Striker dreaming of scoring against the Blues
Striker James Collins is hoping for a Capital One Cup fairy tale when Shrewsbury Town welcome Premier League leaders Chelsea to the Greenhous Meadow.The striker scored for Town against Arsenal in the competition three years ago and is excited about his chances of doing the same against Jose Mourinho's side.
“It would be fantastic (to score), especially in front of the home crowd as well, obviously there won’t be as many here as there was at the Emirates but it would still be a special moment in my career if I could do that again," said Collins.
"I don’t really have a set celebration but it would be such a massive occasion. I would go mad!”
The 23-year-old thinks the home crowd can help Shrewsbury push on against the Londoners.
“I think that, before the game, if the crowd gets in early and they really get behind you, which I’m sure they will, it automatically gets you up for the game and we will take that on to the pitch and then you go from there," he said.
Tactically, Collins thinks Town are good enough to take the game to Mourinho’s men.
“I think we can go for it," he said.
"Our home form speaks for itself so far this season. We are playing against a Premier League side with quality players but I think we can take the game to them.
"They won’t want to be coming here on a Tuesday night after being at Old Trafford on Sunday. It will be an interesting test.
"The first 20 minutes are vital. We need to stay in the game and then if they get frustrated that’s when they start doing things they wouldn’t usually do and then we can counter it.”
The former Aston Villa man acknowledges that his team have been the giant killers of the competition so far.
“We have beat some big sides on the way including Premier League Leicester when I thought we were comfortably the better team on the night but we are well aware it’s a tougher test against Chelsea," he said.
"You never know what could happen.”
Collins believes the key to creating an upset will be a team effort from Shrewsbury.
“We definitely need a team effort," he said.
"You can only perform with the players around you doing well also and that is when you will succeed.
"If we take the lead I think we can hold it this time, especially at home.
"We can keep it tight and if we do what we have been doing the past few weeks it will be a tough test for Chelsea.”