Jordan Houghton: Professional pride is at stake in FA Cup banana skin at Ebbsfleet United

Jordan Houghton says it is not just a place in the second round of the FA Cup at stake this weekend - but professional pride.
Jordan HoughtonJordan Houghton
Jordan Houghton

Doncaster Rovers face a banana skin tie at National League outfit Ebbsfleet United.

On-loan Chelsea midfielder Houghton, 21, has never before come up against non-league opposition in a competitive game.

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And tomorrow in Kent he is fully aware that he will face a few familiar faces with a point to prove.

“The FA Cup always comes up with a few surprises,” said Houghton.

“Ebbsfleet have got some good players and in non-league now there’s a lot of players that have dropped out of academies and they want to prove a point.

“There’s players there that I’ve played against at academy level, some of whom were with England in the lower age groups.

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“Obviously they’ve had to drop down to try and prove themselves, so I’m coming up against players who might feel that they should be in my position.

“It’s down to me to prove why I’m playing here and they’re not.”

He added: “We’ve got to go there fully concentrated, get the job done and hopefully come up here for the next round.

“We’re going in confident from the last game [against Bury] and it’s another chance to try and get back-to-back wins, which we are looking for.

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“They’re the underdogs and we’re going there two leagues above them.

“So there is a bit of pressure but it’s nothing that’s going to affect us.

“We’ve done exactly the same this week as we would any week, we haven’t taken our foot off the gas or anything like that.”

Rovers hope to build on last weekend’s hard fought win at Bury, with a first derby against Rotherham for ten years next up at the Keepmoat Stadium.

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“It’s not necessarily affecting us but I suppose mentally it’s in the back of your head that we haven’t gone back-to-back wins,” said Houghton.

“I think when we get that second win we’ll be able to tick that box off.

“That’s what we’re going to try and do this Saturday.

“It’s nothing we can really put our finger on, we’re all working hard in training and I think the results will come.

“The manager is still doing the same things, we’re still the doing the same things and we know in the long run that will get us to where we want to be.”