The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON
Third Round Proper Replay
7.45pm, Tuesday 13 January 2009
Turf Moor, Burnley FC
Winning clubs will receive £75,000 from The FA
Queens Park Rangers travel north on Tuesday evening hoping to seal their place in the Fourth Round, but know that they face a tough test against Burnley in order to progress.
The Championship rivals couldn’t be separated in the first meeting at Loftus Road just over a week ago and now meet at Turf Moor to play for a Fourth Round tie at either West Bromwich Albion or Peterborough United.
And Rangers boss Paulo Sousa has spoken of his delight at leading a team out in the competition, after getting his first taste of The FA Cup in the initial game with Owen Coyle’s side.
Coming from a man who lifted the Champions League twice in successive seasons with Juventus and Borussia Dortmund in his career as well as collecting numerous other honours in his native Portugal and Italy, it is high praise indeed.
“I am very excited about managing QPR in the most famous Cup competition in world football,” said Sousa, who won 51 caps for Portugal and is one of his country’s most decorated players.
“I grew up watching The Cup back home in Portugal and I know a lot about the history of the competition and the fond place it holds in the hearts of English football fans.
“Some of the most iconic images in football history stem from The FA Cup and I am really excited about the prospect of progressing in the competition.”
He won’t need any reminding of the test that faces his side in the replay though, after seeing his team’s opportunities in the first game at Loftus Road restricted by a strong defensive performance from Burnley.
If anything, it was the visitors who came closer to winning that game after seeing Wade Elliott’s volley hit the bar in the first half, but Sousa remains convinced that his team are on the right track following his arrival at the club in November.
“Of course we want to win each game, but it was a tough game against a Burnley team who play very well,” he explained after that first game.
“When I came here, the team didn’t create so many opportunities. We have now started to create a lot of opportunities, but we don’t score so much.”
He will certainly be hoping that can change on Tuesday, against a team whose cup form so far this season has seen them reach the League Cup semi-final as well as mount a serious play-off challenge in the Championship.