How we approach the 4th Round Replay against Doncaster and, should we get over that hurdle, how we go into the 5th Round tie with either Liverpool or Everton will be very revealing. MON has suggested that the time may come this season when he will have to prioritise.

The term “fixture congestion” is often used this time of year, but in fairness it hasn’t really applied to Villa for some time. Now we’re riding high in the league, in the knock-out stages of the UEFA Cup and also still in the FA Cup. Something’s got to give and everyone knows it, but will likely have differing views on what should take priority.

Looking ahead; we travel to Portsmouth on Tuesday, then host Wigan next Saturday, both Premiership fixtures. Doncaster come to Villa Park on the following Wednesday evening for the re-match and then three days later we head up to Blackburn. That’s 4 games in 12 days preceding a 10 or 11 day break before our potential trip up to Merseyside.

That’s where it will get really interesting, much depending on what happened in the previous 4 games of course. MON will no doubt have the UEFA Cup match at home to CSKA Moscow 4 days later floating around somewhere in his mind. 3 days after that Chelsea will be coming to Brum!!!

Oh yes, something has got to give.

The 5th Round Draw in full:-

• Sheff Utd v Hull
• Watford v Chelsea
• West Ham v Middlesbrough
• Sunderland/ Blackburn v Coventry
• Derby/ Nottm Forest v Man Utd
• Swansea v Fulham
• Liverpool/ Everton v Doncaster/ Aston Villa
• Cardiff/ Arsenal v West Brom/ Burnley

The matches will be played the weekend of February 14th. I would imagine that we would play on the Saturday since MON will want the extra day’s rest before the Moscow game on the 18th.