Gulls boss: 'We won't be daunted'
It was in the First Round of the Cup that United beat League One Yeovil Town 4-1 at home in a live televised tie last season.
And the Gulls manager, who yesterday completed the loan signing of Bristol City's teenage striker Tristan Plummer, said: "The day we beat Yeovil was one of our best performances of last season.
"It's a very similar situation with this tie.
"Blackpool are a Championship side, of course, but we're playing well, with confidence.
"And with the fans behind us, we won't be daunted."
Buckle's move for 18-year-old Plummer is intriguing.
United's scouting network identified the pacy teenager as a possible target some time ago, and Buckle has taken former England U17 international Plummer to the end of the season, not just for a month.
Luton Town fans liked Plummer during a loan spell at Kenilworth Road earlier this season – his goal clinched a 2-0 Carling Cup win over Plymouth Argyle.
But City manager Gary Johnson was disappointed that he was not given more starting appearances.
Whether Buckle throws him straight in today remains to be seen.
He already has plenty of options up front, with eight-goal Elliot Benyon, Matt Green and fit-again Roscoe Dsane all suddenly facing increased competition as the man to play off centre-forward and leading scorer Tim Sills.
The fact that Plummer can also play out wide ups the ante for several of United's other attacking players.
And, since the January transfer window has only just opened, there must be a chance that Buckle's dealing has not finished.
Having already won £62,500 from the Cup this season, there's another £75,000 on offer if United can shock Blackpool – plus the possibility of even greater riches in the fourth round.
The Tangerines' caretaker management team of Tony Parkes and Steve Thompson are waiting on a fitness test for key defender Rob Edwards (hamstring).
They are desperate to have Edwards fit, because they are already without the suspended Gary Taylor-Fletcher and they won't have any of their eight recent loan signings available.
Five loanees have returned to their clubs permanently, and three more – striker Alan Gow (Rangers), winger Kyel Reid (West Ham) and midfielder Adam Hammill (Liverpool) – have gone back pending further talks about their futures.
After the Blackpool tie, United travel to Blue Square Premier leaders Burton Albion on Tuesday night, followed by home games against Rushden & Diamonds in the FA Trophy next Saturday and Wrexham in the BSP on Thursday, January 15.
Burton opened up a 13-point lead at the top of the table when they beat York 3-1 away on Thursday – it was the Brewers' eleventh successive league win.
Not surprisingly, Nigel Clough has been named December's BSP manager of the month, and United will go to the Pirelli Stadium 16 points behind Burton, albeit with two games in hand.
Meanwhile, several of United's league rivals have already been busy in the transfer market.
Histon have paid Weymouth £5,000 for central defender Adam Bygrave and signed left-back Marlon Patterson from Dagenham & Redbridge.
Kettering have bought striker Iyseden Christie from Stevenage for £10,000, following a loan spell at Rockingham Road.
Stevenage themselves have paid £7,000 for defender Mark Roberts from Northwich Victoria, and confirmed the permanent signing of midfielder Darren Murphy from Cork City.
Rushden have signed former Leyton Orient, Weymouth and Grays defender Simon Downer and turned on-loan goalkeeper Dale Roberts into a permanent signing from Nottingham Forest.
There is also some speculation that former Torquay striker Lee Phillips, currently on the transfer list at Nene Park, is poised to move away.
One of his old clubs, Weymouth, are believed to be interested.
And Wrexham have signed young full-back Sam Williamson from Manchester City after a loan spell at the Racecourse Ground.
● THE draw for the fourth round of the FA Cup will be screened live on ITV1 tomorrow at 3.25pm, after the televised tie between Gillingham and Aston Villa.
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