Bristol Rovers 1 West Bromwich Albion 5 - Birmingham Mail report
EVERY dog has its day, so the saying goes. But Bristol Rovers were put firmly back in their kennel by clinical Albion.
In an FA Cup that has reverberated to the sound of giants thudding to the floor, Albion were not going to be anyone's fall guys.
The Baggies showcased their goalscoring power to overwhelm Rovers, with the unstoppable Ishmael Miller claiming a hat-trick, but they were also feisty, focused and determined.
It's said that Albion only do pretty, not ugly.
But last night they had the perfect mix of both to make sure, after Manchester United, Chelsea and Middlesbrough, all of whom were knocked out on a remarkable quarter-final weekend, that they were not going to go the same way.
League One Rovers, who had already accounted for Fulham and Southampton, no doubt felt inspired by Barnsley's lead and Cardiff City's example two hours earlier.
But so had the results warned Albion not to take anything for granted in this crazy but enthralling FA Cup, especially on a difficult, soggy and sandy pitch at a raucous Memorial Ground.
A first semi-final since 1982 now awaits, at Wembley, and although Tony Mowbray has insisted that promotion from the Championship remains the priority, try convincing the players and thousands of Boing-Boinging fans of that should Albion return there on May 17.
Right from the off, both teams went at it with attacking intent and a feisty determination that made for a cracking, almost old-fashioned FA Cup tie if you like.
It certainly wasn't sterile stuff and although Rovers started in very assured fashion, Albion meant business and got the ideal cushion to dampen the hosts ardour when, in the 16th minute, James Morrison followed-up Roman Bednar's shot that Steve Phillips could only push out into his path.
Dean Kiely made a fine reflex save, glancing the ball away high to his left, from Andy Williams and Rickie Lambert sidefooted straight at the goalkeeper when it seemed easier to score from close range.
Rovers were still in it, but such a flurry of goalmouth alarm turned out to be their best spell.
Miller, who gave a real powerhouse performance, with rough edges and all, unleashed a fierce 18-yard drive on the half-hour after using his body strength to turn Joe Jacobson.
Sixty seconds later, Danny Coles ushered in a corner that was flicked-on and Albion's only real defensive lapse was punished.
In the main, Leon Barnett and Martin Albrechtsen stood aggressively firm and didn't mess about, neither did the full-backs.
Jared Hodgkiss, in for the injured Carl Hoefkens despite hardly having had any meaningful football in the past six weeks, emerged with credit also for his doggedness.
In midfield, the astute Jonathan Greening oozed class all night as did Robert Koren, and the inventiveness and clever football of this pair became increasingly telling.
Had Miller not lost his footing after rounding Phillips in first-half stoppage time, barely five yards from the left of goal, then Albion might have been able to coast a little more.
But as it was Rovers again worked them over on the resumption after the break yet, again, found plenty of resistance as Albion defended their penalty area strongly.
Miller, freed following an inter-change by Chris Brunt and Koren, lashed horribly wide and you thought he had began to take a turn to for the worse.
But, in the 69th minute, he got Albion's third goal when, jogging back back onside as Albrechtsen headed the ball forward, Craig Hinton diverted into his path enabling him to turn tail, surge on and skew a shot low past Phillips.
That was that really and Albion's passing, movement with and without possession was then just too good for a demoralised Rovers.
Kevin Phillips' predatory instincts saw him sweep in number four (73) and although a long-range effort by Lewis Haldane hit the post, it was Miller time again as the end neared (85).
And it was an impressive, precise finish that brought him his hat-trick: sidefooting the ball out to just inside the post as he opened his body up to create an angle.
Miller's first ever treble, at such a stage in such a competition, rightly earned him most of the attention.
But it was an accomplished team display that ticked all the required boxes for Albion and spared them any hint of embarrassment. They have every right and reason to dare to dream.
