THIS Saturday sees the first of two visits for Wolverhampton Wanderers to Vicarage Road in the space of seven days. However it won't be the first time the two clubs have met before in such a short period of time.

Back in the 1992/93 season the Hornets played Wolves twice in the space of a week - the only difference being that it was in January and the FA Cup clash was a third round affair. 

This weekend's meeting in the world-famous competition will be the sixth meeting between the clubs in the FA cup.

History favours Wolves in these fixtures, as they have three victories under their belt compared to Watford's solitary triumph, with two draws also consigning themselves to the history books.

The last FA Cup tie between these two sides is one that Watford fans would rather forget. The Hornets were comprehensively beaten 4-1 at Vicarage Road, Lee Nogan sparing the embarrassment of a home whitewash with a consolation goal.

Steve Bull, Keith Downing, Andy Mutch scored the visitors with David Holdsworth putting the ball into his own net.

The Golden Boys also featured Paul Furlong who went on to leave the club for a record fee of £2.3m in May, 1994 to Chelsea.

Wolves were knocked out in the next round by Bolton Wanderers. The team that day was:

WATFORD: Suckling, Soloman, Drysdale, Dublin, Holdsworth, Willis, Putney, Nogan, Furlong, Charlery, Lavin.

WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS: Jones, Madden, Edwards, Rankine, Mountfield, Blades, Downing, Cook, Bull, Mutch, Venus (Birch). 

ATT: 12,363

However, when the fixture was replayed in the league only a week later, the Vic roared as the Golden Boys won 3-1, Furlong netting twice and Nogan once again.

The clubs find themselves in almost exactly the same scenario on this occasion, as the cup tie takes place at the Vic a week before the Midlands side travel to Hertfordshire for a Championship meeting - which will be live on Sky.

This time round, with recent prolonged cup runs and the team currently second in the Championship, Aidy Boothroyd and the team are in a strong position to ensure that history does not repeat itself.

A long trip down memory lane, back to 1912, takes us to the first FA cup encounter between these sides, which finished in a goalless draw.

The replay, however, saw Watford record one of their greatest ever defeats, an astounding 10-0 victory to Wolves.
 
Retribution had to wait 68 years, for the next FA cup clash wasn't until 1980. The Hornets enjoyed a good cup run on this occasion, exorcising their demons at Molineux with a 3-0 long awaited victory in the fifth round.

The scorers that day were Malcolm Poskett, who bagged two, and Luther Blissett.

WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS: Kearns, Palmer, Parkin, Daniel, Hughes, Berry, Hibbitt (McAlle), Carr, Gray, Richards, Eves.

WATFORD: Steele, Henderson, Harrison, Patching, Sims, Bolton, Blissett, Poskett, Jenkins, Train, Rostron.

ATT: 32,881

Unfortunately the Golden Boys were dumped out of the competition in the next round by Arsenal - Poskett's goal wasn't enough as two from Frank Stapleton won the tie for the Gunners.

A year later both sides locked horns again, with a 1-1 draw at Vicarage Road in the fourth round.

Here are the line-ups from the clash, Northern Ireland international Gerry Armstrong scoring for the 'Orns with John Richards bagging for Wolves.  

WATFORD: Sherwood, Rice, Harrison, Taylor, Sims, Jackett, Callaghan (Ward), Blissett, Armstrong, Train, Poskett.

WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS: Bradshaw, Palmer, Hollifield, Daniel, McAlle, Berry, Hibbitt, Atkinson, (Parkin), Gray, Richards, Eves.

ATT: 24,228

The fourth round replay at Molineux saw the home side battle through to win 2-1, Richards scoring a penalty for the hosts before Derek Parkin won the tie - Poskett again bagging for Golden Boys.

Recent football history favours the Golden Boys over their Midlands counterparts. The last Cup tie, a League cup affair, saw Clark Carlisle score twice, the second after extra-time, to secure a 2-1 victory at the Vic in a thrilling League Cup fixture back in September 2005.

This season in the Championship, the Hornets secured a last-minute 2-1 victory away from home on the opening day, Jordan Stewart and Marlon King both netting after 87 and 90 minutes respectively.

So although FA Cup records favour Mick McCarthy's men, Watford have been in the driving seat of late in this age-old football fixture, and will look to change the record books in their favour.

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