Watford await Reds

March 12, 2007

MANCHESTER United will face Watford in the semi-finals of the FA Cup if they can beat Middlesbrough in their replay next Monday.

The draw means United and Chelsea could be set for a dramatic FA Cup final meeting at the new Wembley Stadium.

Both teams must overcome tricky replays before confirming their place in the last four with Chelsea meeting Tottenham at White Hart Lane and United facing Boro at home.

Blackburn will play the winner of Chelsea against Spurs.

Watford chief executive Mark Ashton insisted the Hornets were “delighted” to be in the semi-finals although their joy will be tempered by the news that goalkeeper Ben Foster would be unable to face his parent club Manchester United should they win through.

Ashton told Sky Sports News: “Any draw in the semi-final is a good draw and we’re delighted to be there.

“It’s fair to say we are the team everyone wanted to play. we are delighted to be there and will be giving it our all.”

However, with Foster on a season-long loan from Old Trafford, Ashton revealed: “We have an agreement with Manchester United that Ben wouldn’t play in any competition this season, so as far as we are aware that will stand.”

The ties will be played on the weekend of April 14, 15. Venues are to be announced.

What do you make of the draw? Have your say.

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karma2007, rochdale,greater manchester (12/03/2007 at 13:43)

And foster can play for watford,thats if we beat borough.
Id love a man u blackburn final.

Birdy, Ireland (12/03/2007 at 13:44)

Woo Hoo!!

COLIN, CANADA, Canada (12/03/2007 at 13:52)

It's easy to say that we should beat both teams as we should but middlesbrough will not be an easy game. Couple of tweeks to the team should get us through though. I would use Gabby sparingly and Park has to get more playing time. We are down to Roo and Smitty up front so god help us if one of them goes down although Ronny can play up front with Giggs and Park wide.Perfect draw.

Nicki Jovanovic, Manchester (12/03/2007 at 13:56)

If all goes to plan it could be United v Chelsea for everything within the space of 14 days in May.
Rearranged PL game Wed 9th May
FA Cup Final Sat 19th May
CL Final Wed 23rd May.

TMUF, Manchester (12/03/2007 at 13:58)

Foster wont play against us if we go through. Aidy's already said. Best possible draw. Good to see us avid Chelsea/Tottenham and Blackburn. Wembley should be the massive incentive. Still we should still make wholesale changes against Middlesborough and cross our fingers.

chris, oxford (12/03/2007 at 13:59)

Damn, the one team I wanted to avoid!

Loyal to the End (31 years, City Fans, 31 years), Nottingham, ex-Malaysia (12/03/2007 at 14:02)

Hope Hughesy can do us all a big favour and knock the rentboys from London out of the cup.. Heck it, hope Jol can do us all a big favour and knock the rentboys from London out of the cup!

Paul Bradley (12/03/2007 at 14:03)

It's Middlesbrough thus boro not borough! Best semi draw possible all set up to meet Sparky and his lads in the final! WIll make a change to see more than 15,000 Blackburn fans in one place (or should I call them glory hunters!!!). Watford will put up a fight no matter who they play but lack real quality to stop United from getting to a FA final. Please hope it's not another 2005 one though if we get there!

Southern Red (12/03/2007 at 14:26)

Good performance at the weekend with everyone playing better than against Lille. It's getting very congested now but I'd rather that than have a week like Arsenal. Watford is a good draw (btw Karma, Foster can't play)but there will be no easy games until after 23rdMay. First priority must be Prem, then CL, so it will be iteresting to see who SAF plays unfront on Sat and who he rests for Mon. Glad that everyone is due back for the Blackburn game.

edinburgh red, edinburgh (12/03/2007 at 14:27)

Great draw if we overcome boro, hopefully spurs put the russians out as they derserved to yesterday if jol had kept bergatov on spurs might have, spurs v UTD final would be a classic I think.

george (12/03/2007 at 14:46)

Anyone at any time can spoil our hopes.Middlesboro first! We've had good fortune in the draw but we have to win the games.Boro caused us a few moments of anxiety.Would like to see Blackburn v UNITED final.The cup might go to Russia...unbearable!

Demo, Glossop (12/03/2007 at 14:57)

surely we can beat boro and if watford stop us getting to the final we really dont deserve to be their! Would be nice to be the first team to win at wembley

Anthony, Hamilton,Ontario,Canada (12/03/2007 at 15:10)

I would suggest that Boro should be treated with respect.It's not a sure thing. They have a good team and it should be an entertaining cup tie, but it would be nice and fitting to see United at Wembley.

Keane was right Sell Ronny (12/03/2007 at 15:20)

Silly! why isnt the article titled Chelsea await United at Wembley?? This story is disrespectful to Middlesbrough - we need to step up a gear to beat themand with a striker and midfield shortage they will not fear coming to old trafford based on saturday.

de Meester, netherlands (12/03/2007 at 16:49)

We have got to first despatch Middsbro. That we should do hopefully an early goal.
I do however think SAF will have a dilemma on sat who to start with monday's replay just 'around the corner'!
I just hope we don't pick up any injuries.
Then after monday Scholesy ia again available!
Up The Reds

de Meester, netherlands (12/03/2007 at 16:52)

Loyal to the End (31 years, City Fans, 31 years), Nottingham, ex-Malaysia -
Amen to both options!
Come On You Reds

karma2007, rochdale,greater manchester (12/03/2007 at 17:05)

sothern red foster can play against utd just not in the league,it was said on match of the day.

50 grand a week, manchester (12/03/2007 at 18:13)

What are City fans getting upset about ... dont they get 2 cup finals a season thats if they stay up.
red mancunian

Brian Cheshire (12/03/2007 at 19:48)

Once again Fergie and his troops get lucky again Watford and not Chelsea in the Cup if they beat Middlesbro that is. What a run of good fortune they have had is it a record?

COLIN, CANADA, Canada (12/03/2007 at 19:50)

I'd love a Blackburn/Spurs semi but I think S

DanMCFC, Middleton (12/03/2007 at 19:54)

Typical. The boys from stretford fluke the easiest tie again. no but its not fixed. At least you wont have far to travel to get to the cup final venue this year.

COLIN, CANADA, Canada (12/03/2007 at 20:05)

I'd love to see a Blackburn/Spurs semi but I think Spurs have blown it. You don't get second chances against Chelsea who have a disgusting depth of talent available to them. Bit of a rest for Chelsea at the week end so a real opportunity for them to rest players before the replay. Spurs on the other hand can turn out a full squad every game.

Remi Moses, Stretford End (12/03/2007 at 22:42)

Dan, MCFC - I'm assuming you are just having a laugh - we've copped Villa, Pompey, Reading + Boro in the FA this year...a sure sign that the FA are making it easy for us right? You had Sheff Wed, Southampton + Preston before you met a Premiership team in Blackburn. Still, you did well to beat those high calibre teams in the early rounds despite the obvious FA bias against battlers like Chity. Lucky you didn't get Oldham again in the first round. Idiot...

TMUF, Manchester (12/03/2007 at 22:58)

Just to confirm again Foster CANT play against us if we get through. I dunno if he is eligble through the rules, but I do know when we loaned Foster we said he couldn't play us in ANY competition

Alias Smith, over the moon (12/03/2007 at 22:58)

I am convinced Spurs will finish the job they started in the replay. Much as I would love to see Sparky walk out alongside Fergie for the first cup final at Wembley, from a pure footballing perspective I'm hoping for a United v Spurs final - two clubs with great cup tradition. That's not to write off the chances of Boro or Watford but I think it would be considered a real shock if either eliminated us.

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