We had a couple of lucky breaks against Macclesfield last Saturday. The turning point was Adam Collin’s penalty save to keep it at 0-1. Then we have a mishit corner and two deflections to make it 1-1. From coming off at half-time at 0-2 with a hostile crowd to going in at 1-1, that’s a big difference. Although the winner came from a defensive mistake, fair play to Ryan Loft for keeping his composure to score.

It wasn’t pretty but I’ll happily accept the result. When it comes to plus points, if you feed Nathan Thomas the ball on both wings, he’ll create chances.

And the young centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite is like an old head on young shoulders. You wouldn’t think he’s only had a handful of games.

People are already talking about when he’ll be sold and how much for. Money rules now. We saw that when Leeds bought Liam McCarron after just a few games. It would have been nice to even have him back on a year’s loan. It’s just a case of keeping these lads for as long as we can and getting what we can for them if they’re sold.

That’s four points from the last two games. But I wouldn’t get too carried away. It’s a bit early to say we’ve turned a corner. There’s still a lot to work on. At Dulwich tonight we’ve got to show that we can go three games undefeated. We haven’t managed that all season.

Dulwich will come out with so much energy and enthusiasm. We’ll have to be prepared for that. They’ll have been building up to this since the balls were drawn.

I think the most important thing is not to let them get their tails up in the first 25 minutes or so. You’ve got to go out from the first whistle. It’s not like a league game where teams tend to be feeling each other out for the first few minutes.

You’ve got to hold on during the early onslaught. The full-time club’s fitness usually shows the longer it goes on. Dulwich haven’t won in the league since August but you can’t just take teams for granted, irrespective of league form.

I played for Carlisle at home to Matlock in the third round in 1977. We won 5-1, then lost at Liverpool in the next round. Later that year we beat Stafford at home in the first round and went on to play Man United in the third round. Those draws show you what the rewards can be. Man United were down to 10 men after Brian Greenhoff was sent off. Then I was brought down for what should have been a penalty but the ref didn’t give it. It finished 1-1 and we lost the replay. People still talk about that. The FA Cup does still have that bit of magic for lower-league clubs.

The game tonight is so important. If we can get through everyone will be wondering if we’ll go on a cup run. It keeps the season going and helps the finances.

Next Tuesday we’re at Morecambe in the Leasing.Com Trophy, as it’s now called. The joy went out of that for me when the big clubs came in. When it was the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy I went to Wembley and Cardiff on the supporters’ bus. Now I’ve got no interest in it, like 90 per cent of fans. The season is all about improving our league position and keeping in the FA Cup.

By the way: well done to Workington Reds. Danny Grainger led by example as a player and I’m glad he’s doing well as a manager.

Interview: Roger Lytollis