Arsenal v Blackburn Rovers
The FA Cup, Semi-Final
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
16 April 2005, 12.15



Blackburn Rovers manager Mark Hughes has his eyes set on an incredible fifth FA Cup winners' medal and insists his Rovers team are capable of beating Arsenal in the Semi-Finals on Saturday.

Hughes has an excellent record in The FA Cup having won it in 1985, 1990 and 1994 as a player with Manchester United and in 1997 with Chelsea.

Now he hopes to lift it for the first time as a manager - and after watching his team beat Southampton 3-0 on Saturday he is confident of seeing off favourites Arsenal this weekend.

Hughes, who scored twice in the 1990 Final, said: "It sets us up very nicely for the Semi-Final.

"People will call us underdogs, and I can understand that outside of Blackburn few people will give us a chance.

"But we're in confident mood, on a good run of form and looking forward to it because the way we played against Saints was very good."

Arsenal beat Blackburn 1-0 at Ewood Park in the Premiership March, but Hughes is adamant the result won't have any meaningful effect on the way his team approach Saturday's big game in Cardiff.

He said: "The Semi-Final is a totally different set of circumstances and who knows what might happen.

"We're in a Semi-Final for the first time in 40-odd years and we're going to enjoy it - and hopefully we'll get to the final.

"In fairness to Arsenal and Arsene Wenger, after they played us he said good things about us.

"He understands we're a difficult side to play against, so he will give us the respect we deserve."