This is the tie that guarantees there will be a Nationwide League side in the Semi-Finals in April although there could be as many as three.
We will look at how we both reached the 6th round:
Round Three
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Grimsby frankly looked a beaten side but they got more into the game when Paul Weller had to go off injured. It took though a poor penalty decision to really get them back into it just before the hour although they never honestly threatened to get an equaliser. That was until stoppage time when they scored out of the blue to take it to a replay.
If we were on top in the first game then the replay was so one side it was incredible that with eleven minutes to go we were only one up through Ian Moore. However we scored another three with the goals coming from Glen Little, a Robbie Blake penalty and a second from Ian Moore and the 4-0 win was just about a fair reflection of the game.
Watford were also drawn away at 3rd Division Macclesfield in what could have been a tricky tie. It wasn’t though as the Hornets completely outplayed their hosts from start to finish.
The goals came from Heidar Helgusson and Jermaine Pennant and the performance left manager Ray Lewington purring, "We were superb today, from one to eleven it was just a superb performance.
"We could have been nervous against a Third Division side but our first half display in particular was sensational. It is as good as we have played all season."
Round Four
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The 3-0 win hardly reflects the game as we had to withstand an incredible amount of pressure in the second half after taking the lead just after the restart with a Robbie Blake goal.
Two further goals late in the game from Paul Cook and Glen Little saw the Clarets into the 5th Round for the first time in 20 years but this had not been an easy tie.
At the end of the day it was Burnley who were able to find the quality finishes that got us three goals as Brentford either missed or saw Diallo, Gnohere and in particular Beresford all in stunning form.
Watford however won themselves a home tie against Premiership side West Brom and once again they hit top form to win through. It was Helgusson again who scored, on this occasion the only goal of the game, with just ten minutes left although they could have been in front early in the second half but Neil Cox missed from the spot.
They were easier winners than 1-0 would suggest although West Brom hit the bar in the last minute. After the match Baggies’ boss Gary Megson admitted, "It would have been a tragedy for Watford if that had gone in in the last minute. They didn’t deserve anything other than a victory."
Round Five
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This time Watford were somewhat fortunate to win through and did so with the most controversial goal of the round, a Tommy Smith penalty. It was given for a supposed foul by Jason McAteer that only referee Mike Dean saw, footage later showed there had been no such foul, and then were given two opportunities to score with the spot kick.
Sunderland keeper Thomas Sorensen saved the first kick but was adjudged to have moved off his line by Dean, not the best of referees as those of us at Bradford earlier in the season would have seen.
The Mackems then laid siege to the Watford goal but somehow it held firm until the final whistle to take them into the last eight.
Watford boss Ray Lewington was fair in his judgement and said after the game, "Sunderland will feel unlucky. I am grateful we got it but I don’t know why the penalty was given. It was a fantastic result and we got the rub of the green."
The following day Burnley turned in a fantastic performance at Loftus Road to earn a replay with a 1-1 draw against Fulham. We were in front early through Alan Moore and although Fulham equalised in first half stoppage time we were able to comfortably hold them to bring them back to the Turf.
That was just over a week ago when we simply stuffed them. The 3-0 scoreline flattered us not one little bit and Watford’s Neal Ardley who will face us tomorrow described our performance as awesome.
Even the BBC’s Mark Lawrenson heaped praise on us as Jean Tigana was still whinging about things because he didn’t get his own way.
Round Six
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Stan can pick from a full strength squad that includes skipper Steve Davis who came through 65 minutes of a reserve game in midweek.
Davis is unlikely to start though and it would be a major surprise if Stan didn’t start with the same line up that has started each of the last five games, including the two against Fulham.
Expect us to line up: Marlon Beresford, Dean West, Ian Cox, Driss Diallo, Graham Branch, Paul Cook, Ian Moore, Tony Grant, Lee Briscoe, Alan Moore, Gareth Taylor.
There could be a change on the bench if the skip gets a place and the five will almost certainly come from: Nik Michopoulos, Mark McGregor, Steve Davis, Paul Weller, Glen Little and Robbie Blake.
Ray Lewington has given no hints as to his starting line up although he has said that Tommy Smith has trained and he expects him to be fit. He made six changes last Tuesday against Preston and that makes it virtually impossible to predict his starting line up.
If Smith does return from injury and the line up is similar to the one that played Forest last Saturday then they could line up: Alec Chamberlain, Neil Cox, Paul Robinson, Stephen Glass, Micah Hyde, Jamie Hand, Allen Nielsen, Neal Ardley, Heidar Helgusson, Marcus Gayle, Tommy Smith.
The referee is Alan Wiley one of the best of our Premiership referees. We are unfortunately unable to bring you details of Wiley’s performances this season although we can tell you that he is not a referee who is over eager with the yellow cards.