THE determination to atone for recent disappointments will be a motivating factor in both camps ahead of tomorrow's FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.

Wanderers return to the twin towers anxious to exorcise the demons left behind by last season's play-off final defeat by Watford and to make up for their abject performances against Tranmere in this season's Worthington Cup semi-final.

And Villa boss John Gregory reckons the "lowest point" of his managerial career is at the forefront of his mind

Villa were devastated by their Worthington Cup semi-final exit at the hands of Leicester City, when the manager branded his side "chokers."

"When you lose in a semi-final you can't erase the memory. It stays with you for a long time," he admitted.

Meanhwile, Eidur Gudjohnsen has added his voice to those calling for Wanderers to make up for their past mistakes.

"We've had disappointments in the past," the 18-goal top scorer acknowledged: "It would be good to banish those things from the memory."

Wanderers' ticket sales for the first of the two semi-finals were approaching 24,000 today, confirming the forecast that they would have a bigger following than in last year's play-off final.

Gregory has admitted he is tempted to give Dion Dublin his first start since breaking his neck against Sheffield Wednesday in December.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.