Steve Bull and Trevor Francis preview Birmingham City v Wolves in the FA Cup

Jan 3 2009 by Robert Tanner, Birmingham Mail

DOES the game have an added spark because of their respective league positions?

STEVE BULL: It has. Who draws these fixtures out?

It is certainly one of those games where I have to put my jacket on and go and watch.

I saw parts of the league game a few weeks ago (a 1-1 draw at Molineux) and it was even-stevens. It could have gone either way. Neither side performed brilliantly.

TREVOR FRANCIS: Blues were the better side in the first half of that game but Wolves improved in the second half.

The half-time introduction of Cameron Jerome for Kevin Phillips worked because I thought, on the counter-attack, Blues were very dangerous. But in the end Wolves finished strongly and a draw was about right.

The roles are reversed now. Blues are the home team and the emphasis will be on them to attack Wolves. So it becomes a different game. It is an interesting tie all round but I would give the edge to Blues, being the home team.

SB: Yes, but they have to attack and go for it. Wolves will be a bit more relaxed because they are six points clear and they can go there and just play some football.

Blues have to actually go for Wolves.

TF: I just hope it catches the public’s attention because gates have been down at Blues.

Their crowds have been very disappointing. St Andrew’s is a great venue when there is a full house. It can be very atmospheric.

On a Saturday afternoon, at 3pm, with a full quota of Wolves fans as well, it could be a classic FA Cup tie.

DOES the promotion push devalue the cup tie?

TF: I just hope the two managers respect it for what it is because the supporters will be very excited about the game.

I just hope they don’t see it as an opportunity to rest and rotate a few players, because for me the FA Cup is special. It still carries that fantastic mystique and has remained a magical competition.

If you look at last season, it was a fantastic occasion and it was refreshing to see a couple of teams outside of the Big Four in the final and I think that may happen again this year.

I see this season as another fantastic opportunity for teams outside the Big Four and the likes of Wolves and Blues. I hope Alex McLeish and Mick McCarthy will look at Cardiff City and what they achieved last season.

SB: You only have to look at Mick and Alex and how they always want to win to know they will always put their best squad out to have a good chance to progress. I think there is no way they will put a weak side out. No way.