Reuters

Mowbray hails Championship clubs

Updated 08.43 Mon Mar 10 2008

Keywords: west bromwich albion, cardiff city, portsmouth, barnsley, tony mowbray, fa cup, championship, football, sport

West Brom manager Tony Mowbray believes this season's FA Cup giantkillings have proved the quality of the Championship has improved.

Portsmouth are the only Premier League team left in the competition along with West Brom, Barnsley and Cardiff City, so one of the semi-finals will involve two clubs from the Championship.

"The draw will be a very exciting one" - Tony Mowbray

Mowbray said: "The draw will be a very exciting one with none of the big boys left in there. Portsmouth are the only Premier League side still left in the competition and they are a good side.

"I think the fact that they are the only top-flight side remaining is a good advert for the Championship.

"You can see by the quality of the teams that have progressed this far in the competition that it is a hard league and a league with a lot of very good sides."

Since 1996, only Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool have won the FA Cup, but all four have been knocked out of this season's competition.

With prize money of £900,000 for the winning team in each semi-final, Barnsley, Cardiff City and West Bromwich Albion will be hoping for a financial windfall.