Alan Curbishley is well aware his West Ham United team have a difficult night ahead against Coventry City although confidence is high.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, the manager was clear that "we have got a game on" in the fourth-round Carling Cup tie and said his team would have to be focused if they were to build on the 0-0 league draw at Portsmouth last Saturday. Curbishley is also keen to keep the momentum going among his squad with Bolton Wanderers arriving at the Boleyn Ground on Sunday.
"We have spoken about Coventry," Curbishley said. "I have been to see them and we have had them watched. We know we have got a game on, a live game as well but we know that if we set about it we can give ourselves a chance. We see this as a big week and this is the second leg of it."
Coventry, who have been in the second tier since the 2001/02 season, reached this stage with a 2-0 win at champions Manchester United and Curbishley was certain they would be out to upset the form book again. Trying to ensure they do will be former West Ham United striker Iain Dowie, who knows what it takes to guide teams to promotion having previously done so with Crystal Palace.
Curbishley said: "I think Coventry are like a lot of clubs who have been relegated. They have found it ever so difficult since then. It is a massive problem for clubs who get relegated and just a glance at the Championship and probably below that you can that there are so many of them who have had great days and are now suffering enormously." To see more from the pre-match press conference, log on to WHUTV where you can also see an exclusive interview with Anton Ferdinand.