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Roy Hodgson and Chris Hughton won't jeopardise hard-won Prem place in search of cup glory
ROY HODGSON and Chris Hughton will both be treading a fine line between fierce rivalry and Premier League focus tonight.
Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson and Brighton manager Chris Hughton are set for action
Croydon born and bred, there is nothing Palace boss Hodgson would want more than to take his team on another Wembley adventure.
And Hughton, the Brighton manager, won the Cup twice with Tottenham in the early Eighties, so has a bank full of happy memories of the competition.
But he also knows Brighton were relegated the same season as reaching their only FA Cup final, and only returned to the top flight this season.
And with Palace starting to show signs of life in their battle against the drop, neither manager has any intention of jeopardising their hard-won Premier League place in search of Cup glory.
“I was brought up on the Cup, so for me it is a very important competition,” said Hodgson. “I am still worried we are among a relegation group, but I am also aware of the rivalry between us and Brighton.
“I know this tie means a lot to this club and the supporters, although I don’t think the majority would prefer another Cup run to not getting relegated.”
I was brought up on the Cup, so for me it is a very important competition
Hughton added: “I have massively fond memories of the FA Cup, and I know what it means to this club.
“Many years ago an FA Cup tie would have exactly the same players if a team had a league game the week before and then an FA Cup tie. That is not the norm these days.
“It is a reliance on protecting what you have, making sure you can compete and stay in the division you are in. It is the way that the Premier League has changed the game.
“There is such a desire to want to stay in that division and if anything there is even more pressure on managers and clubs to stay in a division because of the financial rewards than there ever has been.”