Steve Bruce knows the importance of a cup run.placeholder image
Steve Bruce knows the importance of a cup run. | Getty Images
Brentford and Fulham could find themselves one step closer to Wembley Stadium after Tuesday night.
Former Premier League manager Steve Bruce has urged Fulham and Brentford to prioritise a strong cup run this week to avoid feeling the disappointment he felt during his career.
Fulham travel to League One outfit Wycombe Wanderers on Tuesday evening while Brentford make the journey to League Two side Grimsby Town with a place in the quarter final up for grabs. On paper, the Premier League sides should win those fixtures and then find themselves just three wins away from silverware.
As always, there will be a temptation for Marco Silva and Keith Andrews to rotate their squads against opposition from further down the football pyramid. Fulham have the visit of Wolves to think about on Saturday with Brentford making the short trip to Crystal Palace.
Steve Bruce sends Fulham and Brentford Carabao Cup message
Speaking on talkSPORT, Bruce reflected on his time at Hull City and admitted that a trip to Wembley cannot be overlooked by Brentford and Fulham. He said: “I can only go through experience and the type of club that Fulham or Brentford are, of course everyone wants to be in the Premier League, that’s a given. I remember being in charge of Hull a few years ago and, all of a sudden, we had a little bit of momentum in the FA Cup.
“It gets to the fifth and sixth round and I thought, I’m going to forget about the Premier League for a moment here. We’ve got a chance because everyone else was rotating. We were playing Sunderland in the quarter final of the FA Cup, who put out a reserve team and thankfully we went on to beat them. When I look back on it now, if you’re a supporter of Hull, Fulham, Brentford... your biggest day out is going to Wembley and trying to compete for a trophy.
“Back then I thought I had to rotate, and I did it with Hull in Europe when we went to Europe, which probably I regret now. When I look back at my time with all these clubs, getting to a final is probably the biggest day of fans’ lives. It doesn’t come around very often.”
Last season, both Newcastle United and Crystal Palace broke trophy droughts with triumphs in the Carabao Cup and FA Cup, which could serve as belief that Brentford or Fulham could taste underdog success.
Marco Silva aware of Wycombe Wanderers threat
Speaking ahead of facing Wycombe Wanderers, Fulham boss Silva said: “First of all, here, no one underestimates the opposition at all. We know what these competitions mean for us, and for our opposition it’s always an opportunity.
“For us it’s an opportunity, to go through in the competition, to arrive in certain stages, and the final stages of this competition. For our opposition, it’s always a big chance the next day to be in the spotlight, to be in all the TV shows and newspapers and all that stuff.
“We know that, and we have to be very serious. But nothing different than the last games we have played in the competition. We prepare ourselves like we prepare for the Premier League games, and we have to go there and show our quality.
“Their enthusiasm is going to be top, and we have to have the same enthusiasm as well. The same will, the same desire, and after show why we are playing and competing in the Premier League.”
Meanwhile, when asked about Grimsby Town, Brentford boss Andrews said: “To get to this point in the competition is significant for them. They have achieved a lot this season and are a very well-coached team. We have to be very respectful of them but we will be ready."
In other news, Crystal Palace leapfrog Man Utd and Chelsea in new look Premier League table without VAR.
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