Di Matteo looking to prove a point
Friday 26th March 2010, 9:35AM GMT.
Albion boss Roberto Di Matteo has ordered his side to “prove a point” when they travel for their grudge match with Reading.
The Baggies head coach is still “hurt” by their FA Cup exit to the Royals last month and believes that ill-tempered tie, which Albion eventually lost in a fiery Hawthorns replay, will influence tomorrow’s Championship meeting at the Madejski Stadium.
He said: “It probably will have a bearing, yes. Tomorrow we will be fighting for three points, but we still have in mind the last couple of games we played against them.
“I feel we need to prove a point as well against them because of the last two games. We made a few mistakes and I hope tomorrow we will make less mistakes.
“If we do that I think we will have a good chance. I wouldn’t use the word ‘revenge.’ That’s not a word I use in football.
“We are just looking to keep our run going. They are a very good team and they are on a very good run, but I am still a bit hurt from when we lost.
“I was hurt by both games – the manner of how we drew the first cup game and the manner of how we lost the second game.
“Now I really want to go there and show them.”
Albion will be backed by more than 2,500 travelling fans tomorrow, after the club laid on 40 free coaches for the eighth time in seven seasons.
Di Matteo believes the away-day army of Baggies fans can have an influence on the outcome of the match.
He said: “We have been lucky with the fans because they have followed us all season. They have given us a great following all across the country and we have given them good reason to have some good trips home.
“They give our players a lot of confidence and it would be great to see the stand at Reading full again.”
UK Sport
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