Duberry: "Promotion is the priority.'

Anthony Smith • Published 30 Dec 2008 17:00 0 Comments

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MICHAEL Duberry is putting promotion to the Premier League above reaching an FA Cup final.

Reading begin their cup campaign this Saturday against last season's finalist Cardiff City in a third round tie at Ninian Park.

The Bluebirds, the only club outside England to win the cup following their 1927 triumph, proved that clubs outside the top division can go all the way, even though they eventually lost to Portsmouth.

But Duberry, who was part of Chelsea's FA Cup winning squad in 1997, admits the league remains the overriding priority for the Royals.

He argued: "We've seen a lot of good cup runs from teams outside the Premier League recently. If you get on a run, avoid the big teams and play well on your day, there is a path to Wembley.

"The cup has been nice to me. I never played in a final through injury but I've been at a club that's won it so I know what winning it is like.

"Every boy's dream is to get to Wembley. We all grew up watching the television as they follow the team coach from the hotel to the ground. Everyone wants to say they gave played in an FA Cup final.

"But if you look at the priorities of any player, what do you do? The FA Cup may give you European glory but everyone wants to play in the top flight next season, that is the goal.

"Would I take Premier League football over an FA Cup final? Yes I would."

Royals boss Steve Coppell and his Cardiff counterpart Dave Jones are likely to make major changes on the day.

There has been little between the sides when they have met in the Championship this season following a 2-2 draw at Ninian Park in November and the bad-tempered 1-1 draw at Madejski Stadium on Boxing Day.

However, Duberry insisted: "We've had two incident-filled games. We're at their place this time but our feelings are no stronger towards Cardiff than anyone else, they're just another rival team.

"We want to win but we think no more of them than we do Wolves, Birmingham or Bristol City."

And he added: "You can't relax, everyone wants to progress in the FA Cup. You take it one game at a time and hope your name is in the hat for the next round and this game is no different.

"We play another Championship side so maybe there will be a bit of cat-and-mouse between the managers in terms of whether they play their strongest team. But whatever 11 players we put out it will be a strong team.

"I want to play every game so I will gladly play. But it's down to the manager and how he's looking at the fixtures ahead.

"But I don't think he'll name the team for a while in case some start relaxing for New Year's Eve."

Meanwhile, Cardiff City striker Jay Bothroyd has stuck the boot into Reading ahead of Saturday's game.

The Bluebirds star suggested : "I don't think they are the greatest team. They've got a rubbish pitch, just hump the ball into corners and get around it. If anyone was trying to play football, it was us.

"We got a point from the (Boxing Day) match, but sense it was more like two lost.

"When Reading played us at our ground a few weeks ago we played them off the park. Even their own manager said they were lucky.

"We meet them again in the FA Cup but out eyes are very much on promotion to the Premiership."

This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 30 Dec 08

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