THE Worthington Cup has had its critics but you won't find Blackburn Rovers midfielder Wayne Gill giving the competition short shrift.

And, even when faced with what should be the formality of finishing off Portsmouth at Ewood tonight, the tournament's value counts for plenty with a number of players.

Last week's second round first leg tie at Fratton Park, for example, gave Gill his first start in senior football after years of waiting with Rovers.

And it also provided a chance for Alan Kelly to start his first game since his transfer as well as Steve Harkness's first taste of action as a sub.

The 23-year-old Gill did well enough at Portsmouth to be retained in the 16 at West Brom and now he hopes to get another chance tonight.

"I was delighted to get my first start and I just have to keep it going now, try to stay in the squad and keep in the manager's mind.

"And, hopefully, when the chances do come along I can do well. "training with the first team every day, and training well, obviously doesn't go un-noticed by the manager.

"When players come back from injury, hopefully he won't forget about the ones he has tried and who have done well.

"I just have to keep plugging away, concentrate on my game, not let anything slip and hope I can stay in."

Contributing to such a satisfactory outcome in the first leg gave Gill a personal boost.

"It was a good result there and I hope we can finish them off at Ewood," he said.

"But nothing can be taken for granted in football. We won 3-0 in the first leg and they'll want to put on a good display.

"We have to make sure that we don't give them any chances, because it's never over. There are 90 minutes of football to play and it only takes a second to score a goal.

"One or two lapes and, all of a sudden, they could be back in the game.

"We have to make sure that we are professional and go about it the right way. Whoever plays we have a job to do."

Whatever the outcome of tonight's tie, Portsmouth have already expressed their faith in Alan Ball as the man to lead them to a brighter future.

Ball has signed a new four-year contract after the club's promising start to their Nationwide League Division One campaign and said he was "delighted" with the progress the club have made since new chairman Milan Mandaric took over in summer.

"These are certainly exciting times at Pompey and with the plans for the club off the field as well as the backing I have had in strengthening the team, I know we have a firm base," said Ball.

Mandaric added: "I believe Alan Ball is the man to take this club forward and realise our ambitions."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.