S O'D on the JPT from the OS

Head coach sees benefit in JPT competition.
Sean O’Driscoll sees the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy as a benefit, rather than a hindrance in the forthcoming campaign.

The City head coach has lifted the Trophy in the past, winning the competition with Doncaster Rovers back in 2007.

And whilst a sustained run in the lower league cup competition would mean a number of additional fixtures for City to fulfil in 2013/14 – the chance of a Wembley final later in the season is a target of O’Driscoll’s.

He told bcfc.co.uk: “Of course it’s a balancing act between: do you play your full team on a Tuesday night because you have an all-important game on the Saturday in the league or do you change things around?

“I know the rules state you have to play a percentage of your strongest side but it’s one of those where if you get to the final it’s a great day out.

“If there is any benefit of dropping down into League One it is probably the benefit of getting to Wembley in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.”

Victory in 2007 was secured over Bristol Rovers – a 3-2 extra time success – in front of just under 60,000 supporters at the Millennium Stadium.

And O’Driscoll admits his side had to ride their luck en route to lifting the trophy.

“No one is really interested at the start but as you progress it builds until it gets an important fixture and day out,” he added.

“When I won it before our squad wasn’t that big. There were a few hairy moments when you thought this could go either way.

“We played Crewe in a two-legged semi-final and they were two really good games. It was 3-3 at Crewe and then we were 2-0 down at home (in the second leg) but won 3-2 at the death.

“They were good games – especially the first game at Crewe. We played really well and they were a good footballing side.”

The Johnstone’s Paint Trophy kicks off on September 3rd, although a number of clubs in each of the northern and southern sections receive byes into round two, which takes place on October 8th.

The final, to be played at Wembley, is due to be held on March 30th.

City have twice won the competition in their history, in 1986 and 2003, whilst they were losing finalists in 1987 and 2000.

 

This season, the cups are all about confidence. We're a club that is horrifically low on confidence, so a good cup run would be enough to get the fans backing the club and the players lifting their heads high.

A good run in the paint pot cup could help, but a run in the Carling Cup or FA Cup would be welcomed.

 

Another trip to Wembley would be nice and I don't really care in which competition it was in although reading that BCFC were in Europe would be nice I admit.

 

I would love another Wembley day out,cracking time for one and all.

 

It's a good day out. I saw our win against Bolton in the Freight Rover at Wembley, our defeat to Mansfield the following year (I think) and our win over Carlisle in Cardiff but if a team is doing well in the league the competition can be an unwelcome distraction.

 

Cup runs breed confidence (as with Bradford last year)

Glad to hear SoD taking this seriously - the LDV final in Cardiff was a great moment (especially as I sat in the Hilton Hotel bar after the game in my City shirt with a pint of gloat - the carlisle team were staying there and as they came in the bar they all had to walk past me - I just smiled sweetly)