Todd feels blue at Chelsea near-miss

From the archive, first published Monday 4th Dec 2006.

City will head for Stoke in the FA Cup third round - if they can get past Millwall first.

The winners of next Tuesday's replay at the New Den face a trip to the Britannia Stadium to take on the in-form Championship side on Saturday, January 6.

But City were reflecting on what might have been after narrowly missing out on a potential cash bonanza away to Chelsea.

The champions were drawn out at home in the penultimate tie - with City or Millwall one of three balls remaining in the pot. But instead it was the league's basement boys Macclesfield who were handed a Stamford Bridge pay day.

Colin Todd said: "If we overcome Millwall, the incentive is there to progress beyond the third round. Playing at Stoke will be physical and demanding but we would give it a real go. But we're all a bit disappointed because it was that close to being away to Chelsea. That would be a marvellous opportunity for the club."

If City get knocked out by Millwall, they will still be in the Potteries on third-round day. They are scheduled to face Port Vale in League One.