FA Cup display can be motivational says Vokes

Striker Sam Vokes says that the Clarets will use their Emirates FA Cup experience as motivation in the push for promotion to the Premier League.
Welsh international Vokes scored his seventh goal of the season when converting Tendayi Darikwas cross in the fourth round tie against holders Arsenal at the Emirates.Welsh international Vokes scored his seventh goal of the season when converting Tendayi Darikwas cross in the fourth round tie against holders Arsenal at the Emirates.
Welsh international Vokes scored his seventh goal of the season when converting Tendayi Darikwas cross in the fourth round tie against holders Arsenal at the Emirates.

The Welshman notched his seventh goal of the campaign when soaring above Arsenal defender Gabriel Paulista to head Tendayi Darikwa’s delivery past David Ospina after half-an-hour of the fourth round tie in North London.

Sean Dyche’s side went in level at the interval, with Calum Chambers opening the scoring in brilliant fashion for the Gunners, but the holders booked their place against Hull City in the next round courtesy of Alexis Sanchez’s 53rd minute strike.

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Vokes said: “Joey (Barton) said it at the end - ‘that’s where we want to be’. It’s important that we use this as motivation to come here and play games in the league. We can only do that by proving ourselves in the league.

“We’ve shown that we can handle ourselves at a place like this. They’re a great outfit and got the result but I don’t think we disgraced ourselves. It stands us in good stead and it all starts with two tough games.”

He added: “It was good. We obviously knew that it was going to be a tough test coming here because they’re a great side, a great passing side, and they showed that.

“ I think from our point of view we probably gave them a bit too much respect in the first 20 minutes and that was our problem when they scored.

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“But to get back in to the game was great and we started to show what we are all about. It was unfortunate but I think their class showed in the second half.

“We came here and played our own game instead of trying to change for them.

“It proved that we’re good enough and can handle teams like that I think. We’ve got to take a lot of heart from it. We worked well and it was a good way to play.”

The striker, who featured 15 times for the Clarets in the top flight as he made his return from a serious knee injury, scored in successive games for the first time since November 2014 when netting against Arsene Wenger’s men.

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Now he’s determined to keep that run going. “It’s a great place to come and play, let alone score,” Vokes said. “To get on the scoresheet was massive and to do it in front of the fans was huge.

“It was great. It was good work down the right and a good ball from Tendayi. It was nice to get on the end of it and, in front of the fans, get the goal.

“I’ve always said as a striker you want to score goals so it’ll be nice to keep that run going.”

The Clarets cross the border to take on play-off chasing Sheffield Wednesday this evening (kick-off 7-45 p.m.) where victory could take them to within a point of the Championship’s automatic promotion slots.

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“These are the big ones to concentrate on now,” he said. “We’ve got a big game at Hillsborough and then another big one on Saturday. I think we can take a great deal of confidence from the Arsenal game and the last few results.”