McParland praise for fantastic players

McParland was in charge until Paul Jewell officially started work on Thursday morning but is leaving the club as the former Wigan man brings in his own backroom staff.

McParland had just three days to recover after they were hammered 7-0 at Chelsea on Sunday and masterminded a performance of hunger and intense discipline as Tamas Priskin`s strike won the first leg of their Carling Cup semi-final.

He said: "They sweated blood. They were fantastic and it showed a lot of character to bounce back from Sunday's game.

"I knew that they were up for it. I said to them just stay in the game and keep it 0-0 as long as we could and we can always nick a goal.

"I'm leaving but I'll dust myself down and get on with it. I've been in football a long time, Paul Jewell is an honest lad, I've known him a long time and he will do well here now. I won't be going to the second leg. Hopefully I will have a job by then."

Source: PA

Source: PA