Cup tie opportunity for fringe players

Last updated : 05 November 2002 By Brian Cartlidge
Mat Sadler will keep his place at left-back after an impressive Premiership debut against Bolton on Saturday while striker Geoff Horsfield is likely to start up front.

Bryan Hughes, Jovan Kirovski and Ian Bennett are others that Bruce could consider for places in his starting eleven.

"We want to win every game that we possibly can but this competition also gives me the opportunity to look at some of the players that have been on the fringe of the squad," Bruce told www.bcfc.com

"Geoff Horsfield is a perfect example of that. He hasn't started a game for four weeks but when he has come on as a substitute he has done extremely well.

"There are a few players like that who have been knocking on the door and tonight will be a chance to get a game under their belt.

"Let's be brutally honest, survival in the Premiership is the most important thing and anything on top of that is a bonus. That's not to say that I will not respect this competition because it is a route to Europe and we all enjoy a cup run.

"Everybody wants to win trophies and we will be going out all guns blazing to get through to the next round.

"It seems that again we are not having any luck in defence when it comes to injuries. After Saturday, Jeff Kenna is carrying a bit of an injury and Darren Purse has picked up a knock.

"But this is what having a big squad is all about because you do need them. It gives other players an opportunity and it is up to them to grasp it."

Whatever team Bruce decides to start with I see Blues progressing through to the fourth round of the competition with a comfortable victory over Craig Brown's First Division draw specialists ... 3-0 to Blues.

BLUES (from): Bennett, Kenna, Sadler, Capaldi, Hutchinson, Tebily, Cunningham, Devlin, Hughes, Powell, Carter, Grondin, Lazaridis, Kirovski, Horsfield, John, Morrison, Fagan, Vaesen.

BOLTON MATCH REPORT




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