Town boss Mick McCarthy believes a victory in today’s FA Cup third round tie against Portsmouth can give the Blues momentum going into the back-to-back Championship home games against Leeds United on Tuesday and Preston North End next Saturday.
"A win can be [a positive], in terms of Tuesday and Saturday,” McCarthy said. "And I had that in mind, I didn’t want to put out a team that was full of kids that ends up getting beaten and we all have to get going again on Tuesday.
"They’ve had a few days off this week anyway, so they’ve had a break before the game but they’re all raring to go, they’re busting a gut to play.
"They all wanted to play but the ones that have been playing, I just thought it was important that some of them put their legs up.
"Kevin Bru had had a bit of a hamstring after the game at Burnley, it’s just making sure that we get through the season.
"We’re carrying a bigger squad than I’ve ever carried but nevertheless, I want them all to be fit.”
He added: "I’ve got a stronger squad this year, I’ve got players that I can call upon and it won’t make such a significant difference in terms of playing.
"Ryan Fraser and Freddie Sears have been playing in wide areas, but I can’t see anybody thinking that Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Tommy Oar aren’t two good wide players.”
While some may bemoan the Blues having spent the last 14 seasons in the Championship, McCarthy says Portsmouth’s fall from 2008 FA Cup winners to League Two shows that there are worse fates.
"I’ve had this discussion before, I’ve laughed when people have said, ‘This club has been in the Championship the longest’ and said, ‘Yeah, there are a few who would be delighted with that stat’. And Portsmouth are one of them.
"There are others that have gone that way and gone below this level that people seem to sneer at because it’s not the Premier League. There’s a lot worse down below and a lot worse things, going into administration.
"We can see that almost happening this year, Bolton are suffering with it and they were a Premier League club not so long ago.
"Sometimes, kind of be happy in your own skin and try and improve, but not be too critical of where you are. It’s a blooming tough league that we’re in, and it’s getting harder still.
"We’re playing against a club who not so long ago won the FA Cup, for heaven’s sake, they’ve got a really good history, Portsmouth.”
Looking back, McCarthy says his best season in the FA Cup was the 2003/04 season when Sunderland reached the semi-finals but lost to one of his old clubs.
"[As a manager] the semi-final of the FA Cup, I suppose it’s the happiest and unhappiest,” he reflected. "We lost in the semi-final to Millwall at Old Trafford.
"As a player? I can’t remember. There obviously wasn’t one standout one then, was there? Probably getting to the fourth round or something!”