Manager Gareth Ainsworth would love to bring some FA Cup magic to Gillingham after recalling the time he nearly got one over Tottenham and Mauricio Pochettino

Gareth Ainsworth has issued a passionate FA Cup rallying cry to his Gillingham players.

He’ll be making sure they aren’t taking the competition lightly as they prepare to face Barrow this Saturday.

The Gills host the National League side at Priestfield on Saturday in the first round, with Ainsworth determined to make the most of a competition he believes has lost some of its magic.

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The Gillingham boss admits the FA Cup has “become diluted” over the years, with the Premier League and Champions League taking centre stage, but he remains a huge advocate of football's oldest knockout competition.

And he wants his players to understand just how special it can be.

He said: “I'm a big advocate of the FA Cup. It's a big day for me. I want to be in the hat for round two. It's fantastic seeing your name come out in that draw.

“I've had some magic moments in the competition and I'm really looking forward to Saturday.”

Ainsworth's own FA Cup memories include a dramatic fourth-round tie with his former club Wycombe Wanderers at Tottenham in January 2017.

His side stunned Spurs by taking a 2-0 lead before the Premier League outfit fought back to level. Wycombe then went ahead again at 3-2, only for Dele Alli to equalise in the 89th minute before Son Heung-min struck a stoppage-time winner.

It remains a special moment for Ainsworth, who recalled the reaction of Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino after the game.

“[Mauricio] Pochettino was manager then and it was fantastic. We really surprised Tottenham that day. They didn't expect what we had.

“I always remember Pochettino coming up to me at the end of the game going, ‘I didn't realise the history and the value of the FA Cup until