Grimsby Boss: "The Pressure Is Not Off Souness"

Last updated : 26 October 2005 By Footy Mad - Editor

Grimsby manager Russell Slade admits beating Newcastle tonight would be "something special" but insists winning promotion remains his overriding objective. Newcastle's squad of multi-million pound talent arrive at Blundell Park for the Carling Cup third-round clash aiming to avoid the humiliation suffered by Tottenham in the previous round.

As a manager of Notts County, Slade beat Tottenham in the League Cup in 1994, and with non-League Scarborough, he went close to dumping Chelsea out of the FA Cup two years ago. But while the prospect of sentencing Graeme Souness' side to the same fate as Tottenham excites Slade, the Grimsby boss is keen to stress that promotion is his primary aim.

He said: "I've had some great memories in cup competitions, and while beating Newcastle would be something special, promotion is far more important to Grimsby Town. When I arrived here last year the club was in need of some major rebuilding. We only had four senior players left and I knew then I had a massive job on my hands.

"The club had been relegated two years on the trot, but we've completely turned things around and hopefully we can go up this season. If we play like we did in the home defeat to Yeovil on Saturday tonight then we'll be humiliated. Graeme Souness will have his side up for the game because he's been a winner right the way throughout his career and he simply hates losing.

"But the pressure is all on them because they are the Premiership club."