Blackwell Reflects On Semi Glory

He said in the Yorkshire Post: "We have experience all over the side and the lads showed at Preston they can deal with whatever is thrown at them. The atmosphere was intimidating, there was a power failure, you name it, we had to deal with it.

"The players handled a lot of problems and came through with flying colours. Hopefully, that will be the case in Cardiff."

The Whites had to overcome some questionable refereeing in both legs to progress with Phil Crossley and Mike Thorpe, the officials at Elland Road and Deepdale respectively, coming in for criticism from Blackwell.

When asked if he would prefer a Premiership referee to take charge of the final, Blackwell said: "I feel that if you have a high-calibre person available to do a job, it would be silly not to get them to do it. And that is all I want to say on the matter."

Paul Butler missed the two-legged semi-final with Preston due to a calf injury and has been undergoing treatment in an oxygen tent to aid his recovery. Blackwell said: "Paul is out of the oxygen tent and coming along well. It is now up to him to get fit and I do not think he will be a million miles away. Which will give me an interesting team selection.

"Not only is he our captain, he went to Cardiff three years ago and beat me. I hope he can win it again."