MIKE Flynn returns to the ground where his football career began tonight, hoping to put the spark back into Accrington Stanley's season.

The Reds central defender believes an LDV Vans Trophy scalp over Oldham Athletic, on the back of their first round win at Bradford City, will be the perfect pick-me-up after Saturday's devastating FA Cup exit.

And Flynn sees no reason why they can't manufacture a repeat of their Bantams success.

"Tonight's a massive game for us now," he said.

"We let ourselves down badly at the weekend and the lads were very dejected because they realise what a fabulous opportunity we've past up.

"They had a taste of success last year and wanted to reproduce that, but for one reason and another too many players had off days and we probably took Leigh a little bit too lightly, while they raised their game, which most teams tend to do against us.

"Everyone's disappointed because we've missed out financially and the manager and players want to pit their wits against league sides.

"But there's no reason why we can't raise our game tonight and we're definitely more than capable of pulling off another scalp."

And Flynn is confident Stanley can rediscover the form that helped them to knock Coca Cola League One side Bradford out of the competition at the end of September.

"We always seem to relish playing against the better sides in the Conference and Football League opposition," he said.

"We're the underdogs and everyone will expect us to get beat, but the game against Bradford was possibly our best performance of the season and against arguably the best team we've played so far."

Flynn, who still lives in Oldham, added that he was looking forward to returning to the club where he started his football career aged 17.

"I was a season ticket holder as a kid and there's nothing better than representing your town team," he said.

"It's the ideal tie for me and, after going there with Blackpool last season and beating them in the FA Cup and league, hopefully it will be third time lucky."