Pompey Will Play Up !

Pompey Visiting
By Chris O'Brien
October 29 2004

Premiership mid-tablers Portsmouth are expected to send their strongest line-up to Ninian Park for the League Cup fourth round tie. Pompey assistant Jim Smith has confirmed the Hampshire outfit are taking the competition very seriously.

Portsmouth assistant manager Jim Smith has confirmed that the south coast club will send their strongest possible side to Ninian Park as the two sides do battle in the League Cup. The winners will be rewarded with a quarter-final slot, just two rounds from the Millennium Stadium showpiece final.

"The Carling Cup is a competition we feel a club like ours can win and that means Europe," said Smith

"There are some very big teams still in it and Manchester United seem to have had a comfortable win at Crewe but we know they almost always field a reserve team in this competition.

Many Premiership clubs have shown a distinct lack of respect to the League Cup in recent seasons, fielding reserve and youth team players and as a result smaller clubs have been eyeing up the competition as likely silverware. Middlesbrough won their first ever major trophy last season, lifting the Carling Cup after victory over Bolton at the Millennium Stadium and supporters see the triumph as a springboard for the North East club to go on and challenge at the very highest level.

Smith hopes the Hampshire outfit can do the same as Steve McClaren’s side and go all the way to League Cup success. This would not only give the supporters something to celebrate and add a trophy to the Fratton Park cabinet, but send Harry Redkanpp’s team into the Uefa Cup.

"Depending on the draw and how you play on the day you can win any cup and we just hope the players realise we are in the last 16 now and can go forward again," added the former Derby County boss.

"Staying in the Premiership is our priority, of course it is, but the Carling Cup has importance to the club because it can lead to Europe. What a coup that would be for Portsmouth."

Lennie Lawrence is certain the Bluebirds will have to pit their wits against the first-choice Pompey side including such names as Shaka Hislop, Steve Stone, Eyal Berkovic and Yakubu. However, the City boss is confident is side can cause a cup upset and qualify for the last eight of the Carling-backed competition.

"If you're not a glamour Premiership club but you get to this stage of the competition, it is seen as a passport to Europe," said the Cardiff chief.

"Middlesbrough did that last season, and Portsmouth will see playing us as a great chance to make the last eight.

"The home draw is good for us and we can win if at our best, but Portsmouth are an established Premiership side."