ThE more paranoid among us Rovers fans have had a field day due to some of the goings on concerning us this season.

There have been conspiracy theories abound. Everything from questionable refereeing decisions to cup draws. so much so that some would have you believe that Rovers' lofty league position and excellent cup progress has been achieved in spite of shadier practises being at work.

Can I just set the record straight at this stage and say that although I myself have questioned certain things I can in no way be described as one of the paranoid individuals I've just described.

Even when the cube featuring Rovers' number was matched with the sphere matching Manchester United's, leaving the way clear for the so called big two in the final, I put it down as just 'one of those things'.

Seriously though, considering the route taken to get to this juncture, it was always going to be the toughest of all the potential opponents that we drew so there is no point bleating.

Nevertheless, from being pretty disappointed immediately after the draw I'm starting to get used to the idea that this is a tie that we can win, most certainly.

For a start, there is no team in the country in better form than us after a winning streak that now stands at five games.

All players in the squad are at full fitness, many are performing at their optimum and crucially there is competition for places in all positions.

A sign of a good team is the strength in depth and for the first time in years Rovers have players on the bench who, rather than just make the numbers up, can actually make an impact when called upon.

Then there's the opposition, it's certainly not the United of old. Teams would be beaten before a ball was kicked five years ago but as the air of invincibility has eroded there is now, more than ever a feeling that they can be beaten.

Instead of facing Keane and Beckham it's Fletcher and Richardson - no comparison really.

Never was this more apparent than in the win at Old Trafford earlier in the season when for the first time I can remember a Rovers team expressing themselves on the big stage and coming out worthy winners.

There's always a danger that United will still be smarting from that defeat and come out all guns blazing but I still believe we've enough about us these days to cope with that.

One more thing that will certainly work in our favour has been the reaction in the media since the draw. All the talk has been of the 'dream final' so much so that you could be forgiven for thinking Blackburn Rovers aren't even involved. But the thing is, we are involved and although we are big underdogs over the two matches, we're there because we deserve to be.

The headline writers will have their pencils sharpened ready to maul the 'bully boys' in print, let's give a performance that will dispel that myth once and for all and give us a fighting chance of that return to Cardiff.