Quotes: Carlo Nash 18th April 2006

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When I first found out about the record a few months ago that was always my aim and now I have achieved it with two games to go I hope to go on and beat.

I had played against Tepi a couple of times in my Stockport days, so I knew of him. I obviously didn’t know about the record but I knew that Preston won the record when Tepi set it so it was just a case of finding out what the target.

We’ve said for the past few weeks, even before we qualified for the Play-Offs, we weren’t bothered about the teams below us, we just wanted to finish as high as we could. That’s what we have done for the past weeks and the next two games are no exception, we want to claim that third spot if possible.

With Reading conceding at the weekend, we are ahead of them on the goals conceded table so hopefully if we can achieve another two clean sheets we can break all the records that we want to break this season.

When you are not scoring as much at the other end it is imperative that the defence is strong and we have had that this season, no matter who has been in the side. With the squad we have got people have come in and it has not always been the same back four, but generally everyone has performed well and we have got there by sheer hard work.

It most certainly is, you don’t go breaking records like we did this season if you haven’t got a good defence in front of you.That’s testement to the hard work and the way we played as a defensive unit, it is most definitely one of the strongest defences I have played behind, certainly in this division.

After spending a couple of years on the bench I was itching to get back playing first team football. I was never really given a chance at Man City and when I went to Middlesborough so it is great to be back playing and I have loved every minute.

Fans Favourite: Steve Bull – Wolves

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Wolves fans of recent years don’t have to think too hard about a modern day hero at Molineux, there is one man’s name on the lips of most fans, no not David Kelly, but the legendary Steve Bull. It’s no surprise the find that he is Mick Harper’s Fans Favourite.

He was a one club man, he came from West Brom but he was very loyal to us. He could have gone on and played at a higher level but he didn’t.
I remember the first time I saw him play, I think it was Wrexham at home. Him and Andy Thompson made their debuts on the same day and I was asked on the Monday what I thought of them, I said I didn’t think too much of the little man, Andy Thompson, and he turned out to be really good, and I said I’ll reserve judgement on the other fellow. Sure enough he started to produce the goods.

I was at Cardiff in the Old Sherpa Vans Trophy when he scored his first goal, there were only 60 or 70 Wolves fans there. He was local lad who came from West Brom but he soon won us over, he hadn’t played too many games for West Brom so that was ok. I remember his 300th goal as well, that was against Bradford and that was an emotional night.

He was 100 per cent, whole-hearted, dedicated. A lot of people used to say that his first touch wasn’t very good but his first touch was often smashing it into the back of the net. He could ruffle all sorts of defenders, he had a lot of steel and that is maybe why his career finished prematurely, because of all the kicking he got.

I remember him coming on as a sub and scoring for England against Scotland, I toyed with the idea of actually travelling up and watching the game because it was him but we watched it on the TV and I remember jumping up in the air in front of my TV.

I think he should have had more games for England than he actually had, he had 13 actual appearances and he scored four goals, but he was only on the pitch for the equivalent of eight games so I like to think that he had a record of scoring a goal once every two games.

Initially I was worried that we might lose him but as time went on it came clear that he probably wouldn’t leave. The closest he came to leaving is when Coventry came in for him but I remember the relief when it was decided that he would be staying.

They are having a game against Aston Villa to celebrate 20 years of him signing and I think he will be playing in that.

I think he’d have done alright in the top flight, at his peak he would have been a 20-goal-a-season man in the Premiership.

Quotes: Billy Davies 28th March 2006

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It’s a sigh of relief, especially when you look at the list of players who we have out, Youl Mawene – virus, Matty Hill – head knock, medial ligament damage, Callum Davidson – medial ligament damage, Danny Dichio – ankle ligament damage, Nugent – metatarsal, Adam Nowland – broken leg, Andy Lonergan – cruciate, Andy Smith – patellar tendon, it’s just unbelievable, eight players out of a squad of 26, we have been chopping and changing and we have picked up a wonderful three points.

