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As Hull City prepare to launch another Cup assault – beginning at West Brom tonight – Liam Rosenior says the Tigers have got the appetite for another Wembley showdown.
Famously reaching their first ever FA Cup final last season, albeit ending in defeat to Arsenal, City are hungry for more success in the sideshows of the Premier League.
With squad strength at its best for a number of years, Steve Bruce hopes City's impressive transfer deadline day signings can give his side a chance of competing in the league and cup competitions.
Rosenior told the Daily Star ahead of tonight's Capital One Cup clash: "When you see how much it meant to the city that we'd made it to a major cup final, it gives you motivation to do it again.
"What helps us even more this year is the size and quality of the squad. The manager can make 15 changes and we still have a team more than capable of going to West Brom and getting a result.
"It all bodes well for the future, not only in the league but in the cup competitions, which we'll be taking very seriously this season."Irvine not afraid to ring changesAlan Irvine isn't a man to be messed with. He insists he is ready to make the big decisions after axing Swedish defender Jonas Olsson from his starting line-up.
Ahead of tonight's visit of the Tigers to the Hawthorns, the Baggies boss has warned any under-performing players they face being dropped.
In particular, Olsson's mistakes had cost goals against Swansea and Everton, and he was replaced by Joleon Lescott in the 1-0 Premier League win at Tottenham.
"It wasn't easy telling Jonas what I intended to do," he told the West Brom's official website.
"I have huge respect for him. He is a top professional and a very, very good player, but he has made a couple of uncharacteristic mistakes which have proved costly in the last couple of games.
"I have a full range of choices for the first time and I had to look a couple of people in the eye and tell them they were not playing. It is never pleasant but it is part of the job.
"And you can be absolutely certain that Jonas will remain a very important member of the squad."Lampard on bookies' radar to strike again
Following his astounding goal against former side Chelsea at the weekend, Manchester City star Frank Lampard has been tipped once again to score this weekend when the Sky Blues visit the KC Stadium.
Saturday's fixture is the first time the Tigers will face Premier League royalty this campaign, and Lampard is an 11/4 shot with Ladbrokes to find the back of the net at any time during the match.
Fans will be praying he has an off-day, but we have to admit it looks a tempting price given that Lamps has downed the Tigers on more than one occasion throughout his career. Just two of his 211 Chelsea goals came against Steve Bruce's side, but on both occasions his team went on to win to nil, beating the Tigers 2-0 in August last year and 3-0 in October 2008.Rhodes goal-scoring form 'no surprise'Jordan Rhodes, who looked almost certain to join Hull City this summer until a late Blackburn U-turn, hasn't surprised anyone at Rovers with his goal-scoring exploits this season.
City tabled an offer of in excess of £10m for the 24-year-old, which was turned down by the Championship outfit.
And Rovers winger Ben Marshall has told the Lancashire Telegraph that Rhodes wasn't fazed by the rumours and simply got on with his football, scoring four goals in five games.
Marshall said: "Jordan's the kind of lad who doesn't let anything bother him, he just gets on with it.
"He's just a down-to-earth lad. He didn't go anywhere so he's just got on with it and done his job.
"Of course it was a massive boost to keep him – we all didn't want him to go.
"He's here now so hopefully he can push on keep getting the goals."Barlow on move again, this time to Cleethorpes
One-time Hull City starlet Jack Barlow is on the move again after joining Cleethorpes Town.
The midfielder made the headlines at the age of 15, when the Tigers paid £100,000 for his services, but he failed to settle at the KC Stadium.
He moved to Boston United in the summer on a one-year deal, but the Grimsby-born player struggled to make any sort of mark with the Pilgrims.
Now, he has seen his contract at the Jakemans Stadium terminated by mutual consent – after playing just nine minutes of competitive football in one substitute appearance.
A club spokesman for Boston said: "He moves on with the best wishes of everybody at Boston United."Development squad make bright start in Cup campaign
And finally, Hull City's development squad were thankful for a fruitful first-half display after overcoming Gateshead 2-1 at North Ferriby last night.
Goals from Karim Rossi and Jonathan Margetts secured the victory, before Carl Finnigan pulled one back for the North East visitors.
For the full match report, click here.
