MACC manager Keith Alexander revealed his side’s unexpected motivation ahead of the Port Vale clash.
The Silkmen dumped Vale out of the FA Cup with a fine victory, spurred on by a radio broadcast in which Port Vale’s chief scout dismissed the Moss Rose side as ‘rubbish.’
"I heard the comments on the way to the game and I was angry that they showed no respect whatsoever to fellow professionals," he said after Macc’s 3-1 win set up a home tie against Everton in the third round.
After the league game in September was marred by Vale midfielder Shane Tudor’s now infamous after-match comments, Alexander admitted there was an extra element of pleasure in the win, and said: "It’s always nice to go to places where they’re being disrespectful and win, that’s the second time in a few months.
"I’m delighted to be in the next round of the cup and I thought we thoroughly deserved to win.
"I want us to progress as far as we can. The club has never reached the fourth round so that would be a great achievement and one that we will aim for."
