Hughes aims to shoot down big guns

Blackburn manager Mark Hughes sent a warning to his big club rivals today, saying he sees no reason why his side cannot win this season's FA Cup.

It took a contentious 83rd-minute penalty from Paul Dickov to see off Leicester in an insipid sixth-round tie at Ewood Park yesterday and send Blackburn into today's semi-final draw.

With Manchester United, Arsenal and Newcastle also in the hat, Rovers will be outsiders, yet Hughes feels the other three clubs will want to avoid his side.

He said: "It was not pretty at times but we got the job done. Our goal at the start of the day was to get to a Cup semi-final at the Millennium Stadium and we have been able to do that.

"Now we are in a semi-final, we want to get to the Final in May because losing a semi is not a nice experience.

"We are in the shake up, we have got a ticket, and why can't we win the raffle? I don't see why not - and I don't care who we play.

"The sides involved are top-quality sides, so whoever we play it will be a difficult game, but I am sure they will think the same about facing us. I said from the outset we would enjoy the Cup, whatever run we had, and we are still enjoying it.

"I also said from the start we would have a go and see how far we could get, which is why I have always picked my strongest side because the competition deserves that respect, and here we are in the semi-final for the first time in 45 years.

"We know we still have work to do in the league, and that is obviously the priority, but the Cup run has helped our league form. This is another win, and that makes it three on the bounce now."