Ian Wright has admitted he would be ‘devastated’ if one club reached the FA Cup final, with the likes of Manchester City and Aston Villa vying to win the famous trophy.
The FA Cup quarter-finals are taking place this weekend with Crystal Palace defeating Fulham 3-0 in the first of four tantalising games .
Goals from Eberechi Eze, Ismaila Sarr and Eddie Nketiah booked the Eagles’ place in the semi-finals, though they were somewhat fortunate to have 10 men on the pitch after Adam Wharton made a number of rash fouls .
The south Londoners now go into the draw for the final four which will be conducted on Sunday , and there is a chance they will face fierce rivals Brighton and Hove Albion.
The south coast side host fellow Premier League high-fliers Nottingham Forest on Saturday evening.
Brighton are enjoying yet another impressive season which has earned them plenty of admirers but Wright does not want them to advance further in the FA Cup out of fear they will knock out his beloved Palace.
Asked about the prospect of an Eagles vs Seagulls semi-final at Wembley, the former Arsenal striker told ITV: ‘That would be amazing. It’s a derby if you’re a Brighton or Palace fan.
‘I remember those and they were pretty intense, but I wouldn’t like to see that because that would be too nervy for me!
‘I’d rather us get Forest and beat them because if Brighton beat Palace I’d be devastated!’
While unusual given the distance between the two clubs, Palace and Brighton are each other’s biggest rivals, with animosity between the two beginning in the 1970s.
The semi-finals will also include the teams that win between Preston North End versus Aston Villa and Bournemouth against Manchester City.
Crystal Palace have made it to two FA Cup finals; in the 1990 competition, Wright netted twice but they lost to Manchester United after a replay. Additionally, throughout their 164-year existence, they haven’t claimed victory in any significant tournament title.
'We've just stepped into the crucial period, these final two months, and obviously it's always beneficial to enter this phase with a victory,' remarked Eagles manager Oliver Glasner following their win at Craven Cottage.
'However, ultimately we haven't accomplished anything yet, so it's important to remain humble and continue working hard, rather than just discussing Wembley.'
'It’s fantastic; I believe everyone should make the most of this weekend, particularly our supporters who now have an extended break to revel in celebration. However, starting from tomorrow, we will begin gearing up for the match against Southampton in the Premier League since being at our peak form is essential as we approach the semi-finals.'
'Consequently, we can’t just shut down operations over the next four weeks only to resume afterward; instead, we must continue putting in significant effort with the aim of securing three points when playing against Southampton.'
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