Premier League giants are incentive for Di Canio (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Premier League giants are incentive for Di Canio

6:00am Tuesday 25th September 2012 in Sport By Sam Morshead

Paolo Di Canio

PAOLO Di Canio is desperate to make it through to round four of the Capital One Cup and secure a lucrative tie against a big-name team.

Under the Italian, Swindon Town have established a reputation as giant-killers on three cup fronts.

In the 14 knockout competition matches Di Canio has presided over, the Robins have seen off opposition from a higher league on seven occasions - including two from the Premier League.

While the victories over Wigan in last year’s FA Cup and Stoke in the previous round of this season’s League Cup were both hugely special occasions, Di Canio is still yearning after a clash with one of the juggernauts of English football.

He’s not getting carried away with the idea just yet, but there remains a very real longing to take to the dugout at Old Trafford or the Etihad Stadium sooner rather than later.

“It’s been 15 months now and I am waiting for it,” he said. “We have played against Wigan, Stoke City - Premier League clubs - but one day I would like to play against Man United or Manchester City because, even if there is a chance to lose five or 6-0, it would be a great experience for all the movements in Swindon - for the club, for the players, for the fans.

“But it’s obvious also Burnley is a good team to play against because they play in the Championship. With all respect to Burnley, it is not the biggest attraction in the country but we have to win this game, go through and go for another raw.

“The league remains the main target but if we make something special in the cup it means a lot for the club, for the players and for the fans.

“If you go through and if you play against Man United it can be good for the club and earn some money but the main thing is to go through and to do something special. Fourth round? Why not, keep dreaming. Fifth round?

“I don’t know many teams from League One in English football history who reached in the past even the semi-final.

“I have to think step by step, I cannot underestimate one cup.

“I want to win.”

Di Canio, who will be without the cup-tied trio of Adam Rooney, Darren Ward and Giles Coke for tonight’s match, is an admirer of the way Burnley manager Eddie Howe has got the Clarets playing football.

“I think we have the same chance as Burnley to go through, especially at home and especially at this stage of the season.

“I can tell you that we have a good chance to go through if we play our football. They are in a good moment but we play similar football.

“They play 4-4-2 apart from against Leicester when they played 4-1-4-1 but I like I seeing them play because Eddie is a young manager, his team plays positive football with the ball on the ground so I’m happy to play against them.”