Chelsea vs Scunthorpe United preview: Scott Laird has reputation to shock Stamford Bridge in FA Cup tie

Defender can draw on knocking out Newcastle and scoring against Manchester United for the trip to West London

Scott Laird will be telling his team-mates to enjoy the day (Rex)

Every time Scott Laird has faced a Premier League team in the FA Cup he has made his mark. His Stevenage team knocked out Newcastle United in 2011 and took Tottenham Hotspur to a replay 12 months later. Last year, with Preston North End, Laird scored the opening goal against Manchester United, a goal that nearly took the roof off Deepdale. Every time there is a moment, or a story, which is why Scunthorpe’s trip to Chelsea on Sunday afternoon is worth keeping an eye on.

Laird joined Mark Robins’ side last summer and, like many players in the lower leagues, he lives for the FA Cup, and the opportunities the elite competition provides. Sunday, at the home of the Premier League champions, could be the best one yet.

“The only people who moan about the FA Cup are in the top leagues,” Laird tells The Independent. “In the lower leagues we love it. The magic of the FA Cup has always been very special to me.”

It was the defender who provided one of the most special moments of last year’s competition, when Manchester United travelled to Preston for their fifth-round tie. Simon Grayson played him on the left of Preston’s 3-5-2.

“I was all on my own on the left wing against Antonio Valencia and Angel Di Maria, so I had my hands full,” Laird remembers. “They are not the slowest, and at one point I had my hands on my knees, breathing quite heavily, telling the manager I needed some help. The cliché says that you need to get stuck in, but you’ve got to catch them first.”

But Preston got to half-time at 0-0 and, two minutes after the restart, the ball broke to Laird as he ran forward. “Everything seemed to slow down,” he says. “I saw Paul Gallagher calling for it, but there was no chance I was going to pass. I hit it, it took a slight deflection, and went in.”

Deepdale erupted. There is a video on YouTube showing the stands shaking, called “The Moment A City Dreamed”. It has more than 12,000 views.

“I looked around at the ref and linesman, thinking I couldn’t have scored,” Laird says. “But they didn’t blow. I didn’t know what to do but by then I was jumping over the hoardings and a few expletives went through my head. That three or four seconds felt like 30.”

Even now, 11 months on, the moment has not fully sunk in. “I don’t think it will sink in until I am telling my grandkids,” Laird says. “I don’t think it will hit me for a few years to come. I get a bit of stick that it took a deflection, but it says Laird on that scoresheet and it always will do. No one can take that away from me.”

United surged back and won 3-1 but the memories are positive, after a “great performance” in a game watched by millions on the BBC.

The first time Laird faced Premier League opposition, the result was positive but the memories are mixed. Five years ago, Stevenage beat Newcastle United 3-1 at Broadhall Way. The victory led to a pitch invasion, which was marred when a supporter punched Laird in the face, leading to a prison sentence.

“With all the euphoria, I just thought it was someone trying to jump on my back, but obviously it wasn’t,” Laird remembers. “Of course it was upsetting. But it was a great game, and one I will always remember fondly for the football.”

That unpleasant incident did rather raise Laird’s profile and the following season his side faced Harry Redknapp’s Tottenham, drawing 0-0 at home and taking the lead at White Hart Lane before losing 3-1.

All of which means that Laird goes into Sunday’s game with a very clear sense of what it means to play in matches like this, something he will be conveying to his Scunthorpe team-mates.

“I will trying to tell the lads to take it in and enjoy it,” Laird says. “There is no point in letting it all pass you by, so when the game has finished it has just been a blur. Take your surroundings in and enjoy it. Don’t just wait to be beaten.”