Boss Mick McCarthy is in no doubt which of Town’s next two games he sees as most important - Saturday’s bread and butter Championship clash at home to Bristol City rather than tomorrow’s more glamorous Capital One Cup third round tie against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Quizzed on which of the two matches he’d most like to win if he had a choice of just the one, he answered without hesitation: “Saturday. I think that was fairly categorical. I didn’t give it any thought at all.

“Wouldn’t it be great if we won [at Old Trafford] and they’ll all be clamouring round. But if we get beat on Saturday then we’re all back to square one, we’ve lost points in the league.

“We want to win this game, but it’s pretty unlikely that we’ll win the cup because one of the big teams will keep tinkering away until the final.

“OK, Wigan did [win the FA Cup]. Wigan are in League One now. Win the league game on Saturday.

“We’ll try and win this but I want to beat Bristol City, so let’s not be under any illusion what I want to do. I can’t guarantee it, of course, doesn’t matter what I do, I can’t guarantee it.”

McCarthy is likely to continue his Capital One Cup policy of fielding a number of young players at Old Trafford, although will probably name a slightly more experienced team than faced Stevenage and Doncaster in the previous rounds.

He says the game will be a great experience and a test of character for those that get the nod.

“Of course it will be. No matter who they play and what I play it’s going to be a tough game.

“And it will be for them. We’re not going to go up there to let them have the ball and keep coming at us. We want to go and attack them.”

He says a trip such as Wednesday’s still gives him a thrill: “Yes, it does, I’m looking forward to going to Old Trafford. I’ve not had too many results there, probably none.

“But it’s still a special place to go and play, it’s one of the best clubs in the world and the stadium’s amazing.

“It’ll give me a sharp reminder of what I’d like to be doing, and that’s managing in the Premier League and let’s hope it incentivises the players as well for the rest of the season.”

Few of his squad have played at Old Trafford and several are likely to be disappointed that they won’t get the chance tomorrow, but McCarthy says there’s one way they can rectify the situation, recalling a controversy from December 2009 during his time as Wolves boss.

“Get promoted,” he said. “You might remember an incident a few years ago when I changed one or two players going to Old Trafford - 11. Actually, I didn’t, I changed 10, one was injured, which was forced upon me.

“It was nonsense actually. I believe firmly, avidly that my job as a manager is to get points for my team and if I’m playing Tottenham away, Man United away and Burnley at home and I get six points out of those three games, I reckon I’ve managed my club particularly well. So that’s what I did.

“I said to the players beforehand, I remember going in the dressing room on the Saturday, and I told them what I was going to do and they all said ‘Oh no gaffer, I want to play at Old Trafford’.

“So I said ‘Keep us up and play there next year and keep us up again and play there the year after because they won’t get relegated, let me tell you, they’ll be in the Premier League for the next 10 years, so make sure we are and then we can all play against them’.

“And that’s the same for me on Wednesday night and Saturday. Get promoted, go and play there on a regular basis, so [you can] at least play there in the league.”

He says that since the draw following the 4-1 extra-time victory over Doncaster in round two the tie has been put on the back burner, despite the illustrious opposition.

“It’s never been mentioned,” the Town boss continued. “From when it was drawn when we were coming back from Doncaster, we had a long old drive back and we mentioned it then.

“But nobody’s given it a second thought since. I haven’t, until we got the Birmingham game out of the way.”

He added: “I’ve not been preoccupied about it at all, the league games are far and away more important to me, and as they come.

“This is an important game now, but as they tick along I don’t get too far in front of myself, that’s for sure.”

He says it’s crucial that his players should try to play the game rather than the occasion: “Of course, but it’s almost impossible just to blank that out.

“We’ll travel up, we'll get taken in the coach right to the ground and you'll see the size of it. All the players know the history of it, they all know the players.

“Then they’ll go out and have their warm-up and they’ll see the surroundings, and it either inspires you or frightens you, I guess. Let’s hope it inspires our guys.”

Town have sold 4,600 tickets for the trip to Old Trafford. They will remain on sale at Planet Blue (but no longer online) until midday today and can be purchased on the day from Manchester United at their Ticket and Membership Office.

Photo: Action Images

Town4me added 06:57 - Sep 22 I really hope he sticks with most of the team that played in the previous two rounds,I don't want our best players jaded for Saturday. I really couldn't give two hoots what happens in this game, I want 3 points against Bristol city and a good performance
5

osborne added 07:10 - Sep 22 Yes, agree with that. Give the lads who got them there their chance to play. Come on the Town
2

Dissboyitfc added 07:28 - Sep 22 Well, town4me i suspect you are not going to the game? I do give a hoot along with all the others who are going to the match. I really dont understand people who dont care about results.If we go and get a result there it would be amazing and would do itfc no harm at all. Coyb
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blueherts added 07:57 - Sep 22 Not sure if Connelly played in the U21s but like to see him
1

thebeat added 08:24 - Sep 22 Totally agree with Town4me on this one. Saturday is a huge priority and with Bristol City not playing midweek we need to keep as many players as fresh ss possible. Id go with the following team. Bialkowski Emmanuel. Yorwerth Malarzcyk Parr Toure Coke Tabb Oar Pitman Murphy. Murph would play simply to get his fitness levels up.
2

Len_Brennan added 08:24 - Sep 22 We can be pretty sure that Kenlock, McDonnell & Alabi won't be playing so there'll certainly be changes from the previous round. It also seems very likely that Parr, Malarczyk, Bru & Oar will play to help their match sharpness. Wirh Tabb sent out to do the pre-match interview, he seems nailed on too. When you fill in the blanks it looks like being a strong enough side with probably Emmanuel being the only young player making the starting XI - I see Toure getting the nod over Maitland-Niles. If so that would be a useful side, that should give us value for the ticket price, while still allowing Mick to integrate some new players & play a couple of others coming back from injury.

