Source: FOOTYMAD
Away Hoodoo Has Not Dented Pardew's Hopes
Trips to Scunthorpe and Nottingham so far this season ... and now its a trek to Ewood Park in the Carling Cup. CARLING CUP FOURTH ROUND DRAW Wolves v Manchester CityCardiff v BurnleyBlackburn v NewcastleArsenal v Bolton Stoke v LiverpoolAldershot v Manchester UnitedCrystal Palace v SouthamptonEverton v Chelsea Ties to be played week commencing October 24. Alan Pardew: “It’s a shame it’s away but we want games. These players want to play and it’s a tough game. “We could have been drawn against one of the top clubs, who are all still in it, away from home so it’s not the worst draw we could have had but its still a tough draw. “I think Blackburn will be hurting from the defeat and that will make it even more difficult. “It’s a trophy I’ve never done well in. Ironically I’ve got a decent record in cup competitions and play-off finals and what have you. “I’ve never had a run in the League Cup as a player or manager. It’s a trophy that hasn’t brought me much luck, I’ve lost a few penalty shoot-outs here and there. “You need a bit of luck when you’re on a cup run and we’ve had a bit of luck so far. So that’s buoyed me a little bit. “My priority hasn’t changed because the Premier League is too difficult to suddenly say ‘We’ll concentrate on the Carling Cup instead and we’ll be OK for the Premier League at the weekend’. “You’ve got to focus and these games are all cup finals for us. We’re still at that stage. It’s a nice distraction and I can see the lads are already getting excited about it.”
