Cardiff City v Blackburn Rovers
The FA Cup, Third Round
Ninian Park
08 January 2005

Mark Hughes and his Welsh backroom team at Blackburn can't wait to revisit Cardiff in The FA Cup on Saturday, according to coach Glyn Hodges.

If the Blackburn Rovers coach driver gets lost on the way to Cardiff, he could always ask manager Mark Hughes for directions. Or assistant Mark Bowen, coach Eddie Niedzwiecki and reserve-team manager Glyn Hodges.

The quartet were a close team during Mark Hughes' tenure as Wales manager and are now working together at Ewood Park.

Exeter and Yeading weren't the only places where there was a reaction to the third round draw.

"It brought a wry smile to all our faces," admits Hodges. "We have such close ties with Cardiff and Wales, you couldn't have written it better that we would all be going back there for an FA Cup game.

"It will be interesting to see what reaction we get. I hope it's a positive one but I don't know if the final couple of games had an effect on the fans.

"It's a fantastic draw for us and we are looking forward to it a great deal."

Hodges sometimes goes scouting on a Saturday afternoon looking at players or Blackburn's next opponents. But this is one Rovers game he hopes he can attend.

"I will have to put a special request into the manager," he smiles. "Obviously, if there is important work to be done elsewhere, that will be the priority. But I would love to be there on Saturday."

Hodges was Hughes' Under-21 manager at Wales. The whole nation delighted in the 2-1 win against Italy at the Millennium Stadium and the side also famously beat Scotland 4-0 there.

The priority now is Blackburn and Monday's 1-0 win over Charlton has lifted the club well clear of the relegation zone having lost just once in six games.

"Mark Hughes, Mark Bowen and Eddie are great to work with and it's fantastic we've had the opportunity to link up again. The club itself is also excellent.

"The defence has improved considerably but they will have to be on their guard against Cardiff."

If anyone knows the passion of fans in the Welsh capital, it's going to be Hughes and his backroom team!