CHESTER manager Calum McIntyre described the visit of York City in the Emirates FA Cup as a ‘mismatch’ ahead of Saturday’s trip to the Deva.

McIntyre’s side find themselves in eighth position after enjoying four consecutive wins in the Vanarama National League North, and have reached the first round of the FA Cup after victories over Tadcaster Albion, Nantwich Town and Hartlepool United.

Despite Chester’s form, McIntyre is expecting a ‘tough’ clash in the cup, and described the difference between the divisions as ‘enormous’ due to finances and quality.

“It’s a mismatch, the National League to the National League North, the gulf in quality and financing is enormous,” McIntyre told the Chester media team.

“The game we played against Nantwich here, there is less of a gap than us to York on Saturday.

“We were terrific against Hartlepool, but a lot has got to go your way, and we scored after 13 minutes.

“Hartlepool became so predictable and played into our hands a little bit to score a second goal.

“It’s a York side that won promotion out of this league and have then improved their personnel and into a manager that knows the level of football, he’s always been at the right end of that league table.

“It’s a mismatch, on paper, when we went to Hartlepool we should have got beat by five, perhaps here I think York should beat us by three.

“Then coming to the Deva should make it more difficult than us going away.

“A lot needs to go our way, and nothing other than the best version of us gets us a replay, nevermind to the next round of the competition.

“We can have no half-pleasures on Saturday, it’s got to be the best version of us.

“We’ll know what to expect, and having already played this kind of game against Hartlepool, it gives us the opportunity to not go in blind.

“We’re well aware of the challenge ahead and it’s going to be tough, tougher than we originally envisaged, perhaps ten days to 2 weeks ago when a lot of stuff has gone against us.

"It’s going to make it challenging, but it’s brilliant to be a part of it, and we don’t want our FA Cup run to end on Saturday."

McIntyre also went on to express his delight at being in the FA Cup, and admitted that the competition is ‘unrivalled’ for Chester.

“It’s brilliant for the football club to be back in the FA Cup and back in the competition proper.

“We worked very, very hard to get here, we’ve worked through the two rounds against lower-league opposition and that win at Hartlepool was terrific.

“We’ve gone above and beyond on our target to reach the final qualifying round, to reach the first round proper and the rewards that brings the football club.

“It’s really exciting for everyone involved, and we’re very much looking forward to it, it’s nice when the FA Cup balls are out on the training ground and you feel a part of it when they draw the balls on ITV.

“You’re part of a competition that is unrivalled."