Monday 5th January 2009
Cisse wants Rovers next
Sunderland striker Djibril Cisse is hoping to meet Blackburn instead of Blyth Spartans in the next round of the FA Cup.
The fourth-round draw paired the Black Cats with the winners of Monday night's third-round tie between Sam Allardyce’s Premier League side and Blue Square North team Blyth, who meet at Croft Park.Sunderland will be at home against the victors and Cisse – who scored as the Wearsiders beat Bolton 2-1 in the third round at the weekend – hopes there will be no cup shock this evening.
He would much rather face a side who Sunderland know well – having been knocked out of the Carling Cup by Rovers in November, but then taking four points off the Lancastrians in the league – than take a journey into the unknown with a non-league side.
Cisse, speaking before yesterday’s draw, said: “For me, it is better to play a Premier League team because you know what you are going to get.
“If you get a smaller team then you don’t know so much about them and they really want to beat you. It is more difficult to play them than a Premier League team.
“It was important for us to go into the next round and better for us to play at home again because we’re stronger at home.
“Of course, the league is the main thing for us, but every win is important, so we were very happy to beat Bolton and stay in the competition.”
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