It was a great goal, again we are guilty of guilt edged misses, we should have been more in front. We played some good stuff in the first half but the work ethic of every one of these players is excellent, we tried to go and be positive and play three strikers with the hope of trying to get one or two goals against a side that has not lost in five, a very difficult side to play against because they have got some clever players and I don’t think their league position tells the full story, I think they have been unfortunate from time to time because they are a good side. But I’m delighted because I phoned a young centre half at a quarter to twelve to tell him that he is playing after Youl phoned in with a virus and we have brought Tyrone Mears who has done an excellent job and one or two other guys. We are very pleased with the three points, it’s a crucial lead that we have, that five point gap that we have with only six games remaining, roll on the next five weeks.

It was top class, absolutely excellent, you couldn’t ask for a better debut. The young man showed not only the aggression and the defending of a centre-back but the composure to play as well because he can certainly pass that ball. It was a shock to his system when I phoned him this afternoon when he was on his ninth hamburger and chips at McDonalds but he has done fantastically well.

That’s some work ethic, the lad’s work ethic is second to none and he will get us goals don’t worry about that. We are just having to get ourselves over this season and then work with the young players that we have and get one or two of the lads that we have got and give them a pre-season. Marcus Stewart again was excellent, he played in the positions that he takes up and from back to front I thought that there was some very good performances but more importantly it was great nerve to go and hang in there and pick up three points.

I’ve got problems with McKenna and Brian O’Neil, we had to take them both off with slight groin strains, Brian O’Neil was more precautionary, Paul McKenna is more serious and we will find out more about it tomorrow. So we will know more about it tomorrow, I think we have had about ten operations this season and that’s in comparison to last season where we had three and we are really finding it very difficult. Consistent team selection is crucial for a successful team, we are finding that difficult and we are having to chop and change which is not good at the moment, but we will try and hang in there and try and work away.

It was that serious that we had to take him off and he was certainly feeling it, but here’s hoping that it’s not too serious and we took him off in time because he is very important for us.

He’s phoned in with a virus and so has Stock, they have both been suffering with a virus and I thought about Stocky tonight as well, he trained yesterday for about 20 minutes and I pulled him out of training. Youl has phoned in with the symptoms of this virus but I’m hoping that he can be ok for Saturday.

Claude has soldiered on for the last four or five weeks but he has been excellent, I thought tonight he has been superb. But Claude is Claude, we don’t worry about Claude, he’s Jamaican, we just ignore him and I say that with the greatest respect to all Jamaicans.

The job is not done, far from done. We have got to enjoy it tonight, we will get back in tomorrow, we will get our head down again, we will get the walking wounded patched up again and get the best squad that we can. There’s some crucial games coming up, there’s some important games to come up, wins that still have to be got. The players know themselves that this was a big test of their nerves tonight and it was a very important three points and we are just delighted to get them in the bag.

The Deepdale Diary – 24th March 2006

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Tuesday 24th March
With David Nugent and Danny Dichio ruled out through injury North End swoop to capture former Ipswich and Sunderland striker Marcus Stewart from Bristol City. The 33-year-old forward arrives until the end of the season with the option of a Play-Off extension and he is hoping to making it a third successful promotion to the Premiership after taking the Tractor Boys and the Black Cats to the top flight.

Former Preston boss David Moyes could be set to take Man Utd flop Diego Forlan back to the North West with Everton after the striker did so well with Villareal.

Wednesday 25th March
Preston boss Billy Davies explains that experience is the key with new signing Marcus Stewart.

“The key is his experience,” said Davies. “It is very difficult to get your hands on decent loan players at this stage of the season, especially ones who have such a good pedigree as Marcus. Clubs in the Premiership and other Championship clubs who are competing against us just don’t want to lend us players.

“Sometimes it’s a case of needs must. But I still feel we were very fortunate that a player with the experience of Marcus was available and we managed to get him.”

The Football League is in talks with Chinese officials about a long-term link up with the game in the Far East.

Thursday 26th March
Deadline day passes with no further arrivals at Deepdale leaving Preston boss Billy Davies with a squad of 26 for the Play-Off push, although four of those players are unlikely to figure due to injury. Davies confirms that Joe Anyinsah will remain at PNE as a First Team squad member.

Sheffield United are set to allow their on-loan striker Geoff Horsefield join Derby County on loan for the remainder of the season.

