GOOD evening everyone and welcome along for this evening's Carling Cup third round tie against Blackpool.

I want to give a big welcome to everyone from Blackpool, particularly as we all know there will always be a close connection between the two clubs because of one Sir Stanley Matthews.

I've also got a soft spot for Ian Holloway, a great lad I've known since he was 12, and no-one is happier than me to see him back in the game.

Ian spent a long time out of frontline football after leaving Leicester in May 2008 and I just hope the rest has done him good.

He's a true footballing nut and a great family man. Now I hope he concentrates fully on what he's best at, managing a football club and being a wonderful father.

Ask any manager and he'll tell you it's a full-time occupation and so there is little or no time for peripheral activities.

Maybe Ian fell into the trap previously of thinking he could do more than he really could with his media commitments, writing his autobiography and what not.

I've always thought the best time to write your life story is when you've finished working, not before you've even got into top gear, but I suppose that's the way of the world these days.

Ian has clearly brought his influence to bear early up at Bloomfield Road and they've just picked up some magnificent results, including a terrific home win over Newcastle last week.

So I expect them to come here full of confidence and hell bent on causing a cup upset against us.

There's certainly no way we can afford to even think we can take things easy against a lower-division club, as we found in the last round when Orient took us to extra time.

Again, I will be giving a chance to those players who haven't seen much action so far for us this season.

But I will still be putting out a team I believe can give us the result we want.

Tonight could be the first chance for many of you to see Diego Arismendi, our summer signing all the way from Uruguay.

I know there were those out there who said I would never buy a foreigner from Europe, never mind South America, but I always maintained I would take any player as long as I was satisifed they were good value for this football club.

I trust you will give young Diego a warm Potteries welcome because the lad is a long way from home and we must all do our bit to help him settle.

Like the other new lads, he's been a joy to work with around the training ground and has so far shown just the kind of attitude we demand and expect at this football club.

There is bound to be an air of disappointment after losing that equaliser so late at Bolton on Saturday, especially as it looked for all the world as though we'd get the win we deserved.

But those are the kind of knocks you have to take in this game, particularly in the Premier League, and we will soon have that swilled out of our system.

But tonight it's all about the Carling Cup and I know you'll do your bit from the sidelines to try and get us into the next round and on our way for another good run in this competition.

Please give the lads your best,

TONY