2

PJH added 08:40 - Sep 22 I agree with what MM says,the Bristol City game is far more important as is the game at Blackburn the following week. I am going to OT but I am far more excited about going to Blackburn. A win tomorrow would be great but no injuries to our key players is more important.
5

Nazemariner added 09:07 - Sep 22 The Man Utd game is our next game, so in my mind it should be our most important game. Surely we should field our strongest team available......Isn't this the point of having a strong squad? Bart Chambers Smith Berra Parr Skuse Bru AMN Sears Fraser Murphy
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Jcarrell1 added 09:21 - Sep 22 The Bristol city game should 100% be the priority. Yes We will still field a good squad out and hope to get a good performance out of the team. This game wont need much motivating for as i bet all the players are really looking forward to playing. I expect a couple of changes to the starting line up but nothing to Drastic. Come on Town! Proud to be Blue.
2

JimmyJazz added 10:01 - Sep 22 Since we beat Doncaster - 4 league games and only 4 points gained. Get tomorrow over with
2

karls_dad added 10:27 - Sep 22 Absoluetly spot on Mick, this trip to Old Trafford is nothing more than a jolly! if we get something (unlikely) then hats off to the team, but the leauge is and must be the priority, if we get promoted we can go play there again next year, and the year after, but first lets do the gritty stuff!!
4

Cookycrew added 10:28 - Sep 22 I am going to OT & looking forward to the occasion, but feel that MM will sensbly start with Squad players but with an experienced spine down the middle + fitness opportunity for those coming back from injury. Bart Emmanual Chambers Malarczek Parr Toure Bru Tabb Maitland McGoldrick Murphy
1

essexboy added 10:35 - Sep 22 Len,spot on I agree with your comments.Saturday is the important one,but games like at Man U give the manager a chance to see the character of his squad players and also get players game time after injury.We are not expected to win at Old Trafford so anything other is a bonus.A nice lump of cash also from gate receipts.Just enjoy the game lads and keep free of injury.COYB.

3

PortmanTerrorist added 10:50 - Sep 22 We have enough quality in depth now. This should be good enough and help get some folks fit or match fit for when needed:- Bart Emmanual Yorwerth Malarczek Parr Toure Bru (max 60 mins) Tabb Oar Pittman Alabi Then Bristol City:- Bart Knudsen Smith Berra Chambers Fraser Bru Skuse AMN Sears Murphy Cup run probably over, but been positive.....as will be the 3 points !

0

PortmanTerrorist added 10:50 - Sep 22 We have enough quality in depth now. This should be good enough and help get some folks fit or match fit for when needed:- Bart Emmanual Yorwerth Malarczek Parr Toure Bru (max 60 mins) Tabb Oar Pittman Alabi Then Bristol City:- Bart Knudsen Smith Berra Chambers Fraser Bru Skuse AMN Sears Murphy Cup run probably over, but been positive.....as will be the 3 points !

0

BackTheBlues added 11:24 - Sep 22 For the first time in years we have a squad that can handle two games a week without feeling that the 'replacements' aren't good enough. I'm going tomorrow, I'd like to think we won't get spanked putting out a a mix of a second string team and some of the youngens. But with the same hand, saturday is a MUST WIN! Let's have a bit of fun, play some footie, have a go but let's not risk anybody 50/.50. Agree with the top 3 on both sides - need to win saturday - but 'beating' man u wouldn't do the club any harm!

1

Stato added 14:46 - Sep 22 It's really difficult to ask senior players like Mcgoldrick and Murphy to build up match fitness in the under 21's so for me the main priority for me is to get match fitness into the likes of Oar, Tabb & Bru. I wouldn't even put Sears on the bench but expect to see Murphy and Mcgoldrick given pitch time ahead of Saturday but expect Pittman to start.
1

Toronto_Tractor added 15:30 - Sep 22 I totally understand Mick's and many others views on resting players. However, the idea of sacrificing any game just doesnt sit right with me. If we were to get a result up there we'd remember it for years to come. Resting players also guarantees absolutely nothing for Saturday. There have been plenty of teams that have had a cup run and got promoted in the same season. If a player gets injured, that is of course disappointing... But that can happen in training too. There's 4600 town fans making the long trip, I think they deserve a good show.

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TimmyH added 15:55 - Sep 22 Totally agree - Man U will probably field a second string team,as long as we don't get thrashed I say move onto the weekend...far more important, no more injuries please!
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Dissboyitfc added 19:43 - Sep 22 Good post torront tractor, its definitely an up vote from me how i managed to down vote and up vote you i have no idea. safe journey to everyone going to old Trafford tomorrow, see you all there!....COYB
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