How are you for injuries at the moment Steve?
All OK, Glen trained on Thursday and everyone is as fit as can be expected at this stage of the season.
You're without Murty, Harper...
Yes, Murts got another little calf strain and he's probably out for the season now, unless Lourdes is open at weekends. Chris Armstrong won't be available for these couple of games, Harps too but he might have a chance for the final, so too Leroy, he would be knocking on the door.
Does Doyle have a chance of starting, Kitson was a doubt last weekend I believe...
He had a cold and a bit of an ankle problem. At this time of year you get loads of aches and strains. It's not perfect but we can deal with it. We've got a healthy squad.
Do you go to Burnley looking to win?
Well we've not had the experience of this type of competition and that makes it harder to change. Man Utd and Chelsea can do it every week because they play many games like this. We try to win every game and for us to be more conservative would not be possible. We'll try to win.
Marek did well when he came on and scored against Birmingham, has he got a chance of starting?
Yes, yes.
Will there be changes?
There will be a couple of changes, and our intent has to be positive. We're not capable of sitting back. we'll have a go.
Considering your away form and home form in recent weeks, is this first leg your best chance?
I don't know. In terms of preparing a team it's just a case of taking each game in isolation. We try to win every game and that's possibly why we've lost a couple at home. Looking back I'd say if we'd been more conservative we've have got more points but we always try to win.
Has the mood changed considering Sunday's result?
We came in on Monday and we were thinking what might have been, not just in terms of Sunday but previous games too. We needed a bit of that time to recover but now we're sharper, there's an edge back in training.
Burnley are cup kings, they've played 58 games this season, will that have a bearing on Saturday?
Absolutely not. We've both had the same time to recover since our last game and our fixture lists have been the same for weeks. Sometimes a tight-knit squad helps too.
You lost 1-0 up there and probably should have won...
I watched the DVD this week and we could have won. We were very disappointed to have lost, but at home we won 3-1 and that flattered us a bit. There's nothing between the teams, nobody is favourite and the betting will be tight.
How much will experience matter to your team?
It's not crossed my mind. I've not looked at one team with experience and one with legs, I've just gone for a team. I'll pick an eleven based on the best eleven to get a result. It's all about being positive, if we're on the back foot it can invite pressure. Burnley haven't lost many at home and they've all been close. We've got to work hard to earn something.
Chris Eagles is a danger for them and left back is a position you've had to change recently.
You get to this stage and you need players to have big games. There are match-ups both ways that could be critical. You need your players to step up and play well. We've got to be active partners, really progressive.
What's your past experience of the play-offs as a manager and do you like them as a concept?
A couple of good ones at Palace, getting promoted, and then at Brentford we lost in the final. My great friend Joe Royle, from way back, we had 100% opposite views on the play-offs. I said they were a great idea, prolonging the season with added excitement, but Joe thought the third team should go up. I still think they're great and one of the best things to happen. I'd make them bigger, same as Rugby League, with more teams involved.
Is the lack of play-off experience in the squad a concern?
Maybe marginally, but I don't think there's any mindset other than trying to win. The best way to get through is to win.
Is the key to forget what has gone before?
No, the key is just playing well. I've gone up in the play-offs when finishing third and also when finishing sixth. You need, for a limited time, to get the best from the squad.
You look at the three teams who went down this season, it was fatal they didn't go back up quickly.
Yes. The one thing you can say about Reading though is that they've never over-committed. Everything has been within budget, I don't think there is any way we risk the club's existence for one season in the sun.
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