Dillon: Bring 'Em On!

Last updated : 29 October 2003 By Rob Cooper
Steve Coppell's right-hand man last night admitted that he wants to play a top Premiership side in the next round of the cup.

Reading booked their place in the last sixteen courtesy of Nicky Forster's 83rd minute header which saw off the valiant Huddersfield Town in front of an 11,892 strong crowd at the Madejski Stadium.

The Terriers had already claimed two Division One scalps in this year's competition but the Royals were not to be their third.

So it will be Reading who go into the hat for tonight's fourth round draw and Dillon is hoping for more lofty opposition in the next round. The Madejski Stadium outfit have played lowly Boston, Oxford and Huddersfield in this year's competition.

Failing a draw against one of the top Premiership teams, Dillon wouldn't mind playing alan pardew's West Ham United at home either.

"Chelsea at home, Arsenal at home, Man United at home, Tottenham at home, West Ham at home - any of them," commented Dillon when asked by Reading World who he would like in the next round.

The Royals kept a clean sheet last night for the first time since August, although the opposition were Huddersfield at least the defence's dreadful run came to an end.


Perhaps it was fitting that that unwanted run should come to an end on the night that both players and supporters remembered Reading goalkeeping legend Steve Death who sadly passed away at the weekend.

Commenting on the clean sheet, Dillon added: "Huddersfield only had one shot and target and we kept a clean sheet. It was a very good performance and it's nice not to concede.

"Huddersfield were defensive and until after our goal they never caused us any problems. Marcus was never troubled."

Meanwhile, boss Steve Coppell paid tribute to the efforts of the visitors during his post match comments.

"I thought we did alright," he suggested. "It's always difficult when a team is as well prepared as Huddersfield had been."

"Huddersfield's organisation was terrific, but the object of the match was to get into the hat for the next round, and we've done that.

"We were always looking to be progressive, and some of our build-up play was a bit chancy, but they hardly had a shot and I am well pleased with how we went about things on a difficult occasion."

Elsewhere, Man Utd progressed to the next round thanks to a last gasp extra time goal from Eric Djemba-Djemba at troubled Leeds United. Arsenal also made it through to the next round but they needed penalties to defeat Rotherham (by nine goals to eight) at Highbury.

Crystal Palace are the only other Nationwide League team who have booked their place in round four. Steve Kember's side were 3-1 winners at Bloomfield. However, Wigan, Portsmouth and West Ham could ensure the First Division has a sizeable representation in the fourth round of matches if they overcome their respective opponents tonight.