CUP HOLDS FEW GOOD MEMORIES FOR STEVE
Steve Simonsen isn't sure he's the perfect good luck charm as Stoke aim to arrest an appalling League Cup record in recent years.
City travel to Mansfield this evening with first-round losses in three of their last four campaigns after falling victim to Oldham (twice) and Bury. And the one exception was a second-round defeat at home to Gillingham two seasons ago to underline Stoke's wretched run in a competition heralding such different memories a couple of generations ago.
"Mansfield will be looking for a bit of a scalp tonight and we've got to make sure we're up for this one and not having any excuses," says Simonsen.
"I remember losing to Oxford and Bristol Rovers when I was at Everton, so I know exactly what it's like to go down to lower league opposition. And of course I was playing when we were knocked out in the first round at Oldham 12 months ago.
"The manager will be wanting to do well in the competition in his first season over here and it's up to us, as players, to make sure we approach things in a professional frame of mind.
"We've also got some tough League games coming up over the Bank Holiday at Crystal Palace and at home to Norwich, so a win at Mansfield will be something nice to take into those games to keep our run and confidence going."
City make the short journey to Nottinghamshire in fine fettle tonight after Dave Brammer's wonder strike made it two wins out of two for a side sharing the goals between its midfield and full-backs thus far this term.
"Yeah," chuckled Simonsen, "we've had a bit of a go at the strikers and asked: 'any danger of scoring a goal?' But to be fair to them, they are working very hard for the team.
"And it's nice to see goals coming from other areas of the team, something which didn't happen enough last season.
"I'm sure the goals will come for the strikers - and they will probably dry up at some stage for the other lads."
Simonsen's own form between the sticks could be easily overlooked as he quietly and unspectacularly continues to exude the confidence built up during his outstanding first campaign at the Britannia.
"I wanted to hit the ground running after last season," he says, "and I'm pleased with my own form so far.
"I just hope we get through this one in the first 90 minutes.
"We've only got a small squad and the last thing we want is extra-time dragging the night out when I could be back home and tucked up with the missus."
Mansfield have drawn one and lost one of their two home games this term, while Carlton Palmer's men returned with a 2-0 defeat from Saturday's trip to Peterborough.
The two clubs last met in August 1993 when a two-legged League Cup tie saw Stoke stroll through 5-3 on aggregate after a 2-2 draw at the Victoria Ground was followed by a 3-1 success at Field Mill.
City's first leg goals came through Nigel Gleghorn and Martin Carruthers in front of a crowd of 8,976, while Mark Stein (2) and Dave Regis were on the mark in front of 4,214 in the return six days later.
Those results leave Stoke with a record of five wins and one loss from their nine meetings with Mansfield in all competitions since the first in the FA Cup in January 1948.
For more previews and a match report after the match from the Stoke viewpoint, head to http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk