Newcastle United boss Steve Bruce has a simple message for his players ahead of today's FA Cup tie with Rochdale.

Bruce reckons the nation would love to see his side fall to another “Hereford moment", a reference to the infamous day in 1972 when the Geordies lost to non-League opposition, and have forever been linked to third round shocks.

He said: “When I walked through the door I said we'd have a crack at it, so we'll be as strong as we possibly can and see if we can have a run, why not? No-one wants to lose to bloody Rochdale, that's for sure.

“The FA Cup is the FA Cup and that's the beauty of it. Newcastle, in recent years, have not gone far enough. Rochdale have got to the fourth round more than Newcastle have over the last six or seven years

“So we'll try our best. I don't want to be the manager who loses to Rochdale, why should I be?

“Getting to a final is the best day of your life, be it a manager, player or supporter.

“I realised that at Hull a few years ago. You ask a Hull supporter what the best day of their life is, and they'll not say getting promoted or going to Old Trafford, but they'll say the cup final when they were 2-0 up against Arsenal and got beat 3-2.

“I was the first Englishman to lift the double. Everyone wants to win the Premier League because it means you're the best team in that season. An FA Cup, you don't necessarily have to be the best team, you can have a kind draw.

“My first one with Man United, when we beat Palace in the final, we never drew anyone in our division, even the semi-final was Oldham. So you can have a cup run and it be kind.

“It is five games. Newcastle on a cup run can only help everyone. We are not going to catch Liverpool and win the Premier League but you have a chance in the FA Cup."