Glenn: No Home Worries

Glenn Roeder is looking forward to what he hopes will be a winning start to 2003 in the FA Cup against Nottingham Forest - and he has no worries about the game being played on home turf.

"It is nice to have a home tie - all you can ask for in a cup competition is to be drawn at home and we have been granted that wish with a very attractive tie against Nottingham Forest," says Glenn.

"They play very good football, they are not a physical team, and I don't think they will come and try and mix it with us.

"It is good to know you are going to play a team that likes to get the ball down, like ourselves, make passes, and from that create opportunities."

It is the 13th attempt of the season at that elusive home win and Glenn adds:

"It is the first game at home in the new year and we want to get it off to a winning start at Upton Park.

"It is a massive day for Nottingham Forest who have got some young players, I am sure they will rise to the occasion and it will be a very good game.

"They have one player, Dawson, that the whole country is looking at at the moment, and he has been in the U21s and then asked to train with the seniors.

"It will be an opportunity for us to see him play; he is a player we have certainly watched but then every club in the Premiership has - and I guess his price tag already would be exceedingly high.

"We wouldn't be able to get involved but it is good to be aware of what good young English talent is around in the English first, second, and third divisions.

"Our scouting system is very good and we cover all these games on a regular basis to keep a look out for young players, but Dawson has made such an impression quickly he would be a very expensive buy for somebody - not that I am trying to get him sold because I don't think Paul Hart would be particularly pleased by that!

"I am just commenting on the talent of the young player, and I am sure Paul Hart wants to keep him at Nottingham Forest and into the Premiership next year.

"It is a big day for all their players, an opportunity to play at Upton Park, but it is an big game for us because we want to kick off 2003 with a home victory.

"We have done enough, not in every game, but in a lot of them, to have turned draws or even defeats - in the case of Southampton - into winning performances.

"It is about time we turned the screw sufficiently hard to take our chances and win a game at Upton Park."