Tony Mowbray glad West Bromwich Albion didn't draw Cardiff City in the FA Cup

Apr 1 2008

TONY Mowbray takes his West Bromwich Albion side down to Cardiff City tonight admitting he was pleased the avoid the Welshmen in the FA Cup semi-final.

The Baggies visit Ninian Park for the Championship fixture knowing a victory will put them second in the Championship table, just a point behind leaders Bristol City.

Fellow FA Cup semi-finalists Cardiff, who play Barnsley at Wembley on Sunday, are six points off the play-offs.

Mowbray is pleased the two clubs avoided each other in the FA Cup.

"I was pretty pleased we didn't draw them as we knew this game was coming," said Mowbray.

"As Arsenal and Liverpool are finding out this week, it's not an ideal world when you have to play each other in different competitions so close together.

"You never want to play teams in your own league in the FA Cup. As for tonight, it's going to be interesting because I think they still have something to shoot at.

"I don't know what Dave Jones is thinking but I'm sure he is thinking if he can win his games in hand that they could still sneak in the play-offs.

"So they we see this as a very important game, as obviously the FA Cup game is huge for them as well."

Mowbray has no intention of keeping back players tonight ahead of Saturday's game at Wembley.

He added: "We will be picking the best team to try to win this game.

"But, obviously, you have got to have half an eye on Saturday and which players we feel can play all the games at the intensity that they need to.

"That's governed who's played when over the last few weeks and who has had a rest.

"Some players, if they have played just about every game over the last month, the demands start becoming pretty difficult on them as we found over the last few weeks.

"We picked up hamstrings from players who played all five games in a 15 day period recently.

"So it's your job to try and look how many minutes on the pitch the players have played and what sort of intensity levels they have worked at, and whether they can keep going."