SOME of the Notts County players have already shot themselves in the foot once this week, they will not do it again by underestimating Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup, says their goalkeeper Stuart Nelson.

The Magpies, who are sixth in League One, face the League Two side in a first round tie at Meadow Lane today.

And in the build-up, the first-team squad spent Tuesday afternoon running around woodland in Matlock – in camouflage suits and armed with pellet guns playing combat games, all with quite comical consequences, Nelson has revealed.

"Some of us had to defend a shack in one of the games, but we didn't do it very well," he laughed.

"We got absolutely hammered in there and when we were attacked we all panicked and started shooting pellets everywhere.

"A lot of them just hit the inside of the shack's wall, bounced back and hit us, so we were shooting ourselves!"

Boasting a few small bumps and bruises and broad smiles, the Notts players then went for a curry and a few beers at The Cumin on Maid Marian Way, where they were joined by their manager Martin Allen, who sensibly, avoided the woods.

The Magpies have lethal marksmen like Lee Hughes, after all.

It was all a reward for the players, who have performed brilliantly so far this season and it has plainly worked because they are all in high spirits ahead of facing Accrington.

"It was good. It got all the boys together," he said. "Everyone took a few hits in the combat games and we all enjoyed the curry.

"It was great because everyone was involved and everyone has been laughing and joking about it since.

"It shows how tight we are as a squad and a club and we will take that onto the pitch.

"Everyone will back each other up, except when they get the chance to shoot you in the back that is!"

Nelson has enjoyed memorable success in the FA Cup in his career.

Twice, he reached the fifth round of the competition under Allen at Brentford, in 2005 and 2006.

The Bees famously beat Sunderland 2-1 in the fourth round of the Cup at Griffin Park in January 2006, which is a remarkable coincidence because Nelson helped Notts beat the Black Cats 2-1 in the third round last season.

The Magpies then so nearly pulled off another big shock in the Cup's history in the fourth round.

They led Manchester City, the world's richest club, 1-0 on home soil, after captain Neal Bishop scored his first-ever goal at Meadow Lane and Nelson made some memorable saves before finally being beaten by Edin Dzeko in the closing minutes.

After a 1-1 draw, the Magpies lost 5-0 in the replay, with Patrick Vieira scoring twice and Carlos Tevez, Dzeko and Micah Richards all netting once.

Understandably, Nelson looks back on all of those feats with fondness.

Nelson also looks back on the tie at Sunderland as a key moment in his career at Meadow Lane because he replaced Rob Burch, who was sidelined with a knee injury, at the Stadium of Light and has since played every game, firmly establishing himself as the club's No.1 goalkeeper.

"Last year was brilliant. Sunderland was where it all started for me. It was my first start after Christmas," he said.

"It was great to be a part of the run and I had two good seasons at Brentford where we reached the fifth round.

"The FA Cup is a great competition. I always look forward to it every year."

With Notts in the top-six in League One and 35 places above Accrington, who are 17th in League Two, in the Football League, the Magpies will be expected to comfortably reach the second round.

"Obviously the pressure will be on us because we're the higher team and we're at home, but they are a good team and it's going to be tough," said Nelson.

"We've all got to be up for it and ready because they are going to come at us.

"The be all and end all is getting through.

"For me, the FA Cup has always been memorable and exciting. It is the pinnacle of all Cup competitions.

"All games are exciting, but because it's a one-off it's even more exciting.

"The loser goes out, the winner goes on. If you don't play well you go out and if you do well you're onto the next round, it's as simple as that, and you're rubbing your hands for the draw.

"It is moments like that which make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up."

Notts should win, of course. As long as Nelson and his team-mates defend their goal better than they did that shack.