Appleton: Cup run not high on agenda

The Blues were paired with Notts County at Fratton Park in the first round draw on Sunday.

The tie – to be played the weekend November 3-4 – will be the first time Pompey have featured at that stage of the competition since 1982, when they beat Hereford United 4-1.

Appleton knows the Magpies will prove tricky opposition after falling to a 3-0 loss at Meadow Lane in September.

But the 36-year-old explained the competition is not important compared to the hunt for league points.

Appleton said: ‘It’s probably a good draw.

‘It’s a home game and it’s a team who are doing well in the division, so hopefully there will be a good turnout.

‘There are a lot of minnows in the competition, so we might not have got a crowd that we liked.

‘It will be a competitive game and both teams will go into it thinking they could win or lose. How important is an FA Cup tie for the side?

‘Probably not that much.

‘The only thing I’m concerned with this season is where we finish in the league.

‘If we finish 20th, depending on the 10 points coming off, that would be a good season for us.

‘Then we can build for the future.’