Grimsby confident of upsetting Chelsea

GRIMSBY'S manager, Brian Laws, sent a chilling English FA Cup message to Chelsea's Glenn Hoddle as the pair prepare their teams for Blundell Park battle tonight (live Network 2, kick-off 7.45).

Laws has predicted that Hoddle's Chelsea team will follow West Ham as prized Grimsby scalps. "What we did to West Ham we can do to Chelsea," said Laws.

"We caught West Ham twice and we can do it against Chelsea. I won't have to motivate my team for a match like this but Glenn will. Premiership sides like to know what they are playing against. They are not too sure when they are playing, teams outside the Premiership.

Laws was in bullish mood after noting that the West Ham team Grimsby knocked out 3-0 in a Blundell Park replay beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge three days later.

Hoddle acknowledges how difficult it could be to oust Grimsby and claim the prize of a sixth round home tie with Wimbledon or Huddersfield.

"Grimsby are an attractive footballing side and as West Ham found out it is a tough place to go," he said.

If the tie beats the freeze - it is subject to a morning pitch inspection - Hoddle will probably recall Erland Johnsen or Nigel Spackman as deputy for broken shin victim Eddie Newton in a midfield holding role.

Striker John Spencer faces a check on the ankle problem that kept him out of Saturday's defeat by West Ham.

Neil Aspin returns to the place he started his career tonight, believing another Port Vale Cup shock is more than possible. Aspin, the first division side's central defensive anchor, joined Leeds United as a teenage striker, although the majority of his seven-year stay at Elland Road was spent at the back.

The displays of wingers Jon McCarthy and Steve Guppy drove Everton to distraction in the last round and they were never able to get to grips with strike pair Martin Foyle and Tony Naylor.

Aspin added: "I think it was the best we've played in the seven years or so I've been at the club.

Leeds will be without Richard Jobson and John Pemberton because of knee and leg injuries respectively, while David Wetherall could miss his first match through injury for 17 months.

Manchester United manager, Alex Ferguson, is set to change a winning line-up as Manchester United seek their seventh win in a row when Everton visit Old Trafford tonight.

Paul Scholes, who is United's top scorer in all competitions despite not having started a game since early December, could be added to the attack.

And England full-back Gary Neville, available after a two-match ban, threatens his younger brother Philip for a full-back place.

However, Philip Neville has been outstanding recently and played a leading role in United's win over Manchester City.