In a time when football at the top level is obsessed with lucrative TV deals and extortionate transfer fees, the FA Cup still has a place in the hearts of many a sporting romantic.

It is the true underdog story; real ‘Roy of the Rovers’ stuff.

A motley crew of builders, plumbers and postmen pitting their wits against spoilt, over-paid professionals.

OK, so maybe the fairytale image is less of a reality today. Many amateur clubs nowadays are made up of ex pros and former academy youngsters, but the cup does at least give them a chance to play against teams several levels higher.

After watching non-league Salford City defeat League Two Notts County in the first round last week, some Millwall supporters could have been forgiven for thinking maybe, just maybe, AFC Fylde were capable of pulling off another cup shock the following day.

The Lancashire club currently sit top of the National League North and have ambitions of reaching the football league by 2022.

I'm reluctant to call defeat to such lowly opponents a giant killing – I could never refer to Millwall as ‘giants’ for starters – but it certainly had the potential to ruin a few punters’ weekend accumulators.

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Thankfully, in Neil Harris, we have a manager who knows the lower leagues well, having started his playing career at Cambridge City.

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And any thoughts of his team underestimating Fylde were put to bed, as the Lions ran out 3-1 winners.

Admittedly, it did take us until the second half to open the scoring, but at no point did I feel we were in any danger.

So much so, I decided to spend my afternoon in the pub rather than venture down the Den in the wind and rain.

Danger averted, you now have to go back to 1996 to find the last time Millwall lost to non-league opposition – a replay against Woking at the Den.

The second round sees another home tie, this time against League Two Wycombe Wanderers. It could well have been a league fixture this season, had the Chairboys not suffered heartbreak in the play-off final back in May.

They will prove a tougher test than Fylde, but it's still an opportunity to get to the third round, when the big boys come out to play.

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Tuesday night saw us switch codes from one cup competition to another, this time for the Johnstone's Paint Trophy Southern Area Quarter Final away at Plymouth.

Typing out the full name of the fixture probably took just as long as the journey down to Devon, and I commend all 295 who made the trip.

Those lucky few in attendance were treated to an eight-goal thriller, in which the Lions scored five away from home for the first time since 2001.

Lee Gregory bagged himself four goals which should keep the dissenting voices (mine included) quiet for a few days.

I've been critical of Gregory’s contribution so far this season, but I sincerely hope this will be the start of a purple patch in front of goal.

Aiden O’Brien also maintained his fine run by taking his tally to nine goals in all competitions.

At the start of the season, I don't think the JPT would have been top of the club’s agenda – nor that of the fans. But as we sit here, just two wins away from another Wembley visit, the chance to add some silverware to a sparsely-populated trophy cabinet is now a genuine possibility.

And with our league form also gaining momentum, the next couple of months could start to get very interesting for Lions’ fans...

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