City must take their lead from the A Team to break their Steve Evans hoodoo on Saturday.

When I first saw the FA Cup draw was Rotherham away, my heart sank. It was an awful tie, even more so with the recent history that’s gone on.

Rotherham and their manager have got a little Indian sign over City without a doubt. But that spell has got to be broken at some point, so why not this weekend?

My advice is to go in there like the A Team. When I was involved with teams, that’s how we’d treat going to intimidating places.

Get in there, get the job done, then get the Hell out ... just like Mr T and the rest. Roll your sleeves up then move on.

It was like the Northampton play-off game at Wembley. There wasn’t the same hullaballoo as the Capital One Cup final – City went back down there to do a job and that was it.

I was at the infamous game when Evans was boss at Crawley. I was meant to be doing some radio commentary but was too busy watching the activities on the bench.

I could totally understand him getting under Phil Parkinson’s skin, which he has done. He was getting under mine that night with all the escapades on the sideline!

Evans and his sidekick Paul Raynor then went to Rotherham and when they came back to Valley Parade last season, it was very much the same. All sorts of snide things were going on.

You just cannot afford to bite. That may be easier said than done at times but you know what you are going into.

It’s about blocking everything out mentally and treating Saturday’s game just for what it is, a cup tie. What’s happened is in the past and doesn’t matter.

Phil can only do so much preparing his team. It’s not as if he’s on that pitch himself.

Then it’s down to the players and the good thing is that there is bags of experience in that side. Once they cross that white line, the only thought should be about winning the game – don’t dwell on anything else.

City went there last season and got beaten 4-0. They never turned up. With all the escapades with your man Evans and everything, it did have an effect. It played on everyone’s mind.

You’ve got to put that out the way. This is about one game on one afternoon.

The only way you can beat someone is with the football out on that pitch.

If you get sucked into the nonsense, there’s only going to be one winner.

It’s like in boxing when you step into the ring. Some are more technical than others and if you get dragged into a scrap against a fighter then you’ve no chance.

You’re getting pulled into his territory and he’s better at it than you because that’s his way.

For City, it’s all about staying focused on the job in hand. Get in, get the win, get out.

John Hendrie, who is a consultant for LawBlacks.com, was talking to Simon Parker.