Kevin Keegan's claim that Newcastle would "probably get an easier game in the next round" appeared slightly bold last night when the Tyneside club were paired against Arsenal in the FA Cup quarter-finals.
Manchester City manager Keegan's prediction came immediately after Bobby Robson's men had squeezed his team out at St James' Park last night.
Robson's men will again have home advantage in the clash to take place on the weekend of March 9th/10th in a repeat of the 1998 final, which Arsenal won 2-0 at Wembley.
Another attractive all-Premiership clash sees Tottenham and Chelsea paired in cup action for the second time this season.
Glenn Hoddle's Spurs side sealed their place in the English League Cup final with a convincing 5-1 drubbing of Chelsea in the semi-final second leg at White Hart Lane on January 23rd, But Claudio Ranieri's men _ 3-1 conquerors of Preston in the fifth round yesterday have their chance for revenge against a side who booked their place in the last eight with a 4-0 defeat of Tranmere yesterday.
The only team from outside the top flight definitely in the quarter-finals - West Bromwich Albion - were drawn against Fulham.
Gary Megson's team saw off Third Division Cheltenham 1-0 on Saturday while the Cottagers were also victorious in the West Midlands, seeing off Walsall 2-1.
Crewe will be hopeful of joining Division One rivals West Brom in the last eight, after earning a replay with Everton at Gresty Road following a 0-0 draw at Goodison Park yesterday.
If they finish the job next week, they will face a trip to Middlesbrough - 1-0 conquerors of League Cup finalists Blackburn on Saturday - in the quarter-finals.
First division City's former Newcastle manager Keegan was welcomed back to St James's Park with rapturous applause before kick-off but it was Robson's side who remained on course to reach the final for third time in five years.
Although Keegan was unhappy about the sending-off of Republic of Ireland defender, he was also pleased for his former club.
"(Craig) Bellamy was all over him and you have to give the advantage to the defender," he said of the send-off incident. "But no sour grapes. I genuinely wish Newcastle all the luck in the world. If Bobby Robson can bring a trophy back here he'll have gone a little bit further than I did and I said to him afterwards I hope you win it now."
Chelsea striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink was full of admiration for Preston after his team's hard-fought victory at Stamford Bridge.
"Preston has a very good team and you have to give them a lot of respect for coming here and playing good football," he said. "They made it quite difficult for us."
French midfielder Emmanuel Petit, who played in central defence as cover for the injured John Terry, heaped praise on goalkeeper Claudio Cudicini for his late save which kept Chelsea's lead intact.
"He made a great, great save - without that we would have been looking at a replay in 10 days time," Petit said.
Tottenham manager Glenn Hoddle was pleased with his team's dismissal of Tranmersaid: "I was delighted with the performance and the result. It was a potential banana skin but we saw them off with relative ease in the end.
"The main thing is that we sent the fans home buoyant," he added. "They have some belief and can now look forward to next Sunday's League Cup final, as can the players."
