Cup final glory is on the Cats’ agenda

Aug 27 2008 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal

THEY might be playing for a boss who in nearly two years of management is yet to win a knockout game, but such is the confidence around the Stadium of Light at present that Sunderland have targeted a cup final appearance this season.

The Black Cats had already been knocked out of the League Cup when Roy Keane took the reins two years ago on Saturday, but since then their cup record reads played three, lost three.

Bowing out of the 2006-07 FA Cup 1-0 at Preston North End was hardly a disaster with the side focused on promotion but last season was humiliating, losing 3-0 to a Luton Town side on its way to a second successive relegation and by the same margin at home to Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup.

Despite that inglorious record, however, defender Phil Bardsley says the Wearsiders are determined to make their first trip to Wembley since 1998, starting with a win at Nottingham Forest tonight. “We want to hopefully make the cup competitions our own,” he said. “We want to really push on and get to a final. If we just keep doing what we’re doing I’m sure it’ll take it’s course.”

Keane has also talked this summer of the need to perform better in the cups but the 23-year-old full-back says it is not something he has broached with his rapidly-expanding squad.

“It’s just something you want to do as a player,” he said. “Cup competitions are great as a player and you should all look forward to it. With the experience we’ve got and the players in the squad there’s no reason we can’t give it a really good go.”

Many of Sunderland’s new signings know one another from earlier in their careers, particularly Teemu Tainio, Pascal Chimbonda and Steed Malbranque, who joined from Tottenham Hotspur. Bardsley had a similar experience when he arrived in January at a club with a host of coaches and players who, like him, had been at Manchester United.

“It is a help if you know how the players play and coming in you always know somebody,” he said. “But when you come to a new club it’s also nice to meet new faces. It certainly was for me.

“I think the new lads have enjoyed it since they’ve come here. Everyone mingles and we’ve got a good team spirit. Some of the new lads have had their gear hung up because their clobber’s absolutely a disgrace. The team spirit’s good.”