Allardyce Cup Dream Shattered

By Mark Heys
December 21 2005

Sam Allardyce has revealed that he would have preferred to have been knocked out of the UEFA Cup rather than lose in the Carling Cup following defeat at local rivals Wigan Athletic last night.

Two Jason Roberts goals gave Wigan a route into the semi-finals of the competition and a rather despondant Allardyce revealed that the Wanderers have thrown away a good chance of getting some silverware.

"I would sooner us have got knocked out of the UEFA Cup." said the Bolton boss

"That is an impossible dream for us to win, whereas the Carling Cup is a reality for us to win, and the shortest route to us winning a piece of silverware for the first time since 1958. But we've thrown the chance away." he added

Bolton are still going strong in the UEFA Cup and begin their FA Cup campaign for this season with a tricky away tie against Championship high fliers Watford at the start of next year.