Boss has his say on the team coach to Wembley...
THERE’S been a nice flow to our preparations this week and a real buzz has been building around the place.
It’s been a busy few days, but we’re on the coach now heading to London and ready for the serious business to start.
We’ve had a steady build-up, it’s been great to hear all the stories of supporters walking or cycling to the game or flying in from far off places around the World.
It’s a game that everyone associated to the club has been looking forward to and we can’t wait.
We go into the game with some momentum; it’s going to be a great occasion played on a great surface in front of a great crowd.
I understand why we’re underdogs. Bristol City are top of the table and on a great run, but we’ve got a habit of breaking unbeaten runs!
We have no fear; we will give our opponents the respect that they deserve, but I expect their line-up to be similar to the one we faced earlier in the season and on that occasion it was a good game in which we competed well.
This is not a ‘normal’ game, of course, and we’ve got to build it up that way. There are only three Cup Finals each season, and we’re in one of them. We have to build it up but also make sure that the lads are nice and relaxed.
We’ll be ready for it. It’s always been about winning; the day will be a great one for everyone, but ultimately we want to return home as winners.
I don’t want to be part of a losing team at Wembley, but I have every faith in my players to deliver the right result.
There’s a 20-man squad travelling down with us and the final decision on who will be involved will be made on Saturday.
We’ll assess both Tom Bradshaw and Andy Taylor and then make a judgement on them. Tom has felt his hamstring, whilst Andy Taylor has had a sore calf. Amadou Bakayoko also came out of the last game with a tight hamstring.
To see us sell over 29,000 tickets is a massive achievement for this club and I am so proud to be the first manager to ever take this club to Wembley. The whole town is getting behind us, so let’s give it everything we’ve got!
DEAN SMITH