BRAINTREE Town manager Danny Cowley says his side have a mountain to climb if they are to shock Oxford United and reach uncharted territory in the Emirates FA Cup on Sunday.

The Iron may be in the Vanarama National League play-off places, but average ates of under 700 at the Avanti Stadium this season mean they are one of the division’s smaller clubs.

Cowley, who worked wonders at Concord Rangers before taking over at Braintree this summer, is a PE teacher in a secondary school.

The Essex club have never reached the second round and their boss is well aware of the challenge his part-time squad face when taking on a United side flying high in Sky Bet League Two.

He told the Braintree & Witham Times: “It’s a fantastic game for us and one we’re thoroughly looking forward to, but we know Oxford are a very, very good side.

“They beat Plymouth, who are the League Two leaders, and then beat Stevenage 5-1 last weekend, so we understand the mountain that we have to climb.

“Braintree have never beaten a Football League club and never got past the first round of the FA Cup, so we know what we’re up against.

“They have a big budget, have a manager who has Premier League experience and they have recruited very successfully.

“The prospect of making a piece of history is brilliant for us, but we’re not just looking at a League Two side.

“Oxford are a club who are geared up for going into League One and then up into the Championship.

“They are tearing teams apart in their league so it will be a test for us both individually and as a group.”