SAM Allardyce today admitted it will be tough to prepare his players for Wednesday night's First Division trip to Manchester City. Huddersfield's draw on Saturday means Wanderers will move to within four points of the Terriers and a play-off place with victory in their game in hand at Maine Road.

And with a potentially crunch visit to Huddersfield to come there could still be plenty of life left in Wanderers' league campaign.

But first they must overcome the heartache of yesterday's semi-final setback and produce the same spirited performance on Wednesday which stunned Villa.

Allardyce summed up the size of the task he and his side face at Maine Road when he conceded: "It is going to be difficult to pick the players up because we have missed out in two semi finals this season and that could take its toll.

"I am sure that Joe (Royle) will have been rubbing his hands when he saw us go into extra time.

"We will have a rest and check on players' injuries because there were one or two of them with knocks and pulls. But I hope to be able to put out the same side on Wednesday."

Chairman Phil Gartside believes the City game will bring the right response from a Wanderers team he insisted made amends with yesterday's titanic effort for failing to perform in last May's play-off final defeat by Watford. "Manchester City is a good game to have on Wednesday night after this," he predicted.

"I just hope the team can shake off the few knocks that they have.

"This performance at Wembley has laid the ghost of Watford but that is no consolation when you are as disappointed as we are.

"We know we should have won the game. The players who played badly against Watford played out of their skins and I am proud of them all.

"I never felt worried about it in open play and when Eidur got round the back and played it back for Dean Holdsworth it was perfect. Nine times out of 10 that would have been a goal."

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