Slavia forced to rely on reserves

SLAVIA PRAGUE manager Karel Jarolim looked and sounded like a man under pressure at his eve of match press conference. And understandably so.

Ahead of the UEFA Cup clash against Cork City, his side has been so badly hit by injuries and suspension that the former Czech international has been forced to recall a player he had consigned to the reserves for turning up at training still feeling the effects of a night on the tiles.

Striker Pavel Fort was so disgusted with Slavia's elimination from the Champions League by Anderlecht last month that, after the 2-0 home defeat in an aggregate 4-1 victory for the Belgian side, he drowned his sorrows over a long night in this city of many bars and strong beer.