Aside from Wigan snapping up Nash from Preston, it’s all a bit quiet today, so thank god for El Tel, Steve McClaren and a velvet bag for brightening things up. Venables even had the decency to draw his two old clubs for what appears, on paper at least, the plumb tie of the round.
Yep, Chelsea will play Spurs in an all London affair at Stamford Bridge, while Arsenal will take on Manchester City, should they get past the stubborn obstacle that is Blackburn. Man United meanwhile have a tricky away tie at either Boro or West Brom if Ferguson’s side can overcome Reading. Finally Ian Holloway’s Plymouth is rewarded for their progress with a tie against Watford, the very side that broke their hearts in the 1984 semi-final. Ah, George Reilly – now he was a proper centre forward.