Fans Fancy FA Cup Run

Last updated : 04 January 2010 By Tom Vickers

Villa will meet Gus Poyet's Brighton in the FA Cup fourth round at Villa Park.

The league one strugglers, who beat Torquay to progress past round three, will travel to the Midlands on January 23.

The Claret and Blue beat Blackburn 3-1 on Saturday and will be confident of an extended run in the world's most famous cup competition, especially after their old nemesis Manchester United was knocked-out by Leeds United on Sunday.

Villa fans will have been delighted to see their side drawn against lower league opposition but Poyet's men should not be underestimated.

In Glenn Murray and Nicky Forster, the Seagulls possess one of the most potent strike pairings in league two and they will need to be watched.

Former Chelsea midfielder Poyet preferrs to play an attacking style and Villa boss Martin O'Neill will be wary of the tricky outfit.

The last time the two sides met in the FA Cup was way back in January 1955, when Villa claimed a 2-2 draw away from home in the third round and then won the replay at Villa Park 4-2.

The Claret and Blue went on to lose to Doncaster Rovers in the next round after playing four replays in just under two weeks against the South Yorkshire side.

Villa fans will be optimistic that their side won't need a replay against Brighton this year but it is the FA Cup and, as Leeds illustrated, anything is possible.