Clarets legend Martin Dobson not only played in the last Burnley team to reach the last eight of the FA Cup, he was in the last side to get beyond that stage.

Now he is hoping that he will lose the latter claim with Burnley beating Watford tomorrow afternoon.

"We had a good side back in 1974 and it was Frank Casper who got the only goal in the quarter-final against Wrexham at Turf," he explained.

"To be honest we did not play that well, we were all a little disappointed, but all that mattered was that we got into the last four.

"We probably played better against Sheffield Wednesday at the same stage nine years later but Steve Taylor missed a penalty and I was at fault for not clearing a ball down the middle that Gary Bannister hooked in.

"Tommy Cassidy got an equaliser but we got hammered in the replay, 5-0 at Hillsborough."

Dobson played 31 FA Cup games in his two spells with the Clarets and he knows how important tomorrow's match is for both clubs.

But he believes Burnley can travel with confidence as he said: "They are in good form at the moment, the spirit is good and they can be very positive about it.

"Confidence is high and Stan has got them so that they all know what they are doing."

The Clarets have netted in 15 successive games and Dobson can see they have the firepower needed to knock Watford out.

"The front men are all scoring goals and I am pleased for Ian Moore," he said. "He looked an outstanding player when I watched him at Stockport a few years ago and he seems to be back to his best.

"As for Gareth Taylor, I actually signed him on a contract when I had three months at Bristol Rovers," he said. "He was an 18-year-old centre half just released by Southampton and a member of the board had a go at me for signing him on £100 a week for two years.

"I don't think they minded when they ended up selling him for £1.5million a few years later. He has had a good career and I have seen him playing for Sheffield United, Man City and Burnley and whenever we meet we have a little laugh about it.

"I'm really pleased he is doing so well because he is a very nice lad. He is excellent in the air and very important to the Burnley side."

Having been drawn away in every round, the Clarets have twice had to win a replay at Turf Moor to progress, Grimsby Town and Fulham the beaten teams.

"I fancy it might be a similar situation," confessed Dobson. "It may just be a case of having to bring them back to finish them off. They have done it twice before and I was particularly impressed with how they did against Fulham.

"They played ever so well that night and they must be buoyant. Stan looks to have assembled a strong squad of players."

And Dobson is hoping that former school team mate, Clarets chairman Barry Kilby, will be celebrating a place in the FA Cup semi-finals.

"He was in the year below me at Clitheroe Grammar," he said. "He did not have a bad left foot but was not known for his over-lapping runs.

"But he has done a great job in charge at Burnley and, like Stan, he would really deserve a bit of success."