Friday 27th March
Callum Davidson suffers a reaction after returning to training and is rated as a doubt for the visit of Plymouth Argyle. Matt Hill could return whilst Marcus Stewart is expected to be in the 16, Plymouth complete a deadline day transfer by bringing in Wolves’ Leon Clarke to bolster their strikeforce.

Man City boss Stuart Pearce is mulling over a summer bid for Blackburn Rovers’ out of contract striker Paul Dickov according to reports.

Dates For Your Diary
Sunday 5th March – Paul McKenna’s Testimonial Ten Pin Bowling Night at the Lakeside Ten Pin Bowling centre. For more info contact Geoff Ollerton on 07732927265. Monday 13th March – Claude Davis attends the Lancaster Supporters Club Meeting, Melbourne Club, Lancaster 7.30pm. Thursday 16th March – Simon Whaley and Chris Sedgwick attend a Healthy Lifestyle seminar at Balshaws High School

Fans Favourite: Tommy Tynan – Plymouth Argyle

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As a fan of a side that he never had a team in the top flight Alec Henderson has had to endure what he calls ‘some pretty grim times’. But the Pilgrims fan can say that he saw one of the greatest exponents of goal-poaching to never play in the top division, Tommy Tynan, a player whom for many Plymouth supporters will always be the Fans Favourite.

We got him from Newport when he was playing in the same team as John Aldridge, we brought him down here in about 1984 and went on to knock in a lot of goals for us. We actually tried to sign John Aldridge as well but the board decided that we could only have one, we went for Tommy Tynan and we all know what happened to John Aldridge. If we had had the both of them who knows what would have happened, one season Tynan scored 31 goals and another he had a tally that went into the late 20s. Even today you still get remarks on the terraces along the lines of ‘Tynan wouldn’t have missed that’, he is a living legend.

Tommy and John Aldridge shared the golden boot one season and Tyan was also in the team that got us to our furthest everpoint in the FA Cup in 1984 when we lost to Watford in the semi-final. Tommy Tynan is a very big part of the history of the club. That semi-final was the highlight, the only highlight! The rest of the time you needed a strong prescription because it really was grim, we were down to crowds of 5,000 but that one season alone we will live on it forever. The chances of us going up into the top division, I wouldn’t say they are negligible, but I think we have found our level in the league now and we accept that if we can maintain a good Championship position then that is as much as we can really accept.

After that semi-final, Graham Taylor actually said that he was glad that it didn’t go to extra-time because he thought they would have lost. With about 10 minutes to go, Kevin Hodges, who later went on to become our manager, hit a shot that went past Steve Sherwood, it was going in, but it was something like a Shane Warne ball and it spun and went around the other side of the post and it was at that point that we thought no Wembley for us!

Tynan moved to Rotherham because his wife wanted to move back to Yorkshire, Norman Hunter signed him but there were rumours of a punch-up on the training ground and he came back to Plymouth on loan with the proviso that he didn’t play when the two sides met a few weeks later. However, he did end up playing, and he scored! Things between us and Rotherham weren’t too happy for a while! But in modern day football I would have to say that Tommy Tynan is the best we have ever seen.

Club Legend: Sean McCarthy – Plymouth Argyle

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Sean McCarthy’s career in football will best be remembered as the hustling and bustling centre-forward that scored goals for Bradford City and Oldham Athletic during the 1990s but the former Republic of Ireland international bookended those spells in the north by making many great friends with two spells at Plymouth’s Home Park

You’d had a few good years with Swansea, what prompted the move to Plymouth?
I signed from Swansea, they paid £50,000 for me and I signed for Ken Brown in 1988. I had been at Swansea for five years and we couldn’t agree on a contract and I was out of contract in the summer, Ken Brown came up top watch me in a pre-season game and I ended up signing for Plymouth.

What was Ken Brown like to work with as a manager?
He was brilliant, he was a good manger. The two seasons I was there was in the old First Division, but we were always struggling against relegation for the two seasons I was there. But Ken was brilliant, he didn’t show any strains, I played under Joe Royle at Oldham and they were very similar managers, quite laid back but very good coaches.

