HULL CITY: Don't become cup casualties, warns Tigers' coach Shakespeare
CRAIG Shakespeare has warned Hull City must be on guard against a League Cup upset when they travel to Brentford tonight.
The Tigers take a full-strength squad to the capital as they look to avoid an embarrassing exit at their League One hosts.
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Hull City's Mark Cullen makes the trip to the capital as part of a full-strength squad.
The League Cup has often played second fiddle for City in recent years but keen to keep confidence building in the squad, assistant boss Shakespeare says they will travel to Griffin Park eyeing a smooth passage to the third round.
"The focus has to be the league but the priority has to be the next game," Shakespeare told the Mail.
"We have to make sure that we're not a casualty. You see clubs going out with a whimper at times but we don't aim to do that.
"They're a big, strong and physical side and we aim to give them a good go.
"We're looking at a good cup run and we have to go down there with the right frame of mind and pick a strong side.
"We've done our homework on them and we know that they'll be right up for the game. We don't want to become another casualty."
City's intentions have been underlined by the naming of a strong 20-man squad to travel south this morning.
Jamie Devitt and Peter Halmosi join the 18 players who featured against Watford on Saturday and although there will be changes tonight, Shakespeare stressed a strong side will be named.
Teenage striker Mark Cullen could be handed a first start of the season in tandem with new signing Jay Simpson.
Caleb Folan (dead leg) and Craig Fagan (groin) both miss out again while Kamil Zayatte (knee) is a doubt.
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by Richard, @ Work
Wednesday, August 25 2010, 6:52AM
“Who cares about the carling cup until the qtr finals stage anyway ? WE wont know how bad last night was until saturdays 3rd round draw.
Millwall Away for bRENTFORD AND WHO WILL CARE THAT WE ARE ACTUALL OUT ?
Man United Home ? Well then the loonies can moan and groan.
As the 3rd round come in the middle of a hectic 3 week period of 2 games a week (see fixtures) it maybe a blessing
but we were not along.
A bad night for Yorkshire teams full stop. Most went out with the Tigers.
Blackpool loose at MK Dons
Cardiff lose at Peterboro
Reading lose on pens Home to Northampton
West Ham need an injury time goal to beat Oxford at home.
So City were not the worst result afterall.
3 point at Doncaster is what really matters to me.”
by scarborough tiger, at home
Wednesday, August 25 2010, 12:50AM
“no....the sooner we get bullard off the books...the sooner we can bring in a couple of decent players on half the stupid wages that idiot duffen gave him..unless of course YOU want to pay bullards wages plus add ons ....”
by scarborough tiger, just got home
Wednesday, August 25 2010, 12:45AM
“take it from me...nigel pearsons doesnt suffer fools easy and he has one hell of a temper....he will soon get things going right for city so keep the faith..we dont need to rant on about who needs the chop as he will do it without a second thought....”
by ERFan, East Riding
Wednesday, August 25 2010, 12:43AM
“How, Embarassing - We can't blame JB for not earning his wages this season so far - the fault for that lies firmly with the people who have taken the ludicrous decision not to play him - if anything it is he who has the case for restriction of trade. Get him playing and get us out of this trough!!!”
by How, Embarassing
Tuesday, August 24 2010, 10:27PM
“just what we didnt need? Play Bullard and make him earn his wages or sack him on lack of performance?”