BLACKBURN boss Mark Hughes has vowed there will be no let-up in his pursuit of landing his first trophy as a manager.

Hughes has been at the heart of a Rovers revolution during his time at the Ewood Park helm, taking Blackburn from relegation candidates to potential cup winners in just 16 months.

Under Hughes, Blackburn have shed their reputation as 'bully-boys', and this season have played some superb football that has lifted them to eighth in the Barclays Premiership, and into the semi-finals of the Carling Cup.

Hughes former club Manchester United stand between Rovers and a trip to Cardiff's Millennium Stadium, another old haunt from his days as Wales manager.

Ahead of the first leg at Ewood Park, Hughes insists United hold no fears. "There has been a lot of work done in the short time I have been here, and we have had a modicum of success we have been pleased with.

"But we are not going to stand still. We are going to push the club as far as we can."

Hughes' confidence is such, he even has the temerity to suggest his side could put the tie beyond United's reach after just 90 minutes.

"Going to Old Trafford, we want to be in a position where we can win the tie," added Hughes, who side have registered five sucessive victories in the league.

"I think we are capable of it, but whether we can do it remains to be seen."

l The Republic of Ireland have confirmed that Walsall's Steve Staunton will replace Brian Kerr as national team manager.

Former England boss Sir Bobby Robson has been heavily tipped to come in as an advisor to the former Villa man.