Coventry City manager Gordon Strachan is ready to sacrifice a place in the next round of the Worthington Cup tomorrow night for the sake of achieving a victory.

Coventry have won just once this season and have conceded twelve goals in their last three matches.

Strachan says:

"The defence was conceding less than a goal a game which was not too bad, but it has suddenly become absolutely horrific.

"We just want to win a football match. It is not a case of going all out to beat Tranmere Rovers by four clear goals to go through to the next round.

"We have important matches coming up with league games against West Ham United and Everton following the cup tie.

"I want to use the Tranmere match as a stepping stone to carry us on to the league games. If we happen to win by four clear goals that will be brilliant."

Strachan says he will field a team of strong minded players which is why he had taken Carlton Palmer on loan.

Palmer said:

"I am my own man and I have good mental strength. I regard this as a new start to playing football at the highest level again and I hope it leads to a permanent move."

Strachan said:

"I watched him in a practice match and his competitive edge rubbed off on those around him. I want him to organise and demand from the other players in the side."

Coventry again go into the cup match without an experienced striker. John Aloisi and Noel Whelan are still on the injury list and Robbie Keane is cup-tied.

But Tranmere will still find themselves playing against a number of different faces.