CHESTER need ‘no extra motivation’ to do well and advance in this season’s FA Cup, says Anthony Johnson.

The in-form Blues face National League North rivals Altrincham on Saturday in a second qualifying round tie at the Deva.

A shock 4-3 defeat at north east minnows Dunston UTS ended Chester’s cup run last season, where the 10-man visitors were eliminated in a seven-goal thriller.

And while his side were expected to prevail in that contest, Johnson admits that this year’s draw has not been favourable to his side.

“These opening rounds throw up all sorts of lower league opposition, but nobody could say this is a banana-skin against a side we should be beating,” said Johnson.

“It’s about as tough a draw as either side could have had at this stage and we’re under no illusions about how tough it will be to get past Alty and into the next round.

“Losing at Dunston last season was tough to take because we didn’t play badly at all in that game, it just didn’t go our way on the day.

“But that result won’t give us an incentive to do better this season because we don’t need that extra motivation.

“The FA Cup’s a special competition and we know what it means to to everyone.

“Myself and Bernard (Morley), the players, the fans and everyone involved at the club wants us to get into the next round and beyond that if we can.

“Obviously the league is our bread and butter and takes precedence, we’re not naive enough to think otherwise.

“But if we can keep our league form going and can add to it with a good cup run, what a season this could be for us.”

While in charge of Salford City, Johnson and Morley defied the odds to beat Notts County and reach the FA Cup first-round in 2015-16 in one of the highlights of their tenure.

George Glendon is another in the Blues camp with cup pedigree.

The 24-year-old central midfielder was part of the Fleetwood Town side who took former Premier league champions Leicester to a third round replay in the 2017-18 campaign.

Glendon said: “Holding a Premier League side to a goalless draw at home was a big result for us.

“Forcing the replay and going back to play at Leicester’s ground was great to experience for me as a young player.We’d gone to Bristol City the year before and held them to a draw too, which was another big result for us.

“That’s what the cup’s all about and it’d be brilliant if we could put together a little cup run at Chester.”

Johnson and Morley will be forced into a defensive reshuffle for the clash with Kevin Roberts and Jamie Morgan both unavailable.

Roberts remains sidelined with a hamstring injury while fellow right-back Morgan starts a three-game suspension following his dismissal in the 3-1 win at Telford United last weekend.

Speaking after the victory, Johnson said: “We assume that Kevin’s going to be at least another couple of weeks, so we’ve got arguably two of the best full-backs in non-league football and they’re both out.”