Post by Taxigirl on Oct 25, 2005 8:15:00 GMT
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KO - Oct. 24, 2005, 4:01 PM UK
Blackburn manager Mark Hughes believes an extended Carling Cup run can only help his side despite the demands of a long Barclays Premiership campaign.
Rovers bid to reach the fourth round of the competition when they face Leeds at Ewood Park on a run of four wins from five games.
Hughes - who won the FA Cup a record four times as a player - knows the confidence value that success in knock-out football can bring.
``We are on a decent run at the moment, we've won four out of the last five so that's a positive and we want that to continue,'' Hughes said.
``Our home form has been good which is another positive, so we're looking forward to it. I'm of the view that cup games can help your league form, I've always said that. I don't view them as a distraction, I view them as a positive.''
While Hughes may give run-outs to Matt Jansen and David Thompson, both battling back to first-team contention after long spells on the sidelines, there is no suggestion the former Wales boss will treat the game as an inconvenience his team can do without.
``We gave a notice of intent in the last round (a 3-1 home win over Huddersfield) - I picked a strong side because I wanted to win the tie and that will be the case again on Tuesday,'' Hughes added.
``Obviously it will be different circumstances, we're going into an intense period of games now; we played at the weekend, we face Leeds in the cup and then it's Chelsea at the weekend so there will be changes, some forced and some as an opportunity to give some football to the fringe guys, but it certainly won't weaken the side.''
Thompson in particular has plenty to prove after overcoming knee and ankle problems as he is playing for a new contract with his current deal expiring in the summer.
``The situation with Matt and Thommo is that when the opportunity arises they need to be fit and able to make an impact,'' the Rovers boss said.
``The example I can give them this year is of Micky Gray. He was out of consideration for a long, long time but when his opportunity came he trained well, he came in every day with a smile on his face, had the right attitude and made an impact when he got the opportunity and that's how it has to be.''
Centre-back Ryan Nelsen is a certainty to miss out for Rovers after suffering a knee injury in Saturday's 2-0 win over Birmingham.
Leeds goalkeeper Neil Sullivan is relishing the prospect of testing himself against Premiership opposition as the Elland Road club push for a place among English football's elite.
United travel to Ewood Park following their 1-1 draw with Coca-Cola Championship leaders Sheffield United on Friday night.
That result rounded off a satisfying week for manager Kevin Blackwell's side, who also enjoyed 2-1 wins over Burnley and Southampton.
Sullivan, however, believed Leeds could have claimed all three points against the Blades and his disappointment reflects the ambition and confidence brought on by a good run of form.
He said: ``We're disappointed because we've played the top side and we've more than matched them and feel we should have come away with the three points.
``We knew it would be difficult because they've got a lot of points and won a lot games, but to be honest we've come off the park feeling we should have come away with more than we've got.
``I thought we had to stand up to them because they're a big physical side and once we matched their physical presence we created chances for ourselves and we could have won.''
With Leeds sitting in fourth place in the Championship, with a game in hand over the top three, Sullivan is eager to gauge how close the Whites are to competing at the top level once again.
He said: ``The cup game is up next and that's going to be a difficult one for us against a Premiership side but we look forward to it.
``It's going to be a big test for us and will show us how far we've come, then we've got the team in second (Reading) so there's another tough week ahead but we're going okay and there's no reason why we shouldn't look forward to it.''
Manager Kevin Blackwell has doubts over the fitness of midfielder Jon Douglas - on loan from Blackburn - after the 23-year-old, eligible to face his parent club, picked up a calf injury against Sheffield United.
Fellow midfielder Shaun Derry serves a one-match ban after collecting five yellow cards this season, so Gylfi Einarsson and Sean Gregan are pushing for recalls.
KO - Oct. 24, 2005, 4:01 PM UK
Blackburn manager Mark Hughes believes an extended Carling Cup run can only help his side despite the demands of a long Barclays Premiership campaign.
Rovers bid to reach the fourth round of the competition when they face Leeds at Ewood Park on a run of four wins from five games.
Hughes - who won the FA Cup a record four times as a player - knows the confidence value that success in knock-out football can bring.
``We are on a decent run at the moment, we've won four out of the last five so that's a positive and we want that to continue,'' Hughes said.
``Our home form has been good which is another positive, so we're looking forward to it. I'm of the view that cup games can help your league form, I've always said that. I don't view them as a distraction, I view them as a positive.''
While Hughes may give run-outs to Matt Jansen and David Thompson, both battling back to first-team contention after long spells on the sidelines, there is no suggestion the former Wales boss will treat the game as an inconvenience his team can do without.
``We gave a notice of intent in the last round (a 3-1 home win over Huddersfield) - I picked a strong side because I wanted to win the tie and that will be the case again on Tuesday,'' Hughes added.
``Obviously it will be different circumstances, we're going into an intense period of games now; we played at the weekend, we face Leeds in the cup and then it's Chelsea at the weekend so there will be changes, some forced and some as an opportunity to give some football to the fringe guys, but it certainly won't weaken the side.''
Thompson in particular has plenty to prove after overcoming knee and ankle problems as he is playing for a new contract with his current deal expiring in the summer.
``The situation with Matt and Thommo is that when the opportunity arises they need to be fit and able to make an impact,'' the Rovers boss said.
``The example I can give them this year is of Micky Gray. He was out of consideration for a long, long time but when his opportunity came he trained well, he came in every day with a smile on his face, had the right attitude and made an impact when he got the opportunity and that's how it has to be.''
Centre-back Ryan Nelsen is a certainty to miss out for Rovers after suffering a knee injury in Saturday's 2-0 win over Birmingham.
Leeds goalkeeper Neil Sullivan is relishing the prospect of testing himself against Premiership opposition as the Elland Road club push for a place among English football's elite.
United travel to Ewood Park following their 1-1 draw with Coca-Cola Championship leaders Sheffield United on Friday night.
That result rounded off a satisfying week for manager Kevin Blackwell's side, who also enjoyed 2-1 wins over Burnley and Southampton.
Sullivan, however, believed Leeds could have claimed all three points against the Blades and his disappointment reflects the ambition and confidence brought on by a good run of form.
He said: ``We're disappointed because we've played the top side and we've more than matched them and feel we should have come away with the three points.
``We knew it would be difficult because they've got a lot of points and won a lot games, but to be honest we've come off the park feeling we should have come away with more than we've got.
``I thought we had to stand up to them because they're a big physical side and once we matched their physical presence we created chances for ourselves and we could have won.''
With Leeds sitting in fourth place in the Championship, with a game in hand over the top three, Sullivan is eager to gauge how close the Whites are to competing at the top level once again.
He said: ``The cup game is up next and that's going to be a difficult one for us against a Premiership side but we look forward to it.
``It's going to be a big test for us and will show us how far we've come, then we've got the team in second (Reading) so there's another tough week ahead but we're going okay and there's no reason why we shouldn't look forward to it.''
Manager Kevin Blackwell has doubts over the fitness of midfielder Jon Douglas - on loan from Blackburn - after the 23-year-old, eligible to face his parent club, picked up a calf injury against Sheffield United.
Fellow midfielder Shaun Derry serves a one-match ban after collecting five yellow cards this season, so Gylfi Einarsson and Sean Gregan are pushing for recalls.