Carlisle manager would prefer points to prizes

It is tempting to say that Roddy Collins is being a typical killjoy manager when he says he would rather have 15 league points than lead out Carlisle United in tomorrow's LDV Vans Trophy final but as the man charged with keeping the Cumbrians out of the Nationwide Conference his sentiments attract some sympathy.

With the bottom two in the Third Division due to drop out this season, Carlisle are one point outside the danger area with seven matches left. More than 13,000 Carlisle supporters will be present at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, but for all the excitement the occasion will generate, Collins knows where his priorities lie.

"We are in a big cup final, which makes us the envy of most clubs in the Second and Third Divisions," he said. "We have got there after winning five games in the competition – but I'd have preferred 15 league points from those five games."

What's more, his side start as considerable underdogs against a Bristol City team with a place in the First Division in their sights if their recent league form can be maintained.

City, who expect to have 40,000 fans cheering for them, have an injury doubt over goalkeeper Steve Phillips but manager Danny Wilson's main problems are over selection. He must choose four defenders from Louis Carey, Tony Butler, Danny Coles, Mickey Bell and Matthew Hill, while Aaron Brown and the veteran playmaker Brian Tinnion both have strong claims to be on the left side of midfield.

Brian Shelley is set to replace the suspended Mark Birch at right-back in Carlisle's only change from the side that drew 0-0 at Oxford in midweek.

Impartiality will be cast aside by two of the more recognisable members of tomorrow's audience: Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore is a life-long Bristol City fan while the former Football League secretary David Dent has followed Carlisle since he was appointed club secretary in 1960 at the age of 23.