Anthony Hart reports ahead of our FA Cup clash at Eastleigh
Media are assembling from all corners of the world, with people all around the planet hoping Bolton lose to Eastleigh in Saturday’s FA Cup tie in Hampshire.
The BBC are putting most of their eggs in one basket, with Football Focus coming live from Eastleigh, radio commentary and being a featured game on Match of the Day. The game will also be televised live around the world, but not in the UK, where it is assumed viewers want to watch Manchester United’s uninspiring home 2-0 win over Sheffield United.
Joey Jones, a production assistant at BBC Sport, said, ‘The FA Cup is the world’s most watched domestic cup competition. There are stories up and down the country, none more so at Eastleigh. Bolton have had a torrid season and we can laugh at them further if they get turned over by a non-league side. Oh, and I suppose it would be a nice little earner for Eastleigh if they got to the fourth round too.’
Eastleigh fans have also being getting in the spirit of the cup, ‘Yeah we do want the Spitfires to win, but all the talk would be about more pressure being heaped on Bolton and that’s understandable, it really is,’ the head of Eastleigh’s Supporters Club told us.
Neil Lennon, speaking his pre-match press conference, told journalists, ‘There’s a narrative to this Cup tie and I know everyone can’t wait for us to struggle to slip up. But if we do win, all that will subside and it will disappear quicker than my Tinder profile.’