Stevenage Borough v Rochdale
The FA Cup Second Round
Broadhall Way, Stevenage
04 December 2004

Stevenage midfielder Dannie Bulman knows exactly how far the little clubs can go in The FA Cup - he played in a semi-final with Wycombe when they were in the old Second Division.

Bulman and his Stevenage team-mates take on Rochdale on Saturday dreaming of victory and a tie against one of the Premiership giants in the Third Round.

But the 25-year-old has already had experience of pitting his wits against an England international, having faced Liverpool and Steven Gerrard as Wycombe's dream run finally came to an end in 2001.

"We actually did all right during the game until a certain Steven Gerrard came off the bench midway through the second-half," Bulman recalls.

"He was only just breaking into the team back then, but he came on and was absolutely flying and that changed the match.

"They scored two goals, but even then we got one back in the last couple of minutes and anything could have happened from there. We thought we might make it  2-2 and keep the drama going even more.

"That was my first real run in The FA Cup and I think we played about 14 games to reach the Semi-Final what with all the replays we had. But to play against Liverpool in the end made it all worthwhile.

"It just proves that anything can happen in this competition, as our manager Graham Westley knows from personal experience as well. He was in charge at Farnborough when they reached the Fourth Round and pulled out Arsenal, so everything is possible.

"But we are not getting carried away with things and we know we have to play well to get ourselves into the Third Round.

"We won't be scared of Rochdale and will go for it. We might be the underdogs but the pressure is on them because they are in the higher division and coming onto our pitch.

"And it will be a good test for our squad, because our aim is to get out of the Conference and play every week in the Second Division."

Bulman is not the only Stevenage player with an FA Cup pedigree. The Hertfordshire club also include goalkeeper Andy Woodman (above) who was with Crystal Palace when they reached the final against Manchester United in 1990.

However, they have been hit hard with top scorer Anthony Elding suspended for the visit of Rochdale.