One of the most memorable games from that time must have been the FA Cup game against Everton?
We were only averaging crowds of 9,000 but it ended up with 30,000 fans coming out of the woodwork, it was fantastic. I scored in the game and we were winning with four minutes to go, but they won a dubious penalty which Kevin Sheedy converted, that was our chance because we went to Goodison Park for the replay and ended up getting beat 4-0.

Everton were a quality side, it was on Match of the Day and I remember Jimmy Hill saying that the penalty was very harsh. They had Neville Southall, Dave Watson, Sharp and Cottee up front, Kevin Sheedy, Trevor Steven, Gary Stevens, McCall in midfield, it was a great great team.

You also had the privilege of playing with the legendary Tommy Tynan.
Tommy Tynan was a great player, I learnt a lot of of him. People probably didn’t give him the credit that he deserved, they just thought that he was a goalscorer but he had a little bit more to him than that, he could hold the ball up. But his main threat was in the 18-yard box, I remember playing in one game against Blackburn Rovers, I got sent off so we were down to 10 men but Tommy ended up scoring four goals, we beat them 4-3. He used to come alive in the box, he was a great goalscorer.

You finally left Home Park and moved north to enjoy great success with two northern sides on opposite sides of the Pennines.
Ken Brown got the sack at the end of the second season I was there and in the summer I was out of contract and there was a lot of clubs interested in me, I had a few phonecalls and I didn’t know whether I was going to get a new contract. Bradford came down to meet me in a hotel in Newport and they thrashed out a deal there and then, they put the offer on the table and I accepted and I had three and a half good years at Bradford.

There are a lot of clubs up and around that area, when you play for teams like Swansea and Plymouth every away trip is an overnight stay but up north there are so many clubs within a radius of a one hour drive and there is not so much travelling. I still keep in touch with a lot of people up there, my main strike partner at Bradford was Paul Jewell, we had three and half great seasons and we were quite close buddies. I was lucky enough to score quite a few goals at Bradford and there were quite a few clubs interested in me. It was Oldham who put £550,000 on the table for me and I was across the Pennines for four great years, one of which was in the Premiership, that was a great place to play with places like Old Trafford and Highbury.

I had a brief spell with Bristol City on loan for the last ten games of the season and I remember the last game of the season was at Preston, we lost the game 2-1 but I scored a goal. I’ll never forget the day though because my father passed away the day before, John Ward was the manager and he told me to have a lie down and if I felt like playing then he would leave the decision up to me. I spoke to my family and they just said try and score a goal for my dad, which I did. I helped Brstol City get promoted before I returned to Plymouth for three more great years.

Last Three Plymouth Visits To Deepdale

28th September 2004
PNE 1-1 Plymouth
Billy Davies’ last game in charge in the caretaker capacity saw Richard Cresswell rescue a point for the Lilywhites after Matthias Doumbe had opened the scoring.

1st November 1997
PNE 0-1 Plymouth
A third successive home defeat for Gary Peters’ side as Carlo Corazzin gets the only goal of the game to leave the Lilywhites struggling at the wrong end of the table.

5th April 1997
PNE 1-1 Plymouth
North End’s first season back in League One sees them struggling with mediocrity, David Reeves opens the scoring but Mark Saunders equalises for the Pilgrims.

Quotes: Graham Alexander 3rd March 2006

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I’ve been out for a few weeks injured and I am looking forward to getting back playing, we have got some tough games coming up with a bit of travelling but we are used to it at Preston because we do have quite a few long journeys from up here.

The mood in the dressing room is really good because we have played quite well, even though we have been beat. Obviously we could have prevented a couple of the goals but our overall play has been quite good, the atmosphere is good and the confidence is still up there, we know we are a decent team and we know we can beat most sides when we play well.

There’s a couple of little things we could have done a little bit better at either end of the pitch but overall the possession we had and the way we played and the chances we created were decent so if we can keep that up we will win more than we lose.

I didn’t think they were as good as I thought they would be. They are doing really well and they are at the top of the league because they deserve to be there but I think we played really, especially in the second half, I think we bossed the game and they struggled a little bit and were hanging on towards the end. But they are a decent team, you can’t say that if they are that far ahead that they don’t deserve to be because they have won a lot of games.

