I wanted a smaller team at home (back door cup run and all that, even though we always make hard work of such games) and I've had a premonition all day that we would be first out if the 'hat'. What were the chances of that? A. 1 in 32.

Aside from that...who are the two lovelies involved in the draw? And I don't mean David James.

Palace since 19 August 1972. Palace 1 (Tony Taylor) Liverpool 1 (Emlyn Hughes)

This is a great draw. Blackpool should have beaten them easily yesterday but missed a hatful of chances. I think Hartlepool used up about five years of luck of the cup yesterday. A great chance to reach the 5th round. If it was away I would not be so confident!

monkey v the monkey hangers

I’m glad it’s not up there as I travelled up there in the 3rd round a number of years ago. Met the Lino in McDonald’s before the game. Stood on the terraces next to Sunderland fans whose game was called off. Called the result before the game kicked off as Richard Shaw was heard saying ‘we don’t fancy this’ on the frosty pitch on the coldest place in the world. Fair play to the pool fans who were in shirt sleeves. I think we lost 1-0.

I said to myself this morning i bet we get Hartlepool away,but we get them at home instead.

Btw Willo nice to see you back.

Can't imagine it will be on TV so good to have a 3PM Saturday KO.

It's 106 miles to Chicago, we got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark... and we're wearing sunglasses.