First Division sides have to reach Cup Final the hard way

The two First Division sides remaining in the FA Cup have to beat Premiership opponents to reach the final.

Watford are playing Southampton. And Sheffield United face the winner of the Arsenal v Chelsea replay, which is on 25 March.

The semi-finals will be at neutral venues on 12 and 13 April.

The Sheffield United defender Shaun Murphy said: "I'm a little bit disappointed but it's another big game for us. Either of them will be tough opposition and we'll just enjoy the day.

"I think we would have preferred playing Watford and one of us getting through to the final that way but fairytales can happen.

"It's going to be very difficult but I think I would rather face Chelsea so I wouldn't have to mark Thierry Henry!"

The England coach Sven–Goran Eriksson, who made the draw, believes Arsenal's name is on the Cup again this year following last season's 2–0 defeat of Chelsea at the Millennium Stadium, however the Swede added a note of caution.

"They have shown all year they are a very strong side, but in wanting to win the Champions League, the league and FA Cup, it might be too many games for them," said Eriksson.

One of those extra matches is the replay with Claudio Ranieri's side, which has led to Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger's call for the abolition of replays.

The game comes just a few days ahead of England's European Championship double–header with Liechtenstein and Turkey, so Eriksson can understand such sentiments for when asked whether replays should be done away with he replied: "Possibly, if I talk about the national team, yes.

"But I can understand there is a lot of money involved and the FA Cup is very important, but, if I could choose, then yes."