I probably wouldn’t expect a similar result scorewise, I know that we can win the game but 4-0 would be a big ask because Ipswich are a decent side. We played them at the start of the season when they weren’t on their best form and we caught them at a good time but they are a decent side and a big club. I think it will be a hard game, a real tough game but I am sure we can get the three points.

It seems to be all defenders, we have got suspensions in the same part of the team, sometimes when you get them spread out of the team you can cover but we do seem to be short of defenders this weekend so it is going to be a tough game and we are going to have to adapt and somebody is going to have to play out of position on Saturday but I don’t see that being a problem because we have got enough good players in this squad to cover.

It’s a little bit of both really, he’s a decent player, he can really take people on on his day and he can score a lot of goals and I was looking forward to him playing against Claude Davis, his big friend, it would have been a good old battle and it would have been interesting to see. For us we would rather him not play because he is a decent player, even though we are not frightened of him or anything, he is one of their better players so it is better for us that he is not playing.

I wouldn’t see that happening to be fair, I’ve played all over the park this season but I don’t think centre-half would be one of them options. If I was asked to do it I would do it but I don’t think the gaffer would be looking along them lines.

The second half of last season we did really well and it did seem to happen from halfway through but this season we have started our run a little bit earlier and we are in a lot better position this year than we were last year and I think the squad is a lot stronger. The team is quite similar in strength but the squad size is a lot deeper and the quality throughout is better, we have probably got 18 or 19 players playing for the positions.

A couple of us had played in the last one against Bolton but for most of the lads it was a new experience and I think that you do learn from your experiences. As a footballer the more big games you play the better you handle the next one, I think if we get there this year what we went through last year will stand us in good stead.

The teams just outside the Play-Offs are probably looking at our position and trying to take it off us. We are in sixth place at the minute and there are a couple of teams, Wolves are coming strong, Cardiff are hanging in there and they could pick up some good results. Out of the teams below us I could see Wolves maybe going on a good run towards the end and getting there but we are not really looking at what other teams are doing, we know what we need to do, we know how many points we need to get to get into the Play-Offs.

We know roughly what it takes to get into the Play-Offs, what sort of point mark it is and we just want to get to that mark as soon as we can, we don’t want to leave it over the next 12 games, we want to get it as soon as we can, we are going out for wins every week.

The one thing I have learnt from Play-Off experience is that it doesn’t matter who you play, I think I’ve finished third, fourth, fifth and sixth in the Play-Offs and been beaten every year. Anyone can beat anyone, it’s like a Cup competition once you get there, we don’t fear anyone and whoever you get you need to beat them so there’s no worries on that front.

The target after what we did last season was to get to the Play-Offs, we didn’t start off too well this season but the target was still to get in there and now that we are in there we want to stay in there. If we did drop out of it and finished seventh or below it would be a massive disappointment for the whole team.

Wigan and West Ham have shown that if you have got a positive attitude towards it then you can achieve what you want. They have gone up there and they haven’t shown any fear and I think that is the major thing, teams have gone up with good players before and maybe not attacked it as much as they should have and they have come back down. Wigan and West Ham have both been positive teams and really gone for it and they have won some games which will keep them in the Premier League next year by a good margin. If we achieve the goal of getting in the Premier League you have obviously got to add a bit of quality to your squad but we hope we could do the same as them two clubs.

The Deepdale Diary – 26th February 2006

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Sunday 26th February
North End boss Billy Davies believes that a lack of a killer finish was the difference between his side and  runaway Championship leaders Reading at the Madejski. PNE lost 2-1 in Berkshire despite dominating the majority of the play, a similar outcome to the previous week when they lost to Middlesbrough in the FA Cup.

Outspoken Crystal Palace Chairman Simon Jordan is reportedly ready to stand down from his role at the Selhurst Park Club.

Monday 27th February
Preston are hopeful that their Club captain Chris Lucketti will return from injury in time for the visit of Ipswich Town. Lucketti was an absentee from the squad which visited Reading after picking up a groin strain in training but with Youl Mawene’s one-match suspension kicking in against the Tractor Boys, the services of the skipper will be needed.

