WE’RE READY TO TAKE ON JOSE
Bristol City hero Pack backs his high-flyers to dump United out of cup
SCORER Marlon Pack insists Bristol City have nothing to fear when they host Manchester United on Wednesday.
The Carabao Cup clash will be the latest outing for an in-form Championship side that has won its last four games, including Saturday’s match with Nottingham Forest.
Pack got the first of two first-half goals, although the home side had their lead halved just two minutes after the restart.
All thoughts now turn to the first game between the Championship high- flyers and United since February 1980. City were beaten 4-0 at Old Trafford that day, with two goals from Joe Jordan, who a decade later would manage the Bristol club. But for midfielder Pack this week’s encounter promises to be significantly closer.
‘Of course we’ve got a chance, the cup has been kind to us this year, we’ve gone out and performed,’ Pack said.
‘It’s a one-off game, we’re in great form and we’ve got nothing to lose. We will go out and enjoy ourselves, play with the same energy, be confident and who knows what can happen. Results have been funny in this competition — not just this season but in its history.
‘First and foremost though, it will be great to be playing against players of that calibre. Playing against a Jose Mourinho side is what we all dream of. It’s going to be good to test ourselves.
‘Credit to the club, it’s been in the back of our mind and it’s probably the least important game in this run of fixtures. We know our main priority, and obviously that’s the league, and we can put everything aside and just go for it.’
Pack’s thoughts were echoed by Bristol City assistant head coach Dean Holden, who admitted his team could have been distracted by such a high-profile fixture.
‘ It’s great to talk about the Manchester United game now. When the draw was made, we had
seven or eight games in front of us, and we were in great form at that time. Everyone was getting excited at this United game.
‘Now it’s come round, we wanted to make sure we were still in good form, still confident and obviously that’s still the case. A lot of credit goes to the players again for keeping their focus, and now everyone can go and enjoy Wednesday night.’
Saturday’s game was settled with two goals in 10 minutes for the home side, with both coming from a similar range of 25 yards.
Pack struck first, and dedicated his goal to Bristol City supporter Ben Pritchard, who died last month, by holding up a shirt in his honour.
Joe Bryan added the second goal with another drive, which wrongfooted the otherwise impressive Forest goalkeeper Jordan Smith.
The visitors were given hope when Kieran Dowell lobbed home from the same distance as the previous two goals.
But Forest could not find an equaliser. Their manager, Mark Warburton, believes that Bristol City are capable of giving their Premier League opponents a shock. ‘Of course I give them a chance against Manchester United, because it’s a game of football,’ he said.
‘You can have a speculative shot from 35 yards that can go in the top corner. Anything can happen, that’s why the fans love it and it’s a global game.
‘All credit to Ben Brereton to come on, he showed real quality and real desire and I’m delighted with his contribution.
‘We’ve got a really good squad, a young and hungry one. Barry McKay and Jamie Ward didn’t get on today.’