13 October 2004
Owen and Robinson reaction

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Michael Owen is hoping a positive week on the international scene, culminating in his goal-scoring, captain's display in Baku, will give his career at Real Madrid a kick-start.

Owen has yet to establish himself amongst los galacticos, but having scored the only goal in Baku to leave England sitting pretty at the top of qualifying Group 6, he remains confident that he has the ability to succeed in La Liga.

"I’ve not played badly all season, so I’ve never been concerned," he explained. "But it’s always nice to play well, and to be high on confidence."

"Even though I haven’t been playing badly I haven’t been setting the world alight so it’s nice to get that bit of confidence and help to get England six points.

"There’s no crisis over there. I’ll go back there full of confidence - I’ve had a great few weeks for the national side.

"If I had been sat on the bench all the time and we were three to four months into the season then ok, but it’s right at the start of the season

"I’ve got to use this as a kick-start to my career there. I’ve never had any doubt I can succeed out there and I still don’t."

Meanwhile Paul Robinson spoke of his satisfaction at keeping two clean sheets from two in this month's qualification double-header, with last night's shut out being particularly pleasing given the conditions.

"We’re keeping clean sheets which is pleasing at the moment," he said. "It’s nice that the players in front of you keep the ball away from you.

"Wind’s the hardest conditions for a goalkeeper to play in, but overall we’re very pleased with a good team performance.

So was it the worst conditions Paul's ever played in?

"I don’t know - I’ve played at Leeds on a Tuesday night in the reserves! But it’s up there with them!

"It was pretty cold. In the conditions it wasn’t a sparkling performance, but it was a professional performance and we got the three points."