Ian Holloway will stay on the Queens Park Rangers payroll for the remainder of the season, despite being replaced as manager by Gary Waddock.

Tuesday 28th February
With injuries and suspensions mounting, North End boss Billy Davies admits that he is still aiming to move into the emergency loans market to fill one or two gaps. Matt Hill, Callum Davidson and Youl Mawene are all suspended for the Ipswich game whilst Chris Lucketti is nursing a groin strain. “We want to give ourselves as many options as possible and we will see if we can add to the squad,” said the Scotsman.

Wigan Chairman Dave Whelan is to ask manager Paul Jewell to ‘name the length’ of his contract as he begins contract negotiations.

Wednesday 1st March
Preston North End’s Youth Team progress to the semi-finals of the Lancashire Youth Cup following a thrilling penalty shoot-out victory over Tranmere Rovers. The scores were locked at 1-1 thanks to an Ashley Stott goal but the youngsters triumphed 6-5 on a penalty shoot-out. On the same night David Nugent made his first start for the England Under-21s in a 3-1 win over Reading.

Everton are set to offer Sunderland’s Liam Lawrence a Premiership lifeline. The former Mansfield man has impressed with the Black Cats this season.
Dates For Your Diary
Sunday 5th March – Paul McKenna’s Testimonial Ten Pin Bowling Night at the Lakeside Ten Pin Bowling centre. For more info contact Geoff Ollerton on 07732927265. Monday 13th March – Claude Davis attends the Lancaster Supporters Club Meeting, Melbourne Club, Lancaster 7.30pm. Thursday 16th March – Simon Whaley and Chris Sedgwick attend a Healthy Lifestyle seminar at Balshaws High School


Charlie Wayman
One of Preston North End’s greatest strikers Charlie Wayman sadly passed away this week at the age of 83. Charlie was a member of the so-called ‘holy trinity’ of Preston North End with Tom Finney and Andy Beattie in the 1950s. He will be remembered at today’s game with a one minutes silence prior to kick-off.

Charlie Wayman arrived at Deepdale in September 1950 after showing prolific form at both Newcastle United and Southampton previously.

Wayman took three games to notch his first goal for his new club, his first strike coming against Notts County in a league game, with a huge crowd turning out to watch the action. An energetic, but slightly diminutive player, Wayman forged an electric partnership with Finney and Beattie, helping Preston North End to win promotion in 1950/51. He had already served notice of his impending greatness during his first season at Deepdale, when scoring four first half goals against Queens Park Rangers in a Christmas Day fixture at Loftus Road. He ended that intial campaign having scored twenty-seven goals, thus securing his affections amongst the Deepdale faithful.

Another sparkling statistic to emerge from Wayman’s prolific goalscoring record with Preston North End, was the fact he managed to score in every round during North End’s historic run to the 1954 FA Cup Final. A few short months later, and six games into the 1954/55 season, manager, Frank Hill created uproar in the town when transferring Wayman to Middlesbrough. What baffled the fans most about his departure was the fact he had already scored six goals during the early season campaign, with the promise of lots more goals to come, judging by the form he was in. Wayman had averaged two goals in every three games for Preston North End and finished up having scored 117 goals in 171 league and cup matches.

Preston North End Football Club would like to pass on condolences to Charlie’s family and friends.

Quotes: Billy Davies 16th February 2006

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It all came from our mistakes, it all came from our possession and I said that to them at half-time, we were our own worst enemy. We were very careless in the first half, we never moved the ball about, we never created enough chances and it was a disappointing first half. Second half was much much better, I thought we had some wonderful individual performances, particularly the goalkeeper and the two centre-halves, I thought they were top class. It’s a great point, a wonderful point and it keeps the run going, that’s 25 without defeat and we are very proud of that record.

He missed more than one chance, he had three wonderful chances, not just him but one or two others. We had some good opportunities second half, the one he has put over the bar from a tremendous free-kick in the first half was a bad miss, but he is there, he is a young lad, I’ve said before that he has got development to do, he’s got learning to do and he has got to realise very quickly. But to be fair to him, I’ve said before that it will be next season before we see the best of him with this three and a half month illness that he had with impetigo. It’s taken an awful lot out of him but we will see the best of him once we get him a pre-season but he is a fantastic asset to us, there’s no doubt about it. Unfortunately on the day he never put the ball away.

