Fülop hoping cup run can lift Cats
Nov 11 2008 by Luke Edwards, The Journal
MÀRTON Fülop hopes a Carling Cup win against Blackburn Rovers tomorrow night will be the perfect way to revive Sunderland’s flagging Premier League campaign.
The Wearsiders slipped to their third successive defeat against Portsmouth last weekend and are second from bottom in the table, just one point ahead of bottom club West Bromwich Albion.
Although the Black Cats are in their position on goal difference and are still only three points off 10th place, Fülop conceded confidence had suffered ahead of back-to-back games against Rovers with a league match to follow the cup clash on Saturday. “It’s very important we get results against Blackburn in both games this week,” said the goalkeeper, who was speaking at an event to mark the launch of a new Show Racism The Red Card calendar.
“Especially in the cup, because we are taking it very seriously and a cup run can stir up a club’s confidence and maybe we need that now after a couple of bad results. If we beat them on Wednesday then it sends a good message to Blackburn that they have to be on their toes if they want to get anything at their place at the weekend.”
Fülop has had an extended run in the side as a result of Craig Gordon’s ankle injury, but the Hungarian international has not had the best of luck in that time as he looks to push his claim for more first team football. The Wearsiders have conceded eight goals in their last three games and Fülop’s re-introduction to the Premier League has been a difficult one.
He said: “It’s a tough job being a keeper in the Premier League. It’s been a really steep learning curve for me coming back into the side.
“I’m used to coping with pressure because I’m an international goalkeeper. But since I’ve been back in the team we’ve had some very tough games the derby, at Chelsea and on Saturday against Portsmouth. It’s very tough but I’m just so happy to be playing.
“I see every game as an opportunity to make the goalkeeper’s shirt my own, I want to keep it and I have to prove I’m good enough game after game. I don’t want to think about what happens when Craig is fit and who the manager selects.” Fülop, whose penalty save against Northampton in the previous round set up the Blackburn tie, is confident he has the ability to keep out another spot kick if a shoot-out is needed to separate the two sides tomorrow.
He said: “If it’s a good strike, when you think it’s only 12 yards away, then the kicker should always score. But if we concede a penalty then I’m always confident in my ability to make the save.
“It was my penalty save that helped us get to this stage of the Carling Cup so I’m happy with that. On that day we didn’t play too well, but the team showed great spirit. But if we’re going to keep the cup run going then we’ll need to play better than we did in the last round, that’s for sure.”
