FOOTBALL: Ferguson's men are new Cup favourites

Manchester United saw the road to a third successive FA Cup final appearance opening up in front of them, after yesterday's draw at Lancaster Gate gave them a home quarter-final with Swindon or Southampton.

In-form Aston Villa, the only other side definitely through to the quarter- finals, will travel to face the winners of tonight's tie between Nottingham Forest and Spurs at the City Ground. The draw also threw up the prospect of a mighty collision at Elland Road if Leeds and Liverpool get through their fifth-round dates with First Division opponents, Port Vale and Charlton.

The other game could be a capital affair, with Chelsea travelling to Grimsby on Wednesday knowing the prize is a home tie with the winners of the Selhurst Park replay a week later between Wimbledon and Huddersfield.

Manchester United, who thrashed their potential opponents, Southampton, 4-1 at Old Trafford in November, were priced at 7-2 before yesterday's derby victory over Manchester City, but are now as low as 9-4 favourites with Ladbrokes. The previous favourites, Liverpool, have drifted to 3- 1.

FA CUP Sixth-round draw: Leeds or Port Vale v Liverpool or Charlton; Nottingham Forest or Tottenham v Aston Villa; Manchester Utd v Swindon or Southampton; Grimsby or Chelsea v Huddersfield or Wimbledon. (Ties to be played 9, 10 or 11 March).