FA Cup Blackpool 1-1 Sheffield Wednesday

STILL in the hat, granted, but do Sheffield Wednesday really need to chase a place in the FA Cup final?

According to Clinton Morrison, the Owls already have 19 ‘cup finals’ to play between now and the end of the season.

Win every one of those league games and the Owls will be guaranteed automatic promotion to the Championship.

So while it was good to see the team in yesterday’s fifth-round draw, tomorrow’s League One trip to fifth-placed Milton Keynes Dons remains far more important.

Morrison, who was loaned out to the Dons earlier this season, made a rare start against Blackpool as manager Gary Megson rested a number of players.

The striker celebrated his return to the side with a goal that so nearly secured victory for Owls but Kevin Phillips earned a replay with a stoppage-time equaliser from the penalty spot for Blackpool.

“You don’t really want a replay but the FA Cup is a big cup,” he said.

“If we can get through and get a massive team (Wednesday will face Premier League Everton at Goodison Park if they win the replay) it would be good for some of our young players who have never played against a Premiership team.

“It would be a good experience and all the fans still love the FA Cup and deserve it.

“But there are 19 league games to go and they are all cup finals. We can’t slip up and Tuesday’s game is massive for us.”

Now approaching his 33rd birthday, Morrison has never been a player to settle for a place on the bench whether at Coventry City, Birmingham City or on the international stage with the Republic of Ireland.

These days, however, he accepts that he may have to be a support act for the Owls – and is not about to complain.

“Ask any player, they would like to have a bigger role, but the team is doing well at the moment so I don’t expect the manager to change the team,” he said.

“Against Blackpool, I just wanted to say ‘Don’t forget that Clinton is still around.’ I am here to work hard and if I don’t play all the time, so be it.”

Chris O’Grady and Gary Madine both sat on the bench at Bloomfield Road but are now widely regarded as first choices in Wednesday’s attack.

Morrison and Ryan Lowe will keep both men on their toes.

“I’ve done a lot of growing up over the last few months even though I should probably have grown up before,” reflected Morrison.

“It opened my eyes (on loan at Milton Keynes Dons). When you go away and play at another club, you realise how big Sheffield Wednesday is and what the club can be.

“A lot of people thought, when I went on loan, that I didn’t want to be here anymore but I never said that.

“I like it at this club, I’m enjoying my time here, and I want to get a promotion on my CV.

“I am experienced enough now to know that I can still make an impact and help the younger lads coming though like ‘Gaz’ and Chris. They are two young strikers and I have been there.

“I think there have been a few clubs enquiring about me but I think the manager has said he wants to keep me and I am not looking to go.”

Blackpool dominated the early exchanges at Bloomfield Road and Stephen Bywater’s flying save kept out a header from captain Keith Southern.

But the Owls produced some neat football as the first half wore on with Chris Lines and Chris Sedgwick catching the eye.

What they did with the ball may have been simple but it was precise and their passing showed great awareness of other players’ movement.

Striker Ryan Lowe, who had gone close earlier in the game, should probably have scored just before the break but his attempted lob was beaten down by Blackpool goalkeeper Matthew Gilks.

Both sides had made wholesale changes in order to have players fresh for league games tomorrow.

The game was still played in a competitive manner, however, and was watched by Blackpool’s biggest gate of the season.

Former Sheffield United loanees Billy Clarke and Matt Phillips linked up with Kevin Phillips in a three-man attack for Blackpool but were nowhere near their best.

However, the pair still carved out one great opportunity that brought a world class save from Bywater.

The Owls took the lead after 52 minutes thanks to a moment of opportunism from striker Morrison.

Goalkeeper Gilks raced off his line to block at the feet of Lowe but pushed the ball out wide to Morrison.

He curled a superb first time shot over both Gilks and a Blackpool defender before celebrating in style with the Wednesday supporters.

Megson’s reaction to the goal was to remove striker Lowe and send on a fifth defender in Jon Otsemobor – with right-back Lewis Buxton switching to a holding role.

The strategy so nearly paid off but a penalty – for Chris Sedgwick’s foul on Gary Taylor-Fletcher – allowed Phillips to equalise in stoppage time.

Alan Smith has joined MK Dons on loan from Newcastle for the rest of the season.

The 31-year-old former Leeds United midfielder has made just two substitute appearances for the Magpies this season.

Newcastle confirmed in a statement that Smith would be available to make his debut when the Dons face Sheffield Wednesday tomorrow night.