Watford have been the surprise package in this season's Carling Cup and they booked their place in the semi finals - and a plum tie with Liverpool - by beating Portsmouth in the week. Givemefootball's Lawrie Madden caught up with Hornets striker Bruce Dyer to discuss the season so far.
Q:YOU MUST BE HAPPY WITH THE SEMI FINAL DRAW AGAINST LIVERPOOL?
A:I am well happy with the draw. We wanted to stay away from Chelsea and Manchester United. Before the games I would have liked either Liverpool or Arsenal, but Arsenal got knocked out so Liverpool is what I wanted.
Q:WHAT ABOUT PLAYING OVER TWO LEGS?
A:In the cup it is different, and two legs will make a difference. It will make it harder but I suppose it depends as well on what team Liverpool put out; whether it is a young team or the full squad.
Q:DO YOU MIND PLAYING THE AWAY LEG FIRST?
A:All our major success has come at home so that will be different but the main thing is to try and make sure that the second tie is alive. The chairman has a big smile on his face but we have to put the game on hold for five or six weeks.
Q:IS THIS THE FURTHEST YOU HAVE GONE IN CUP COMPETITIONS?
A:No. I got to this stage with Crystal Palace and funnily enough we played Liverpool at this stage and lost and they went onto win it. But it is something you dream about and we are very close to fulfilling the dream of playing in a final.
Q:WHAT DO YOU PUT YOUR SUCCESS IN THE CUP DOWN TO?
A:We have a new fitness coach which has improved us a lot. We have brought in a couple of players who have done well and we work hard for each other, and have a good mixture of youth and experience.
Q:AS A STRIKER DO YOU SET YOURSELF ANY GOAL TARGETS?
A:Yes I do. I try and score more goals than last season. I had an 'off' season and scored only three goals last term so I have done better already. I started slowly this time but in the last few weeks my season has turned around. As strikers it sometimes happens but I have been given the opportunity and I believe that what you put in you will get out and that it has it is going.
Q:CAN WATFORD CHALLENGE FOR PROMOTION?
A:Well, we are unbeaten in seven games and haven't lost but we have drawn a lot. So that shows we have been consistent. We need to turn some of those draws into wins. We have drawn seven games and if we had won a few of them we would be third in the table. That's the difference and what we have to work on.
