Having played with and against top quality players during his fantastic career, Paul Green, has warned his Crewe Alexandra team-mates that they can ill afford to make costly mistakes this evening.

Green, 36, who was capped by the Republic of Ireland and was part of their squad for the European Championships in 2012 where he came on against Spain, says that mistakes are punished the higher you go.

Green, who also played his club football for the likes of Derby County and Leeds United says: “Some of our players may be surprised because they may have more touches of the ball than normal. You can play a bit more but when they move the ball forward it is faster and sharper.

“You can afford to make mistakes because they punish you. There are not too many let offs against quality players. They usually take them, so you have to concentrate and work hard to retain your shape and minimise their chances. Then if you can do that then you have to take your chances if they come along because there may only be a few in the game.

Greeny added: “What I know this team will do, is give a real go and we won’t change. We will look to play our football and go again. In the cup anything can happen and that is how we are looking at it.”