2026-02-16 11:35:36
Macclesfield manager John Rooney is hoping to “stay on that high” of beating Crystal Palace as they face Brentford in the FA Cup.
The sixth-tier outfit stunned titleholders The Eagles in the previous round and have since backed it up with three straight home wins in the National League North, and as Macclesfield look to play The Bees on Monday (16.02.26), head coach Rooney is looking to keep the spark alive.
Speaking with TNT Sports, Rooney said: “We’ve wanted to stay on that high.
“I’ve wondered how we’d turn up for the other games, but we’ve been outstanding and put in some really good performances since beating Palace. I’ve just focused on keeping them ready and in the right frame of mind.”
The Macclesfield manager – who replaced Robbie Savage in the dugout earlier this season – has guided a squad featuring part-time players, including a bricklayer, a teacher and a gym owner, to seventh in the table while juggling a demanding cup run.
Macclesfield’s 2-1 victory over Palace was no fluke, as Paul Dawson’s powerful header set the tone before Isaac Buckley-Ricketts sealed a famous win against opponents sitting 117 places above them in the pyramid.
Rooney said: “The 10-minute period after half-time [against Palace] was massive for us.
“We defended well and played in their half by taking no risks at the back. The lads were outstanding as we didn’t have a great amount of time to work on things.
“All I could really do was give them a few words of advice in the dressing room about keeping a mid-block and screening, but it ended up being a few crazy days for me. It was well-deserved.”
For Rooney – who is the younger brother of former England captain Wayne Rooney – the buzz of management has eclipsed his playing days.
He added: “It’s a different buzz to when I was a player as you have extra responsibility as a manager. It was better.
“I’ve got a good relationship with the players, especially those who were here last year, as they know what I’m like as a character.”
Owner Robert Smethurst believes the tie with Brentford could secure the club’s future.
He said: “Being dead honest, we’re looking to make around £400,000 from this game, which will keep this club going for a good couple of years in players’ wages.
“The lads are so up for it. Beating Crystal Palace was incredible, but we can dream, can’t we?”
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