This season’s semi-finals now beckon for two of the Cup’s unfancied sides.

First Division Millwall, in the last eight for the first time since 1985, have a home tie with Tranmere Rovers, the Second Division outfit who have now featured in the quarter-finals three times in five years. Newcastle United knocked them out 3-2 in 2000 and Liverpool beat them 4-2 in 2001, both ties being played at Rovers’ Prenton Park home.

Millwall have been to the semis three times in their history - but not since 1937, when they became the first Third Division club to get that far.

Millwall and Tranmere have never met before in The FA Cup.

Arsenal are still on course for their fourth consecutive Final (an all-time record) and their third consecutive Final win (equalling a record set in the 19th century by The Wanderers and Blackburn Rovers). They will go to the winners of next Sunday’s Portsmouth v Liverpool replay in the Sixth Round.

Arsenal last faced Pompey in The FA Cup in a Fourth Round tie in 1971. In their first "Double" season the Gunners won 3-2 at Highbury after a 1-1 draw at Fratton. Liverpool, of course, were the last club to beat Arsenal in a Cup match - in the 2001 Final at the Millennium with Michael Owen’s late double. For the Gunners that was 18 games ago! The fifteen Cup matches between Arsenal and Liverpool so far have included three Finals.

Manchester United, FA Cup winners more times than any other club (10), can look forward to another Old Trafford full-house against the winners of the West Ham United v Fulham replay, being played tomorrow week. United last won the Cup in 1999 - it was one third of their fantastic "Treble" - and in the five years since then they’ve met both of their potential opponents. They won 2-1 at Craven Cottage in the Third Round in 2001 but then lost to Di Canio’s goal at Old Trafford in the Fourth Round.

Another non-Premiership side, in addition to Millwall or Tranmere, could make it to semi-finals after the draw paired Sunderland or Birmingham City with Sheffield United. United may have a taste for semi-final action after appearing in both the FA Cup and Worthington Cup semis last season. But they’ve yet to beat Birmingham City in five FA Cup matches and have managed only one victory in seven attempts against Sunderland.

The draw in full

1 Millwall v Tranmere Rovers
2 Manchester United v Fulham or West Ham United
3 Sunderland or Birmingham City v Sheffield United
4 Liverpool or Portsmouth v Arsenal

Ties to be played on the weekend of 6th and 7th March with £400,000 going to each winning club