KEVIN Maher wants to rediscover the magic of the FA Cup with Southend United this season.

Maher takes his Shrimpers side to Eastleigh tomorrow for a fourth round qualifying clash.

And the 47-year-old is desperate to get through - despite admitting the competition is perhaps not quite as special as it once was.

“Going back to when Man United pulled out of it I don’t think that’s something which should have happened or been allowed to happen,” said Maher.

“I remember growing up you’d watch the Saturday morning build up to the final and it was the best thing in the world.

That’s probably gone a little bit if I’m being honest but if you can win games and get through I think the magic is still there and can still be there.

“Hopefully we’ll see that ourselves this season.”

Maher has yet to win an FA Cup clash as Blues boss, losing at Chesterfield, Woking and Yeovil Town in the past three seasons.

But the Shrimpers chief is keen to put that right as his players bid to bounce back from two successive defeats.

“As a football club you want to try and go as far as you can,” said Maher.

“It’s one game at a time and Saturday is about as difficult as it gets in this round but both teams will look at it that way.

“Hopefully we can get a positive result and be in the hat for the next round.

“Eastleigh had a good run last year I believe so they will know what that feels like but we’ve got to go there and put a performance in which hopefully sees us the right side of the result.”