Eddie Howe has promised to “attack” tonight’s FA Cup quarter-final at Man City, having “no doubt” that we have what it takes to beat Pep Guardiola’s side.
We beat City 1-0 during our run to the Carabao Cup quarter-finals and lost narrowly in the Premier League thanks to their stoppage-time winner at St James’ Park.
Howe believe we are facing the “best team in the country” and admits our defensive resilience must be better after conceding three cheap goals at Chelsea on Monday, but he’s vowed to “have a right go” and has full belief “we can do it” ahead of tonight’s 5.30pm kick-off live on BBC One.
Speaking to the press ahead of the match, Howe said: “We’ll have a right go. We’ll attack it and we’ll try to progress into the next round. We can do it. I’ve got no doubt about that.
“Of course we have to get our game plan right and execute it to the highest level but we go there in a positive mood.
“We are still in the hunt for Europe (in the league). This is a one off. We will give everything we can to get through.
“We want to experience Wembley (again) and an FA Cup semi-final. If we can push through, we are very close to where we want to be, which is the finals of major cup competitions.
“We have been in the game long enough to know that anything can happen. This is a cup competition that we are very serious about. We have been from the start. We certainly aren’t fatalistic. We are absolutely focused on trying to get through to the next round and the carrot is there for both sides to get through to Wembley. There can be no greater motivation than that.
“We have to get the game plan right. We have to produce a much better performance than we did against Chelsea in every aspect, but I back us to do so.”
