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Chris Hughton: No pressure on my boys
Wednesday 18th January 2012, 10:56AM GMT.
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Birmingham boss Chris Hughton insists all the pressure is on Wolves in tonight’s FA Cup third-round replay.
Blues go to Molineux as the underdogs but have only lost once in five visits to Wolves since 2001.
And Hughton believes his team, buoyed by Saturday’s 6-0 win at Millwall, will be a match for Mick McCarthy’s side after the first tie ended 0-0 at St Andrew’s.
“There’s certainly more pressure on Wolves to win the game, but I’m sure we’ll give a good account of ourselves,” said Hughton. “We felt we did well enough in the home tie, but didn’t force the issue enough in the final third or do enough to win it outright. We now have another chance away from home.”
Hughton will again make the most of his squad as he looks to keep his players fresh for their Championship promotion assault.
“I’ll use the squad as I have done, but we’ll certainly compete,” he said.
Captain Stephen Carr remains sidelined with a knee problem, but David Murphy is back in contention after being rested on Saturday. Midfielders Eddy Gnahore and Enric Valles are among 19 travelling and Colin Doyle will be in goal.
“Doyle will play and Jack (Butland) will be on the bench,” said Hughton.
“I probably would have been tempted to play him (Butland) if I felt it was right, but Doyle has done so well whenever he’s been needed, so he deserves to play.”
Teenage midfielder Gnahore has been handed the number 34 jersey.
The 18-year-old Parisian, who recently signed a contract to 2014, is an all-action midfielder who joined Blues’ academy in 2010 after being spotted by club scouts playing in a tournament for French side Châteauroux.
The six-foot-plus midfielder has been a regular for the club’s under-18s and has also featured for the reserve team.
Meanwhile, utility man Wade Elliott insists he’s happy to play anywhere as Hughton looks to shuffle his pack tonight.
“I said from the outset I’m happy to fit in anywhere as long as I’m in the team,” said the 33-year-old.
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