We're Not Favourites For This One - Coleman

Last updated : 12 August 2009 By Covsupport News Service
Coventry City manager Chris Coleman has said that you have to make Hartlepool United strong favourites for the League Cup tonight at the Ricoh Arena (7.45pm kick off)

"We've done our homework on Hartlepool and they're a decent team with some big lads in the side," said Chris Coleman to the CT.

"I'm sure they'll enjoy playing at a fantastic stadium like the Ricoh Arena, and they'll fancy their chances after getting a good result at MK Dons on Saturday.


"It was always going to be a stiff test for us, so when you consider that we might well start with five lads who have just signed their first professional contracts - and probably have to take four or five from Gregor Rioch's Academy to make up the bench - you've got to make them the strong favourites.

"That doesn't mean they're going to get an easy game from us, because they won't - we want to make progress in the competition so, make no mistake, this is a game that we want to win.

But they'll have a side of experienced pros while we'll have a lot of players who are going to be good but, at the moment, have very little experience at this level.

"That's the situation we're in and we'll make the best of it, because every game poses different questions.

"Some of the younger lads will get 90 minutes so it's a chance for us to judge where they are and a great opportunity for them.

"You can play as many reserve games as you like but it isn't the same thing, which is why I like to send our youngsters out on loan whenever I can.

"They need to be in that competitive environment, playing in front of a crowd, sharing a dressing room with men who have been doing it year-in, year-out.

"It will be very hard but the team spirit is excellent; we've bonded together well in the last six or eight weeks, better than we did at this stage last season.

"That helped us get through the difficult times on Sunday and we can do it again - try to get a result by hook or by crook."