Ward To Field Strongest Side Against Swans

Colchester United boss John Ward says he'll field his strongest 11 today as he targets an FA Cup upset against the Swans this afternoon.

It'll be only his second visit to the Liberty Stadium and he's hoping he can have similar good fortune today as his previous visit, when his Cheltenham Town side beat the Swans 2-1 on the opening day of the 2006/2007 season.

Ward said:

"The Liberty is a really good place to go and a really good experience for myself, the players and the supporters that can make that journey,"

"They`ve moved out of the Vetch Field which many of them remember fondly and the rest of us are thankful is gone! It was a horrible place to go as a visiting manager or player.

"But I`ve been to the new stadium once, I took Cheltenham there on the opening day of the season and we managed to win 2-1 against all the odds because we`d just managed to get promoted and we were the little club.

"Kay got a goal that day so that`s a nice memory for me and we`ll try to make it a good day again.

"But Swansea are a big club and they`re looking to get into the top league in the country which would be fantastic.

Ward also said that he's targeting an FA Cup upset and will name his strongest team to try and do just that:

"This is the kind of game which nobody knows is taking place unless we win.

"It`s exciting for us because there is nothing to lose and everything to go for.

"If we come up short then so be it, we`ll know we`ve got a lot to do, but we could match them - why not? If we were to play Swansea 10 times we would probably get beat maybe eight or nine of them, but on the one occasion we might give them a game, find them on an off day and us on a really good day and we could take that victory.

"We`re not likely to win the FA Cup, I don`t think people will deem me as miserable by saying that.

"But the experience of going to Swansea doesn`t stop me wanting to put the best side out and trying to win the game.

"The team I put out will be the strongest one I think we can put out because this could be a good day for this football club."

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