More Cup misery

32ND and last out of the bag last time around, 14th out of 16th this.

And you've got to feel sorry for Villa because the latest FA Cup draw is another stinker.

Last time out it could have been a local 'derby' (of sorts) with Coventry or a little trek to quaint Kidderminster.

It ended up being a 320 mile round trip to Kent.

This time around and with four balls left in the velvet bag and it was a choice between a tasty derby with Albion..... or taking on Arsenal, or Liverpool or Everton on home or away soil.

And it ended up being a trip to Merseyside.

This for a club who have been asked to play Manchester United four times in 2002/4/7/8 in the past seven seasons.

I can see the quotes from Martin O'Neill now: "The first thing you look for in the draw is a home tie," he would have said had he been asked, "A trip to Goodison Park or Anfield is never easy - both are going great in the Premier League, but we will go into the game with confidence on the back of our splendid recent form..."

Then he would probably have added: "but we have a lot of football to be played beforehand and a lot can happen in this game very quickly."

In truth the game won't phaze Villa. Not after what happened at Goodison not long back, and neither too at Anfield after last season's 2-2 draw when Marlon Harewood gave their back four the fright of their lives for the last 24 minutes.

Only an away game at Manchester United or Chelsea would really have made Martin O'Neill's men cringe.

Away games bring out the best in them in any case. Unbeaten in seven matches since at Newcastle on November 3rd, that's on English soil.

You'd still say that Liverpool would be favourites to edge out Everton in the replay on February 4th - the same night that Villa will be in action again against Doncaster.

Stoke, Fulham and West Ham have already managed goalless draws at Anfield this season.

Everton have shown that Liverpool are far from invincible with two 1-1 draws over the past fortnight.

Even Hull managed a draw at Anfield.

But having had so many tough draws since reaching Wembley in might have been nice to get a Watford, Derby, Coventry, Forest or a Swansea.

The only delighted punter on hearing Villa were away in Merseyside would have been veteran hack Rob Bishop.

Villa's programme editor is already working around the clock trying to force out a programme for the Doncaster replay.

A fifth round tie at Villa Park might have turned those grey hairs white.