Megson plays down cup impact

27 October 2009 18:15
// A bit of a hack but it works// The article snippet is wrapped onto a second line, even when #article-sub is emptyif( $("div#article-sub").children().length == 0 ) {$("div#article-sub").remove();} Bolton boss Gary Megson insists Wednesday's Carling Cup clash with Chelsea will have no bearing on their league meeting at the weekend.[LNB] The pair face each other in a double-header League Cup and Premier League clash this week, with both sides heading into the first encounter on the back of inspirational home wins.[LNB]Bolton battled to a 3-2 win over Everton on Sunday while league leaders Chelsea cruised to a 5-0 thrashing of Blackburn a day earlier.[LNB]Now the two face back-to-back encounters at either ground, starting at Stamford Bridge, and Megson is adamant it will not affect Saturday's clash at the Reebok.[LNB]"It won't make any difference at all - it is not part of that preparation and it will have absolutely no bearing on the game on Saturday," Megson said.[LNB]"I think if either team was using this as preparation, I think that would demean the Carling Cup a little bit.[LNB]"We want to go through, make no mistake about it, and I know (Cheslea boss) Carlo (Ancelotti) will want to go through.[LNB]"Regardless of them wanting to win the Champions League, the Premier League and the FA Cup, they will want to win this one as well - maybe not with the same priority as the other three but they will want to win it, I can assure you."[LNB]ChangesWhile Megson appreciates the strength of Ancelotti's squad, he expects to see a changed side to the one that thrashed Rovers so convincingly at the weekend.[LNB]"They are well capable of beating anybody 5-0, they are a fantastic side defensively and going forward, so it's a huge task for everybody that plays Chelsea.[LNB]"But I think they will alter the team a little bit from the one that played against Blackburn on Saturday night."[LNB]The last time Megson took on the Blues at the Bridge saw his side nearly stage an incredible comeback, pulling back three goals after going four down to narrowly miss out in a 4-3 defeat in April.[LNB]Megson is well aware of the impact substitutions can have on a game, as they did that day, but he concedes that his side must be on their game for 90 minutes if they are to stage an upset this time.[LNB]"They made a couple of changes and we made a couple of changes and we got a bit of impetus from our first goal," he said.[LNB]"It is amazing, even the best do it - when you get a bit shaky, it doesn't half take some arresting.[LNB]"We scored the first one, followed it up again with another and then in the end I think Chelsea were thankful to kick it off the line and hang on for the three points.[LNB]"We did all right, but only really for a 20 minute period, and we have to do it for the full 90."[LNB]

Source: SKY_Sports