Wolves 3 Rochdale 1
FA Cup 5th Round, Sunday 16 February
Wolves win £150,000 and are away to Southampton in Sixth Round

 

Dave Jones' Wolves, who became TheFA.com's team on the trail when they beat Leicester in the Fourth Round, had a scare against Third Division Rochdale on Sunday before two goals in the final 10 minutes put them through 3-1.

George Ndah gave the Division One side the lead just after the half hour mark at Molinuex before Gavin Melaugh equalised for 'Dale on 52 minutes. But a Kenny Miller goal with 11 minutes on the clock put Wolves back in front and Adam Proudlock turned in a Colin Cameron shot to seal victory.

Wolves now visit manager Jones' former club, Southampton. After seeing the draw, another ex-Saints boss, Lawrie McMenemy told TheFA.com that hardly a day goes by without someone stopping and talking to him about the 1976 FA Cup Final when his Southampton, then of the Second Division, beat Manchester United 1-0 to lift the most romantic piece of silverware in football.

Twenty-seven years on, can Southampton get back to the final for the first time since.

McMenemy thinks they can and doesn't see a home draw against Wolves as any reason to change their minds.

"I've had a premonition all along that Southampton and Leeds would both reach the final," he says.

"I said it on the radio show I present and here we are, in the last eight and they haven't bumped into each other yet.

"I don't know why I felt like that because Arsenal are the best team in the country. But sometimes it isn't the best team that wins The FA Cup - it is the unpredictability that makes it the best cup competition in the world."

McMenemy knows from experience how The FA Cup can change your life. He took a team that boasted two stars - Mick Channon and Peter Osgood - and a group of lesser-known players and upset Tommy Docherty's Red Devils 1-0.

"The atmosphere in Southampton after that was fantastic - there were street parties to celebrate and people who never went to football took an interest. I will still get stopped in the street by old ladies who will remember exactly where they were when Southampton won the cup.

"Under Gordon Strachan the team is doing well, and there is a feeling in the place that something special might happen again. They beat Spurs in the third round and since then they have had home ties from First Division sides. So the little bit of luck is going their way."

McMenemy also points out that teams that win the cup often have a major scare on the way. "It happened to us in '76, we were losing to Aston Villa at home when we scored in injury-time - nobody gave us a chance in the replay but we won. In the fourth round this year, Southampton looked out against Millwall until Kevin Davies scored in injury-time. Then Matt Oakley, who never seems to score, got two in the replay.

"It is a favourable draw and I've had a feeling all along this could be their year. Chris Marsden has been the outstanding player at the club in my view over the last couple of years, he is a solid club professional and Gordon Strachan recognises his qualities as well as the more high-profile players like James Beattie and Wayne Bridge."

The tie means a return to the south coast for Dave Jones. He wasn't happy at the way he left the club for non-footballing reasons. McMenemy says: "Dave will get a good reception from the club, he has nothing to be ashamed of - he did a good job for Southampton and was a very popular person there."

THE TRAIL SO FAR (featured club in italics)

Extra-Preliminary round - Greenwich Borough 1 Three Bridges 4
Preliminary round - Three Bridges 3 Didcot Town 1
First qualifying round: Chipstead 1 Three Bridges 3
Second qualifying round: Three Bridges 1 Aveley 3
Third qualifying round: Canvey Island 2 Aveley 0
Fourth qualifying round: Slough 3 Canvey Island 2
First round proper: Slough 1 Harrogate Railway 2
Second round proper: Harrogate Railway 1 Bristol City 3
Third round proper: Leicester City 2 Bristol City 0
Fourth round proper: Wolves 4 Leicester 1
Fifth round proper: Wolves 3 Rochdale 1

The FA Cup Trail is compiled by Joe Bernstein. Look out for our preview of Southampton v Wolves before their Sixth Round match