The Owls take on the Latics at 5.15pm this afternoon for a televised clash in the oldest club competition in the world, with both sides eager to try and book their spot in the second round.
Mellon has come up against Wednesday as a player and as a manager - with mixed success - and says that everyone at his club are looking forward to playing host to Dave Challinor’s first game in charge later today.
“It’s the FA Cup and it’s a really good tie, an exciting tie,” he told The Oldham Times. “So we’re looking forward to the game… It’s coming off the back of a win, so you look forward to it more when it’s on the back of a win. It promises to be a great game.
“You’ve got to appreciate these games. Sheffield Wednesday will bring a big support, I’m sure that we’ll have a big support. It’s on TV and a bit of a mad kick-off time, such is the way things are now, but we’re really looking forward to it and we’ll be ready when it comes around.
“It’s a good tie for us. I don’t know if we’d get a bigger one at this stage of the competition… I know Dave really well, and I’m sure he will do really well there, he’s a good guy.
“On a personal level I’m really pleased he’s got his opportunity at a massive football club and on a professional level it’s good to see. He’s done his time, he’s worked the leagues, he’s learned his craft and it’s good to see guys like that getting an opportunity at big clubs, he deserves that.”
The Scot went on to add, “I love the FA Cup. I’ve had good moments in it and love when it comes around this time of the year.
“If we can make some memories for the fans and for the players as well and their families, and ourselves, that’s the thing that you try to attack. It’s still a romantic competition that everybody still gets excited about.”
This article is available for free, but if you like what you’ve seen from The Wednesday Word, then a paid subscription would mean the world to us - and allow us to keep doing everything that we’re doing in the TWW universe. We want to keep improving, and growing, and for that we need your support! Thank you!