FA Cup Draw reaction

FA Cup Sixth Round Draw

Watford v Fulham or Burnley

"The home draw was the priority in my mind," said Hornets boss Ray Lewington.

"It was nice to come out of the hat first for a change and, if I'm honest, avoiding Arsenal was my next wish.

"Of the Premiership teams left in the draw, we've potentially got the weakest of them, or we get to play a team which we've already beaten at home this season. This draw gives us a great chance of winning and as far as our fans are concerned, I think a home quarter-final tie will sell itself."

And Hornets striker Tommy Smith, who scored with a twice-taken penalty at Sunderland to put his side into the quarter-finals for the first time since 1988, was also bullish about his side's chances.

He said: "I'm very pleased. We wanted a home tie and we wanted to miss the big boys so we'd have a chance of going through to the semis. So we're obviously pleased with that."

Burnley manager Stan Ternent, whose side went down 2-1 at Vicarage Road in the league back in November, is keen looking forward to the match, should they defeat Premiership Fulham in Wednesday's fifth-round replay.

"Our record is half decent down there and we have some unfinished business with them.

"We have got Fulham first and, if we can get past that, we are capable of beating Watford on our day.

"It's fantastic to be in the draw. We are in the last nine, as it were, and it keeps us bobbing along nicely."

Southampton v Wolverhampton Wanderers

Southampton captain Jason Dodd voiced his pleasure at managing to avoid all the other Premiership sides left in the competition by drawing First Division Wolves.

"We've avoided Arsenal and got a home draw again. It is just what we wanted," he said.

"You get this far and naturally you begin to think you can go all the way. I don't see why we can't do that or at least go very close."

Wolves are through to the quarter finals for the first time since 1998, when they eventually lost in the semis to Cup winners Arsenal.

Manager Dave Jones returns to his former club, from which he was sacked after allegations regarding his private life, but insists he has no ill-feelings towards the south coast club.

"We've got a tall order in front of us. We've just got to go down there and play to the best of our ability.

"It could have been easier but there's nothing easy in the FA Cup. If we play to the best of our ability then we are a match for anybody.

"It's the first time I've been back since I left when circumstances were out of my control but I have no animosity towards anyone.

"I still speak to the chairman on a regular basis and it will be nice to go back."

Arsenal v Chelsea

In a replay of last season's Millenium Stadium final, Arsenal are drawn at home against fellow Londoners Chelsea for the third season in a row. The Gunners are on course for a third consecutive final, a feat they last achieved in 1977-78-79.


For the Blues, the match represents the chance to avenge their defeats in Cardiff last May and the fifth round defeat in 2000-01.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was undaunted by the prospect of playing Chelsea at Highbury, insisting his side perform better in big games.

"The Chelsea game at home is another big game but we usually do very well against them at Highbury and we will try to do our best again.

"If you look at last season and this season we have had to play Newcastle, Liverpool, Manchester United, and now Chelsea twice - as well as Farnborough."

Sheffield United v Leeds United

Sheffield United will be confident as they approach their FA Cup match with Yorkshire rivals Leeds United, and manager Neil Warnock is hoping for a similar result.

"I was pleased when the first four [Watford, Fulham or Burnley, Southampton and Wolves] came out because I didn't want any of them," said Warnock.

"We were left with Arsenal, Chelsea or Leeds - any of which would be a fantastic draw.

"Leeds have been the Yorkshire club for donkey's years now - it's nice that we have done something to put ourselves on the map. They won't fancy it. We can give it our best shot and we can go ahead and enjoy ourselves."