'We'll Adopt The Same Approach' - Jones
stokecityfc.co.uk
KENWYNE JONES is confident Stoke City won't let the occasion get the better of them when they take on Bolton in the FA Cup Semi-Final on Sunday.
City have never reached the final of arguably the world's best domestic cup competition in their 148 year long history; a statistic they are eager to rectify in this weekend's showpiece occasion at Wembley Stadium when they will be roared on by 34,000 fans.
Whilst Jones admits the players are desperate to write themselves into the history books, he says it is vital to approach the game in exactly the same way as they would any other match.
"It is my first semi-final and the Club's first in 39 years, so obviously we are all really looking forward to it," said the Trinidad and Tobago international. "It's going to be my first game at Wembley Stadium, but it is more about the game than the occasion.
"We know what is at stake, and we know that the atmosphere in the stadium is going to be unbelievable. We have to just look at it in the same way as we would any other week. It is Stoke v Bolton.
"They have had a fantastic season, and so have we, so it will be about whoever can go out there and be the best team on the day. We have acquitted ourselves well this year so we will be going there confident."
The former Sunderland star was rewarded for his impressive run of form on Saturday by grabbing his first goal in 13 outings.
The striker has played a key role in the Potters campaign thus far having hit the back of the net eight times, and he says he is hoping that remains the case by grabbing a few more goals before the season draws to its climax in under six weeks time.
"It's been a long time coming," he said following the 3-2 defeat at Tottenham. "My performances have been pretty decent for a while, it is just that I haven't been getting the chances to score. I was part of making goals and not scoring them, but thankfully I got one here.
"Helping make goals is not necessarily enough. Any striker will tell you they want to be there at the end scoring goals rather than making them. But we have been winning and getting good results, so at least I could take some satisfaction from that.
"At the start of the season, no matter what I hit, it was going in. Then I got half-chances I thought might go in, but didn't, and it seemed to go downhill from there. But my performances have been picking up for the last six weeks or so.
"Hopefully, I can get myself on the score-sheet a few more times over the next six weeks, and hopefully help the club to a magnificent end of the season."
