Gaffer's thoughts before the EFL Cup trip to Sunderland
Town return to EFL Cup action following their 2-1 win at home to Huddersfield in the previous round of the cup. It is a competition that has seen Town do well over recent seasons with a number of memorable games and victories over higher league opposition.Micky Mellon was excited about the trip to the Stadium of Light on Wednesday night when Shrewsbury will take on Sunderland in the English League Cup:
“We are looking forward to the game. It is a great opportunity for us as a club to go and play a Premier League team in a fantastic stadium and we are really happy with that.”
“Anyone who plays for them is a Premier League player so the challenge is there for us and we will organise the team and go out there and give it our best go. It is the best league in the world and they operate in it every week. We have got to go up there and believe we can cause them problems and represent the club properly and try and get something from the game.”
The 44-year-old will take confidence from Shrewsbury’s form in the competition in the past couple of seasons:
“We have done very well in the cup and got some good results and long may that continue. We don’t really do anything different than a league game so we will approach it like we usually do and hopefully it falls are way again.”
David Moyes will be in the opposition dug out just as he was when Shrewsbury humbled Everton 2-1 in the cup in 2003 and Mellon knows the former Manchester United manager will want to avoid a similar result this time around:
“It was a fantastic day in the clubs history and I am sure everyone enjoyed it. We have always tried to add to the history because it is important to look back on games like that and the Manchester United and Chelsea games we have had. All these games mean a lot to the club. He will respect us and know we are going up there to give an account of ourselves. He will be wanting a win but we will go up there and try and spoil that for him.”
The Scotsman admits he may have to make a few changes to the starting 11 due to the high volume of games they have recently had:
“We have got a good squad and the games have been coming thick and fast and it is starting to take its toll with a few little niggles and injuries. I might have to pick a team that is fresh as possible for tomorrow night to represent the club properly. Shaun Whalley won’t be available because he has a bad calf. I don’t know about Saturday for him so we will see but he certainly won’t make Sunderland.”
Despite the possibility of a change to the line-up Mellon believes the team will be capable of getting a result in the North East:
“I trust every one of my players that they were all brought here to play first team football and I believe in them. No matter what shape or strategy we are I believe they can put on a performance and it will be no different tomorrow night. We will pick a team that we believe will try and get Shrewsbury Town a result. Nobody comes into the team and weakens it, we play a bit differently with different players but I am grateful to have them all here.”
James Eley