DESPITE being paired with opposition from a higher division, Darlington's Danny Mellanby was in confident mood before today's Feethams FA Cup clash was called off.

Peterborough are currently 17th in the second division and have struggled this term, and Mellanby was eager to get at the Posh defence as the former Bishop Auckland player looked to get on the scoresheet for the first time since October.

"I fancy our chances, I did when the draw was made," admitted the former non-league striker who is hoping for a plumb tie in the fourth round should Quakers make it that far.

"They're only a division above so I'm not too worried.

"The draw you want is a Liverpool or a Man Utd. I've never played against a big side like that and I've never played at one of those grounds, so that would be nice."

The 22-year-old came close to scoring last week at Bristol Rovers, when just five minutes from time his low, curling effort evaded the keeper, only to rebound off the post to safety.

He said: "I don't know how my shot didn't go in, it looked like it was going in and then it hit the post.

"If that goes in that kills them off and we'd have won but they went down the other end and scored just afterwards.

"I was unlucky with a few chances. I had a chance in the first minute but I thought I was offside so I hesitated when I should have just hit it."

He started the season with Barry Conlon as his strike-partner, but the pair have yet to play together under Tommy Taylor owing to Mellanby's injury lay-off and Conlon's suspension which means he misses next week's league game at Kidderminster, much to the chagrin of Mellanby.

"We were doing OK when we played together and then I got injured and he's been banned since I came back," said Mellanby.

"He normally attracts all the attention of the other defenders so it leaves me with a bit of space and I pick up the bits and pieces.

"He's good to play up front with because he wins a lot of balls in the air, so it'll be good for me and team when he's back."

* Gillingham manager Andy Hessenthaler claims his side must keep Wolves strikers Nathan Blake and Dean Sturridge quiet if they are going to have any prospect of winning today's FA Cup clash at Molineux.

''They've spent a bit of money but if we match them and stop Sturridge and Nathan Blake we're in with a good chance,'' he said.

Wolves are taking nothing for granted against the Gills, and assistant boss John Ward said: ''People at Wolves expect us to win every game, but we have the greatest respect for Gillingham.''

New Bradford boss Nicky Law knows his side must tighten up at the back for their trip to Walsall.

''If you look at the statistics we've scored 46 and let 52 goals in. I think it smacks you clear in the face,'' he said.

''We're conceding goals far too easily and we've got to make the players more aware of their defensive responsibility when we're not in possession of the ball.''

Read more about the Quakers here.