.

Buckley-Ricketts scored the winner in Saturday’s 2-1 victory over holders Crystal Palace, registering one of the greatest upsets in the competition’s history.

John Rooney’s part-timers will continue their fairy tale cup run at Moss Rose and, even though Brentford are positioned fifth in the Premier League, Buckley-Ricketts believes a second seismic upset is possible.

“Very happy. Another Premier League team again. We’ve got a chance to repeat what we’ve done already. I’m really looking forward to it,” the forward told BBC Sport.

“We never really had fear in the first place, it was more of a respect acknowledging the stature of the teams we were playing.

“Once we’ve done this now, it’s an extra boost for the whole team. Why can’t we do it again?”

The Bees are two points off the Champions League places and will be desperate to avoid the fate of Palace, who were knocked out by the National League North team sat 117 places beneath them in the football pyramid.

“We said before that we would have liked to get Liverpool, Chelsea or Arsenal, but another Premier League side is incredible,” Rooney told TNT Sports.

“They’re another top side but we’ve seen what happened at our place on Saturday. When they come, will they like the 3G pitch? Any little advantage we can take, we’ll grab with both hands.”

There is plenty of scope for upsets in the fourth round with seven Premier League teams travelling to lower league opposition.

Among them is Chelsea’s visit to Hull that will see new Blues boss Liam Rosenior return to the club where his managerial career began in earnest in 2022.

Rosenior has taken charge at Stamford Bridge after Enzo Maresca was sacked on New Year’s Day and the 41-year-old began his reign with a 5-1 victory against Charlton on Saturday.

West Ham are currently stuck in the relegation zone and they must travel to League One outfit Burton in a fixture fraught with danger. The Hammers’ 2-1 win against QPR in the third round was their first success since November 8.

Fulham, Sunderland, Leeds and Wolves also face banana skin games when they take on Stoke, Oxford, Birmingham and Grimsby respectively.

Manchester City are at home for their tie against Salford or Swindon, who meet on January 20, while the FA Cup’s most successful side Arsenal take on League One club Wigan at Emirates Stadium.

Liverpool will face Brighton at home after beating Barnsley in their third-round match on Monday, and there is an all-Premier League clash between Aston Villa and Newcastle.

All matches will be played around the weekend of February 14 and 15.