BILLY Knott thought Oliver McBurnie was joking when the youngster texted to tell him Leeds were heading for Valley Parade.

The energetic midfielder was in bed at the time – but soon jumped out when he realised the news from the Capital One Cup draw was genuine.

“I thought Olly was messing about!” he said. “But it’s massive and will mean a lot to the club.

“Olly was telling me a bit about the rivalry between the teams at training yesterday. We played there a few years ago but obviously it hasn’t been at Valley Parade for a long time.

“I saw the Stan Collymore goal on Twitter and it was decent to be fair!

“The crowd will be rocking and we’d love a big win for them. It was a great atmosphere last Saturday and there will be another 5,000 on top of that for the Leeds game.”

Knott was blown away by the noise at the Coventry opener – and touched to hear his name serenaded by the Kop.

“I think my mum was crying a little bit!” he laughed.

“My parents and my fiancée were up for the afternoon and it was good for them to be there and witness a great first day.

“When I came into the club, I don’t think I realised how big they really are and I was really happy that we got the three points.

“The fans were buzzing and I think they liked the way we played football. We used (James) Hanson at the right times, we pressed well and that got the crowd going.

“It was a bit rocky towards the end but JK (Jason Kennedy) produced that bit of magic to put the ball straight on Hanson’s head to win it.”

Leeds looms large but City play three times before then and the focus must switch straight back to tomorrow’s trip to Walsall.

Knott added: “It’s been a good week. There’s a great vibe around the camp after the two wins but nobody is getting carried away.

“Walsall are a solid League One team and are always there or thereabouts. My mate Billy Clifford has just gone there and he said they are playing some good football.

“But we know jobs we have to do and we’re confident we can keep the start going.

“The gaffer made a few changes at Morecambe on Tuesday but everyone was bright about what they had to do and we ground out the result.”

Knott was the instigator for Aaron Mclean’s winner at the Globe Arena, providing the through ball that his fellow sub eventually forced home.

So was it handball or not?

“He bundled it over the line but I’m not quite sure how,” came the diplomatic response. “Even if it has touched his upper arm, he’s not meant it.

“He’s been bundled in by the defender and we’ll take it. We’re not disappointed.

“It doesn’t matter how it goes in – it just reads that Mclean scored. A win’s a win and we’ll take that in our stride.

“The home fans weren’t too happy but our crowd were great again. There was a thousand there and they stuck with us and made a lot of noise.

“I’m sure it will be the same at Walsall and we can take that momentum forward.”