Di Canio spat helped us win, says Roeder

Glenn Roeder, the West Ham manager, has defended Paolo Di Canio and Tomas Repka after they argued on the pitch during Tuesday night's second-round Worthington Cup defeat of Chesterfield on penalties.

Di Canio, the West Ham captain, first berated Sebastian Schemmel following Chesterfield's equaliser. More noticeably, the temperamental Italian became embroiled in a heated exchange of views with Repka after the whistle had sounded to signal the end of normal time.

"It shows the players do have feelings and that they want to win" said Roeder. "I would rather see that than players with their heads down and not wanting to go out for another 30 minutes of football.

"From my point of view, they got it out of their system and it sharpened their minds for the extra period. It shows they love their football. I hope people don't criticise them for it and don't make a big issue out of it because that's not what it was. It was just two passionate people wanting to win a game of football."

The Hammers, bottom of the Premiership, were eventually taken all the way by the Second Division Spireites, with Di Canio taking the first penalty in a 5-4 shoot-out win after the match had ended 1-1 after extra time.

Di Canio has been warned by the Football Association following a provocative goal during his side's 3-2 win at Chelsea on Saturday. "The FA has spoken to representatives of West Ham about the matter and Paolo will be advised as to his future conduct," a statement read. "The matter is now closed."

Roeder has branded as "disgraceful" clubs who refuse to field their strongest line-ups for the Worthington Cup, and particularly those not involved in European competition.

There is a Uefa Cup place at stake for the winners, and Roeder said: "It's particularly disgraceful if companies are putting money into a competition and you are not putting out your best team on the night. The competition deserves that.

"I can understand teams like Manchester United and Arsenal not doing it because of their Champions' League commitments, but you saw what happened to Blackburn last season, so I will always field my best team throughout the tournament."

Arguing the other view was the Middlesbrough manager, Steve McClaren, whose reserve side romped to a 4-1 win at Brentford in their second-round tie on Tuesday night.

"When I look at the next round, we have got Newcastle on the Monday, the Worthington Cup on the Wednesday and Liverpool on the Saturday," McClaren said. "You have got to have a big squad and use it."

McClaren's approach received support from an unexpected source: the Brentford manager, Wally Downes, who revealed he was far from insulted by Boro fielding a second-string side.

"Not in the least. I was encouraged by it," he said. "I thought it would have given us more of a chance, but the side they put out could probably hold its own in the Premiership. Their movement was terrific. We got a bit of a chasing."