Town defender John McGreal has reacted angrily to Birmingham's Michael Johnson's claim yesterday that Town were psyched out in the tunnel prior to the Worthington Cup second leg. Johnson said yesterday that his lads shouted a lot prior to the game and this had a psychological effect on the Town players.

Scouser McGreal will be wanting Liverpool, the side he supported as a kid to put one over Johnson and his cohorts at The Millennium Stadium on Sunday. McGreal said: "I don't agree with what he has said at all, it is absolute rubbish. Maybe they are trying a bit of psychology before the Liverpool match but I didn't see or hear any of the things he said happened before the match."

McGreal, whose old side Tranmere recorded an outrageous victory over Southampton in the FA Cup on Tuesday will hope that Town will beat Everton and Liverpool will win on Sunday to cap a top week for him.

He added: "The sort of characters we have in the team, there is no way we would allow any team to do that to us."

Town fans watching last night's Liverpool-Roma game would have been reminded of a Town-Norwich Derby a few years back. Last night Roma were awarded a penalty by referee Jose Garcia-Aranda, but were then amazed to see him change his mind.

In 1996 the same thing happened to Town at Carrow Road. Claus Thomsen was felled inside the area and referee Kevin Lynch pointed to the spot. Sadly Lynch, who sported a Peter Wyngarde-style moustache even in the mid-nineties, changed his mind. Git.

Bobby Petta's chance of making an international debut for Holland has been dashed after he picked up an injury. The former Town man had been put on standby for his nation after his terrific season for Celtic.

Petta won Dutch U21 caps while at Feyenoord, but then drifted out of the international frame.

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