OH, NEIL! BOSS LOOKS TO END TOUGH CUP RUN

Wolves v Brighton fa cup fifth round, kick-off 7.45pm

GARY O’Neil hopes his FA Cup hoodoo as a player does not continue in management.

The Wolves boss did not have the best of times in the famous competition during a career that spanned almost two decades. He only reached the fifth round once – and did not play the only time that his club reached the last eight.

Ahead of facing brighton at Molineux tonight, O’Neil (left) said: “i’m a manager – i’m not playing anymore – so none of that counts.

“i did get to the quarterfinals at Middlesbrough – but we lost at home to Cardiff.

“We were in the Premier league, they were in the Championship and everyone thought we were nailed on to reach the semi-final.

“but we were beaten. Cardiff had a good team with the likes of Aaron Ramsey, Joe ledley and other good, young players. So, that was the furthest i got.”

O’Neil did not play in that last-eight tie – so he has an immediate opportunity to go one better against the Seagulls. He said: ”brighton is a tough draw. Of the teams that are left, they are right up there with the ones you wouldn’t want to face.

“but we are in a good spot, we’re in good form and we’re looking forward to trying to get to the quarter-final.”

Albion have suffered a huge blow with Kaoru Mitoma expected to miss the rest of the season. The Japan winger has suffered a back injury which could leave him on the sidelines for three months.

boss Roberto De Zerbi said: “it’s a bad, bad situation. it’s the back injury which kept him out against everton (at the weekend). it’s an important problem.”

brighton will also be without evan Ferguson (ankle) and Joel Veltman, while Danny Welbeck is a doubt and billy Gilmour is suspended.