Personally I think that this season, so far, is a much much greater achievement than last season. This season we have had to deal with the loss of Cresswell, Eddie Lewis and then Nugent with impetigo, 49 goals between the three of them. We then go and bring in David Jones from Manchester United and he goes to Holland, we bring in Adam Nowland from Forest  and he breaks his leg, we lose McKenna for seven weeks, we lost Brian O’Neil for six weeks and we make all these changes. Then we bring in young players from the lower leagues, David Hibbert, Simon Whaley, Brian Stock, all these players we have brought in and we are in a transition, there’s no doubt about it. In my opinion this is a much greater achievement because of what we have had to deal with, even if we don’t go up.

Brett works his socks off, you can never fault the lad’s attitude. He has just come into the club and his contribution so far has been excellent, I’ve taken two strikers off and put two on because I have tried to freshen it up and try and change the game. It is always difficult coming back to your old club, especially one that he had such wonderful times for and great feelings for. It is a tremendous football club, you can see that just by looking at it. We are delighted to have Brett and delighted that he is with us and I am sure that he will contribute.

I don’t think it is a big one, I think it is a tremendous challenge for the players, it’s a tremendous challenge for the staff. We are the underdogs without a doubt, when you look at their squad and the team that they have and it will be a very difficult match. But we have got nothing to lose, we will go out there and enjoy the game, we will have a right go, do the best that we can and hopefully get the little breaks that you need in Cup football to go on to get into the next round.

I just felt that away from home it was important that we had his devilment, he’s a great battler and he has got a tremendous left foot and his performances before he got injured were excellent. It was a little bit of a risk but I certainly felt that it was necessary with regards to the team that we were playing against and obviously with us being away from home I thought it was vital.

1888, it’s 22 in one season. We are also now 25 undefeated but we now have 22 in the one league season. We are very proud of that record in the club’s 125 year history, to go and match that it is a very proud day for everyone connected with this football club as far as I am concerned.

Quotes: Billy Davies 9th February 2006

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It’s not so much payback but we were very disappointed with our performance at Luton, we underachieved, underperformed and we did ourselves no justice whatsoever. It is very important this weekend that we come out and we do ourselves justice, that we perform the way that we can and hopefully that will be good enough to pick up three points.

Confidence has been high from day one, through the draws and the bits and pieces like that confidence has never been a problem. We’ve got a bunch of players working very hard, on a good run and it’s important that we try and keep the run moving along. There are no easy games and this is a difficult match once again, they are a good side that have done very well this season so we have just got to make sure from our end that we go and we achieve and we perform and we keep it moving along.

Not just up front but in centre of defence as well, we have got Claude Davis coming back, in the centre of the park we have got Stocky coming back and Simon Whaley so there are great options all over the pitch which is very important. The only disappointment that we have is that Callum Davidson and Graham Alexander who are both struggling, Callum with a thigh strain and Graham with this hamstring problem. I’ve also decided to let young Joe Anyinsah out on loan for the month to try and get him 90 minutes of football for the latter part of the season when he comes back.

We are still touch and go, we don’t know, at the moment he is looking very doubtful. We will give him up until the last minute until we get a decision.

It has been going on for a couple of months, the situation is clear, Nuge’ has joined this club and has done brilliantly since he came in, he was very unfortunate at the start of the season to be missing for such a long period with the illness, he has now fought himself back but I don’t think he will be back to his best until he gets a pre-season under his belt. It’s great to have him in the squad and thoroughly deserves the rewards for what he has achieved because of the way he has gone about it and what he was contributed so it is a nice little reward for him.

We have done that over the past couple of weeks, we have talked to Callum Davidson and Claude Davis, there wasn’t just interest in Nugent there was interest from many other clubs for many other players. We have been speaking about the Nugent thing for a number of months and it is not time to sit down and reward the lad for what he has done since he came to the club.

Hopefully we can get it done this afternoon, the intention is there, we are very keen to do it, we recognise that the contribution that he has made has been very good and he has certainly made great progress since he has been here. We just feel it is necessary and it something that he deserves