Bilic: Cup can be poisoned

SLAVEN BILIC has mixed memories of the FA Cup – his son was born on third round day – and he also stopped a riot.

West Brom’s boss (above) is hoping to put one in the credit column this afternoon when 2,000 Baggies fans make the first of two trips to the Valley inside seven days.

Any former player normally trots out the highlights when asked about their experiences.

Not the ex-croatia international, who said: “As a player, my experience wasn’t the greatest. I have one beautiful memory.

“The game on January 4 1997, away at Wrexham. My son, Leo, was born that day.

“So Harry Redknapp spared me that one.

“I remember Hugo Porfirio, the Portuguese guy, scored in the 42nd minute. Leo was born at 15.42 – that’s why I remember it – but the game went to a replay. And we lost at home.

“We were all over them but we couldn’t score. We were in a bad spell.

“Then, they scored a cracker from 25 yards in the last minute and won. After the game, there were police on horses at Upton Park. It wasn’t funny.

“Me and Julian Dicks (inset) went to talk to the supporters. They weren’t angry so much against the players – it was more against the board. The fans wanted them to spend some money.

“So we went out to talk to them and calm them down. We told them we were going to be better. That we were going to stay up – and we did. Of course we did.”

Asked why he accompanied Dicks who was the club skipper at the time, Bilic joked: “Look, he needed some muscle.”

Prodded further for some further highlights – the 51-year-old could only supply lowlights:“another bad one was with Everton. We lost against Newcastle at home. That was another bad day.

“Then I played at Bristol City with Everton and we won. I played and was taking pills to play. After, I couldn’t play anymore. It wasn’t great for me.”

Bilic is aware the feelgood factor may be sweeping the stands at the Valley after this week’s takeover was confirmed.

East Street Investments, a company backed by Abu Dhabi Business Development, have assumed control from despised former owner Roland Duchatalet.

Bilic said he does not feel that it will have a major impact on his plans.

He said: “I don’t think those things affect the game very much. It is what it is. I wouldn’t see any advantage for us if they had a big problem.

“For me, what affects the game is how my team approaches it.

“We played Wigan when they started a good run, then Brentford and they were on a good run. Barnsley may have been 22nd when we played them but they had won three of their previous matches out of five.

“Middlesbrough won a couple of games before they beat us. That’s the thing which affects the game more than a takeover from my point of view.”