Interviews

Potter: Cup performances can breed confidence

Albion hoping to make Carabao Cup progress against Preston tonight.

By Bruce Talbot • 23 September 2020

By Craig Doyle
Albion boss Graham Potter gives instructions from the technical area at St James' Park.

The personnel may have been totally different, but head coach Graham Potter believes Albion’s performance against Portsmouth in last week’s Carabao Cup tie was a big factor in Sunday’s Premier League win over Newcastle.

And the head coach is hoping the feelgood feeling carries on tonight when Albion return to Carabao Cup action against Preston.

Potter said, "The week we had was a major factor in the performance against Newcastle.

“As a group we reacted well from Chelsea, we recognised what we did well and where we needed to improve. The guys that played in that game then trained well and those that played produced a good performance against Portsmouth.

By James Boardman
Jahanbakhsh celebrates his brilliant strike against Portsmouth.

“Then there was a nice feeling within the group because people are pushing each other in a good way. There is friendly and healthy competition and I think that helped set up the game and performance against Newcastle.”

After beating Pompey 4-0, Albion face a step up tonight when they take on a Preston North End side who narrowly missed out on the Championship play-offs last season.

Potter added, “We want to go to Preston and play well. With the greatest respect to Portsmouth it's another step up. I know [manager] Alex Neil's teams well, they are organised, tactically very strong, experienced and they play fast, aggressive football.

“It’s another step up but that's what you expect from a competition where you can progress."

Supporters can watch tonight's game live with a £10 match pass on CarabaoCup.live

07:11

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Potter's Preston press conference