MANCHESTER UNITED saw the road to a third successive Wembley English FA Cup final appearance opening up in front of them after being handed a home quarter final with Swindon or Southampton.

But there could be two other titanic last eight games after yesterday's draw. In form Aston Villa, the only other side definitely through to the quarter finals, will travel to face the winners of tonight's clash between Nottingham Forest and Spurs at the City Ground.

And the draw also threw up the prospect of a mighty collision at Elland Road if Leeds and Liverpool get through their fifth round dates with first division opponents Port Vale and Charlton.

The other game could be a capital affair, with Chelsea travelling to Grimsby on Wednesday knowing the prize is a home tie with the winners of the Selhurst Park replay between Wimbledon and first division Huddersfield.

Home advantage for the Old Trafford side, who needed a debatable Eric Cantona penalty to help them come from a goal down against Manchester City, found the bookmakers slashing their odds against lifting the trophy for a record ninth time.

United, rated at 7-2 before their derby victory, are now as low as 9-4 favourites.