Watson guided Southport to the Blue Square North title last season

Southport manager Liam Watson says his club fully deserves its high-profile FA Cup tie against Sheffield Wednesday.

Watson's side earned the match at Haig Avenue after their 2-1 victory over Wrexham in the fourth qualifying round.

"It has all gone a bit manic since the first round draw was made," Watson told BBC Radio Merseyside.

"It's a great tie, it's for the fans and the players and they totally deserve it for coming through against a tough Wrexham team on Saturday."

The Sandgrounders manager hopes the game with the League One club will spur his players to raise their performances and fight for places in the starting line-up in November.

"One or two in the last few weeks have been left out of the side," Watson continued.

"They are going on past glories from last season and not on what they've done this season. The team has changed and a couple of the lads who've been out on loan have come back and gone into the team and done well.

"It will be really good competition now because everybody will want to play against Sheffield Wednesday."

A capacity crowd is expected at Haig Avenue for the game, which can house up to 6,000 supporters, and chairman Charlie Clapham hopes the game will bring in much needed revenue.

"This takes us back, this is the biggest game since 1968 when we played Everton," said Clapham.

"I watched the draw on the computer at the office and when they said Sheffield Wednesday, that was a big moment.

"We think it is the tie of the round and hopefully the TV and radio will go live with it, and what is a good draw becomes a fantastic draw. Then we're talking about a major cash opportunity to both clubs."

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