Steve Cotterill ready for a close encounter as he prepares his Bristol City side to face Walsall at Wembley. Steve Cotterill believes the bumper crowd at Wembley for Sunday's Johnstone's Paint Trophy final will be witnessing a tight encounter. Table-topping Bristol City are heavy favourites to see off their League One rivals this weekend but Dean Smith's Walsall, who have drawn with MK Dons and Sheffield United in the last week, stunned Preston over two legs to reach the final. And City boss Cotterill says the tie, which is set to be watched by over 70,000 supporters, will be a tricky one to call. please log in to view this image Steve Cotterill believes Saturday's JPT final between Bristol City and Walsall will be close. 'We are under no illusions, this is going to be a tough game,' he explained. 'Whether anyone jumps all over you with a favourites tag or not it will make no difference on the day. 'I think Dean has done a fantastic job there and it will be a proud moment for him to take Walsall to Wembley for the first time. 'He has put a really good team together there so it should be a good match. We will approach the game the same as always, we have tried to win every match we have played in this season. 'We can hopefully look forward to a really good occasion.' Cotterill has admitted his delight at a rule change for Sunday's showpiece event. As well as introducing the possibility of extra-time for the first time in this season's competition, the Football League will also allow seven substitutes to be named by both managers at Wembley, rather than the maximum of five in previous rounds. Having seen off Gillingham in the area final, Cotterill was vocal of his frustration at the rule which would have meant two players from Tuesday night's squad being forced to sit out potentially one of the biggest days in their career. 'That was something I asked about,' he explained. 'We contacted Walsall and asked if they would have any objections and it was referred then to the Football League and they backed it. 'We are really pleased with that because there would've been a couple of lads on the bus who can't get changed. 'You have to have seven substitutes at Wembley don't you? It is fantastic for boys who may not have been involved.' Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3003100/Steve-Cotterill-ready-close-encounter-prepares-Bristol-City-face-Walsall-Wembley.html#ixzz3Urzqq2px
nice to see 2 more being on the bench.. if nothing else they can say I was a sub at a cup final at Wembley.. Ive said it loads of times before. .Walsall are good against top teams we need to be on the very top of our game..like v WHU before they cheated.. notice how they have slid down the table since!
Yep we shouldn't be talking like we've already beat them. They put 2 past Preston and kept them out for 180 minutes.... but anything you've done prior to the cup and any form you have in the league counts for nothing on the day. It's just 90 minutes of football in front of a very big crowd in the biggest stadium in the UK. Who ever keeps their heads will win this game. Now I can't speak for Walsall but we do have some big game players in our squad. The likes of Wilbraham, Ayling, Elliott, Little and Agard have been there and done it but we have the likes of JET, Flint, Freeman, Smith who will no doubt shine on the biggest stage of football and want to put there name in the history books. I know people have said about JET against west ham and not turning up for a big event, have to remember though we were playing a premier league team who at the time were in great form and shutting out some of the best strikers in the world on a weekly basis. Was always going to be hard for him to produce something special. The only other big game we've had up until now was the Bristol Derby and he showed up for that big time. He wanted everyone looking and talking about him and he got it.... That goal he scored is still my all time favourite city goal! He really should start Sunday as I have no doubt he will want everyone talking about him! Having said that I have a feeling Flinty will get the winning goal....At our end and the place will erupt. My prediction is 2-1 city JET 20' Bradshaw 55' Flint 88'
Nerves in this household starting to kick in, so you can imagine what the players are feeling. Games at Wembley / Millenium are decided on nerves, we've all seen some shocks like Wigan turning over Man City. Cardiff holding Liverpool to a draw, to lose on penalties. Hull nearly beating Arsenal last year, only for Arsenal to settle quickly and come back from two goals down. It's what all young football players dream about when kicking the ball round the play ground. Some will turn up and want to play safe because of the occasion, they don't want to be remembered as the one who ****ed it up. Some will want to show the world what they can do and take chances. This game will be won on nerves, so I can't call it who will win.
