Andrew Muxworthy has backed his Chester-le-Street Town team to come up trumps when they visit West Ham United as underdogs next week.

After taking a string of League scalps in the FA Youth Cup, Chester-le-Street Town Juniors take on the Hammers at Upton Park on Monday with a place in the fifth round up for grabs - something manager Muxworthy says is within the Cestrians' grasps.

After wins over the youth teams of Hartlepool United, Port Vale and Derby County, as well as three wins in preliminary rounds, confidence in the Cestrians camp is high.

They've been on spying missions to watch the Londoners in action and fancy their chances of reaching the last 16 and a home tie against Nottingham Forest.

"We've got an exceptional side," said Muxworthy. "I've already been down to see West Ham in action and I think we can do it.

"They have been to watch us so I suppose that's tribute to us. It shows they're taking us seriously.

"We went to watch them at Huddersfield in the last round.

"We have a video of that match to analyse, and a few weeks ago I went to watch their under-17s side.

"I think they're particularly strong in midfield so we're going to have to gear ourselves up to deal with that. They're a traditional West Ham team; short one-two football, passes into feet and high pressure up the field.

"They have been taking a lot of interest in us and I know they have been taking an interest this week so, a week before the game, suggests they haven't done as much as they need to do."

Muxworthy's only concern is fitness; citing the professional clubs put their players through their paces twice a day whereas his players have jobs to go to and cram in training once or twice a week.

He said: "I don't think we have anything to fear in terms of ability, but their fitness will be better because they sometimes train twice a day whereas we can't do that - our lads are busy working or at college.

"Because of the fitness issue our aim has got to be to win it in 90 minutes and not go through to extra-time.

"The professional clubs have all the facilities, spend as much time with their players as they want, sit them down to analyse videos.

"We haven't got any of that so it does say a lot for what Chester-le-Street are capable of.

"As far as ability is concerned, there will be teams better than us, but not many.

"The players are enjoying it but are taking it seriously and they don't fear anybody."

Muxoworthy has been in charge of of Chester-le-Street's youth team for nine years but he admits taking his team to West Ham, the breeding ground of England legend Bobby Moore, is his proudest moment.

"So far this is my biggest achievement," said the manager who reckons Chester-le-Street have reached this stage due to pure hard graft so are due a slice of luck.

"Our target every year is to get through the preliminary rounds and reach the first round so we can say we're good as anything there is outside the League.

"As a non-League team you have so much against you, but the ability of the players, their desire to win and lack of fear have taken us a long way.

"Up until now we haven't been lucky. Normally when you're the underdogs in a competition you tend to have a lucky spell but that hasn't happened to us yet.

"If we're in need of some good fortune at West Ham, I'm hoping we get it."