In the hat for round five

IF you ever hear someone say: "That's the last thing they wanted" when referring to a replay in the FA Cup, go up to them, ruffle their hair, pinch their cheeks, tweak their nose and toss away their satchels, uttering the words: "Back to School on Monday".

Its a well worn cliche that is gobbledegook and poppycock.

Just make sure whatever happens that you are in the hat for the draw.

Playing two games a week isn't a problem when teams are winning games. It is only when you are losing that fixture congestion can hammer a season.

Granted Villa have been playing competitive matches now since mid-July, but they can handle two games a week.

Fair play to Martin O'Neill. That's twice in two games he has fielded pretty much a full strength side in the FA Cup. With Luke and Ashley Young suspended and Martin Laursen injured there was nothing else he could have done today.

Villa now play at Portsmouth on Tuesday, a game which has taken a fresh twist in view of Pompey's home defeat to Swansea. Another defeat and Tony Adams' position will surely come under scrutiny.

Then it's Wigan at home... Doncaster in the replay (we believe on the Wednesday) and then Blackburn on the Saturday.

That's not a schedule to strike fear into the hearts of grown athletes.

As for Villa today? Well, it was a really poor first half performance followed by a strong second half where they could easily have nicked it.

Rovers were very neat and tidy in possession but lacked anything in the final third (where have I heard that description of a football side before, Albion fans).

They hit the woodwork but could easily have been behind earlier when Neil Sullivan saved superbly from Gabby Agbonlahor from close range.

Gabby had shot wide in the opening minutes. Had that gone in, it could have been a landslide.

Second half was much, much better. Agbonlahor and Steve Sidwell missed really great chances, sitters almost - Gabby after Sidwell had sent him racing through the middle but he hit the crossbar, then Sidwell in somehow heading wide when unmarked at the far post.

Sullivan saved well from Agbonlahor again at close range and from substitute Craig Gardner whose 20 yard drive was too hot to hold at the first attempt.

Rovers hit the woodwork again with a wonderful free-kick but did nothing in open play.

So it is back to Villa Park where Villa will be overwhelming favourites to progress, although it appears that Emile Heskey may not be available again due to his registratiion missing the deadline.

Poor Doncaster. Just as their corportate clients were enjoying the spoils of a fine draw, maybe an hour or so after the final whistle, the fire alarms went off and the stadium had to be evacuated.