Boss urges City to take opportunity

Robins have a great chance to reach the FA Cup quarter-finals, says coach Holden

BRISTOL City head coach Dean Holden wants his players to go out and make history as the club chase their first FA Cup quarterfinal spot in almost half-a-century.

The Championship side will travel to Sheffield United this evening bidding to reach the last eight for the first time since 1974.

Holden’s men are in the midst of a poor run which has seen them lose their last three matches, slipping to tenth in the second tier.

But after stern words following their latest defeat at home to Cardiff on Saturday, Holden is targeting an upset under the Bramall Lane lights.

Holden revealed: “It has been a long time since that Cardiff result and I have had some honest conversations with the players.

“Now it is about our actions and going out there and showcasing what we are about, what we believe in, and being the best we can be.

“It is a great opportunity to get into the quarter-finals for this football club, which has not been done for a long time, and who knows what can happen on the back of that.

“For us, the FA Cup is not a distraction, but an opportunity to get back to what we are about. There was a lot of anger from our fans and there was in the dressing room, too.

“When you go through tough times you have to come out stronger and now it is about me galvanising the group and getting them back to the levels that they are capable of.”

Sheffield United are rooted to the foot of the Premier League but have started to pick up results.

The Blades followed their shock win at Manchester United with onegoal defeats to Manchester City and