Di Canio warns Carlisle to be afraid (From Swindon Advertiser)

SWINDON TOWN: Di Canio warns Carlisle to be afraid

6:00am Friday 4th January 2013 in Sport By Sam Morshead

Swindon Town boss Paolo Di Canio

PAOLO Di Canio has said Carlisle have something to be worried about when they make the long trip to Swindon Town this weekend.

Di Canio’s men go into the clash with the Cumbrians off the back of successive 5-0 home victories, including one over table-topping Tranmere.

While telling his players not to lose track of reality in their preparations for the game, the Italian emphasised that Town’s form in recent weeks would be likely to send a shiver down any team’s spine in the build-up to a game.

He said: “My job is to let the players keep fit and on full flow because you can see the atmopshere.

“It’s very positive but sometimes it can be too positive.

“At the moment everything is okay and we are looking forward to the next game.

“When you’re a footballer you think you can do a good job even against Barcelona. You think you can play more with your instinct. Any individuals can think they are better than their opponents and deserve more.

“I can remember when I was younger when I played against Man United I thought for an instant I deserved to play there.

“They lost their last game and we are coming from a very good run.

“I don’t want to say worried because worried is a very hard word but they will think they have to go here and do well because they can lose and lose very badly because we are a good team.

“I don’t know them. Sometimes when I go play in a place when there is a team who are on a good run I am not worried and I tell my players ‘listen, be careful because this is a team that can damage us if we are not focused’.

“I imagine that Carlisle, against us, away from home, after they’ve seen the last few results we’ve had, can be worried in my opinion.

“We have to confirm their worry by playing our football.

“It would be fantastic for them to get a result against the best side at this moment in the season away from home.”

In the corresponding League One clash between the sides at Brunton Park in September, Town twice came from behind to secure a 2-2 draw.

The match gave Di Canio enough evidence to suggest his team should have enough to get past Carlisle tomorrow.

“We conceded two chances, two goals because we weren’t focused completely,” he said.

“The goals were good strikes but they weren’t unstoppable. It was a strange game but it was the first time we reacted, came back and drew.

“During that game it was clear we had more chances than them to win.

“Now is a different game because we have changed a bit, they have changed a few players and they play in a different way, but approximately we know them and especially the same players.

“We can damage them, we can damage any side if we are on our day.”

Swindon will be without Jay McEveley and Miles Storey through knee injuries, while Carlisle will be missing Danny Cadamarteri and Paul Thirwell.