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MIDDLESBROUGH v WEST BROM - VIDUKA LAYS IT ON THE LINE FOR BORO
Mark Viduka has warned Middlesbrough they have to be more ruthless if they want to keep their dreams of FA Cup glory alive.
The Barclays Premiership side squeezed into the fifth round following a penalty shoot-out as Coca-Cola League One side Bristol City, who had fought back from 2-0 down in the first game, gave them a scare at the Riverside Stadium.
Viduka started the game on the bench and it was his arrival as a half-time substitute for Malcolm Christie which sparked Gareth Southgate's men into life.
However, striker partner Ayegbeni Yakubu, whose extra-time strike looked to have won the match until Jamie McCombe levelled, was guilty of a series of glaring misses - including two from the spot.
That left the game balanced until Adam Johnson finally killed off the Robins.
Boro face West Brom in the fifth round at the Riverside on Saturday, and Viduka knows there will be little margin for error.
He said: "For some reason, we love a replay. We should have finished the game off before it got to the penalty stage.
"They were a tough team. They had two proper shots on goal and they scored two goals.
"It was one of those things where everything went for them and nothing much went for us.
"We had so many chances and we did not put them away, and they they popped up at the end and scored. I still cannot believe it."
Southgate's decision to leave Viduka out of the starting line-up backfired before the break as David Noble gave the visitors a 23rd-minute lead, and there were cheers from the stand when the 31-year-old emerged for the restart.
He levelled on 69 minutes with a close-range header, and although City battled valiantly to take the tie to extra-time, Yakubu should have wrapped things up on 96 minutes.
After being felled by McCombe, he picked himself up and after waiting for keeper Chris Weale to theatrically remove and then replace his gloves, the Nigerian shot weakly straight at him.
He made amends within six minutes after Weale could only parry Johnson's shot, but McCombe ensured it went all the way with a 117th-minute volley.
Mark Schwarzer saved Phil Jevons'opening kick to give Yakubu the chance to win it at 4-4, but he hit the post and it was left to Johnson the claim the headlines after Craig Woodman failed to beat the Australian.
Viduka admitted he was amazed to see his 14-goal partner failed twice from the spot.
He said: "He is a very good penalty taker, but it just goes to show everyone is human."
The West Brom clash will see Tony Mowbray, who skippered the club as they fought back from the brink of extinction in 1986, back in his home town.
Southgate said: "I know the esteem that Tony is held in by the fans here. When I became captain, I was made aware of what a folk hero he was here through an historic period in the club's history.
"I am sure he will get a fantastic reception, and rightly so. But once the game starts, I know we will get the backing we need.
"It is going to be a good game because they are flying high and have got some confidence.
"In many respects, it is a bit like taking on a Premier League team because the position they are in and the confidence they are playing with is as good as playing a Premiership side."
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