Richmond Spurs: 'Best Yet' Carling Cup ManCity 0

Courtesy of Official Site-

Juande Ramos had no hesitation in describing our Carling Cup quarter-final win
at City as the best display under his charge so far.
Tuesday night's 2-0
triumph was a display full of character, determination and no little skill
as we overcame losing Didier Zokora as early as the 21st minute to a
controversial red card, forcing Juande into a tactical switch and leaving us
with the prospect of facing a City side with a home record of played 10, won 10
going into the game with 10 men for 70 minutes. Thankfully, we were already 1-0
up by then as Jermain Defoe converted Aaron Lennon’s cross in the fifth minute.
JD had to be sacrificed following the sending off with Teemu Tainio coming in at
right-back and Pascal Chimbonda switching to central defence. The lads relished
the challenge and appeared determined that nothing was going to stand between
them and another shot at a Wembley final. When we were breached, Paul Robinson
stood firm. He produced arguably his best save of the season to tip over Darius
Vassell’s point-blank header and, with the score still 1-0, matched that with
another reaction stop to palm away Rolando Bianchi’s header, Younes Kaboul
hacking the rebound off the line. We wrapped it up in the 82nd minute when the
outstanding Dimitar Berbatov found Jamie O’Hara, he picked out Steed Malbranque
and the Frenchman slotted provided the finish. The victory – our third on the
trot – booked a place in the semi-finals of the competition for the
second-successive year and made it one defeat in 11 games since Juande took
up his Head Coach role.“It’s a positive result and sets us up for the rest of
the season,” said Juande. “To win away from home in a cup tie against a team
like Manchester City, who are up there in the league at the moment and on a good
run of form at home, having been one man down after 20 minutes, it’s something
really positive. “We had to work extra hard after being down to 10 men to make
up for having that inferior number. We ended up with just rewards for our
efforts and the result will stand us in good stead in terms of the mindset of
the lads. “Paul Robinson did his job and I’d like to give credit to the rest of
the side. The players who are meant to score goals found the net and everyone
else on the pitch worked so hard, particularly the midfield.” As for the red
card – a decision that was at the least harsh, as Didier appeared to win the
ball and make very little contact with Elano – Juande made clear his thoughts.
“It was absolutely undeserved, unjust and it wasn’t a sending off, no way. We
then had to pay the penalty of being a man down.”