Bristol City assistant manager Dean Holden spoke of a ‘bubbling’ dressing room as the side took a second Premier League scalp in this year’s EFL Cup.
Hosting Mark Hughes’ Stoke City at Ashton Gate for the third round tie, goals from Famara Diedhiou and Matty Taylor gave us the two nil victory, and built on our second round victory over Watford.
It also means we are through to the fourth round of the competition for the first time since the late 1980’s.
Speaking to the Official Site as he met with the media post game, Holden was clearly delighted with the efforts on the night and he knew the players had taken another good lift from the performance and the win.
‘Right from the first minute, there was passion out there and there was good quality all over the pitch. We had to be aggressive and not let them settle. We`ve created chance after chance and it was really pleasing. When called upon, Steely pulled off some great saves. We felt we deserved to be ahead at half-time but the message was to keep doing what we had been doing. When the chances came, we needed to be clinical.’
As for the second half and our breakthrough, he went on to say.
‘Matty got himself in there and Fam has gambled to head in the rebound. The good thing about Matty`s goal is that once he got in there, he did what he always does in training. It was a great finish. It was a great reaction from the lads on the pitch when Matty scored and the bench as well. He`s done so well to come back from the injury and it was almost like when an England player scores a century in cricket; everyone was up to applaud. He`s a great character and the lads love him to bits.’
Adding with nine changes made to the starting line following victory over Derby County.
‘The dressing room is bubbling with enthusiasm and energy, just like the performance on the pitch. The lads who came in were keen to impress and stake a claim. They made six team changes from the weekend and we forced them to alter to a shape they hadn`t been playing recently. The lads aren`t getting carried away. The gaffer has just said well done to them and they will be back in tomorrow morning to recover and get ready for Norwich.’
With the fourth round draw taking place later this evening he opted for Manchester United again, although in reality he didn’t really care – he just wanted to praise the fans.
‘It was a lesser crowd from the weekend but it didn`t sound like. The singing corner never stopped, they`ve made a fantastic difference this season and they`re getting the stadium going. Who do we want in the next round? Well I said last time that I wanted Manchester United at Old Trafford so I`ll say it again. Without being churlish, we don`t mind who we get because we don`t fear anyone at the moment.’
