No Tempting Fate
John Ward
By Scott Cooper
May 18 2003
Wolves ensured they did not tempt fate when it came to making arrangements for Cardiff. No hotels or Travel Club coaches were booked for Cardiff until the final whistle blew at the Madejski Stadium on Wednesday.
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No Tempting Fate |
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Author: Scott Cooper Wolves ensured they did not tempt fate when it came to making arrangements for Cardiff. No hotels or Travel Club coaches were booked for Cardiff until the final whistle blew at the Madejski Stadium on Wednesday. After last years collapse officials at Wolves made no arrangements for Cardiff until` the place in the Play-Off final was confirmed. It was believed that Wolves had booked Promotion Party`s and Players Holidays well before the end of last season however Wolves have learnt to never temp fate after our Rivals nipped in to pip us to Promotion. In an interview to IC Birmingham Wolves coach John Ward insisted Wolves had learnt from last year and left everything until` Wolves place in Cardiff was confirmed.
“We’ve taken the old cliché ‘one game at a time’ to its extreme,” said Ward. “It’s been step by step all the way. We haven’t been looking any further than the game in front of us. “And that extends to off the field too. You won’t find anyone talking about what we’re going to be doing this time. “We didn’t even book a hotel in Cardiff until we knew we were going to be in the final. Obviously, we planned ahead because we knew we could make the final, but only after the Reading game did we press on and get things arranged. “Also, we didn’t make arrangements to send anyone to watch the Sheffield-Forest game before we knew what we had done at Reading. Of course, once we reached the final, we got in touch the next day and had people there watching the game. “We think this is the best way to do it. We are constantly telling ourselves that we haven’t won anything yet although it’s been a great achievement to get to the final. “Last year, certain plans were in place and we don’t want to get caught up in any of that this time. We know the final is going to be tough - anyone who watched Sheffield come back against Forest knows that.” Sheffield United manager Neil Warnock was glowing in praise for Dave Jones, but many people were unsure what to make of the comments from the cocky United Manager. “I don’t think there was any sort of kidology there. I’ve known Neil for a while and I think he meant it,” said Ward. “They’re not great mates as such, but there is respect there. I think Neil recognises what Dave has gone through in his life and the fact that he has now taken Wolves to this final. “We would return that respect to Sheffield because of their cup pedigree and this, after all, is a knockout competition now. “But we know what the fans expect of Wolves and neither Dave nor I would have it any other way. It’s better than being at a club with no expectations. “All Dave tells the players is ‘embrace the expectation, don’t fear it’ and we hope we can do that this time.”
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