THE England v Wales match will be a good one because Lee Nogan's Welsh and I'd love to get one over on him.

A lot of people have been looking forward to it ever since the draw for the World Cup 2006 qualifying groups came out because it will be a good spectacle.

Having watched England in Portugal this summer, you get a little bit of an extra buzz about it.

I had anticipated going to watch it at Old Trafford but, unfortunately as it's turned out, we are actually playing on that day although I'm sure we will be trying to find somewhere to watch it before heading back.

The Home Internationals were a very long time ago but I can remember some of them from when I was a kid. They always had something special about them. I went to a few games as a child and I really enjoyed them.

It's the type of game where there's always a lot of significance attached to it and in a way it would be nice to see something like that again.

The other thing about the game on Saturday is that we have had the match at Farnborough brought forward to a 1pm kick off. I think it's fine but it would be better really on the day before or afterwards, but that's what has been decided.

I am sure Farnborough will have a screen at the ground and it might work to their advantage in terms of revenue and that kind of thing.

But for the York fans that want to watch, it will add a couple of hours onto an already long journey.

As for England's qualifying campaign so far, I think that what happens at European level is whenever we go into a qualifier or a tournament there is a great sense of confidence and excitement.

We should have won the first game but unfortunately dropped points, but then we have picked them up in the next one. It's going to be a tough campaign.

I am anticipating the Welsh game in particular being a very tough match. All the old rivalries will be reawakened.

It's a long time since we have met in a match of any significance and it will be a good test of character for them. In many respects it gives a little bit of a competitive edge.

The Welsh have always had a good side on paper so if they can get the best side out they will be a threat.

But, as with everything else, they often lose players to injuries or what have you and that has a bigger impact in some senses than it would on the England team, because they have fewer players to choose from in the first place.

If England can first of all get that win over Wales, then they will go into the lesser games of the campaign without so much of the pressure. It's never a formality in an international but I believe they will have a great chance of coming through.

I for one will be hoping we get a good result on Saturday because if we don't I will never hear the end of it from Lee.

Updated: 08:31 Thursday, October 07, 2004