Confident! Watford to put tickets on sale for FA Cup clash but yet to qualify

Watford will take the bizarre step of putting tickets on sale for their FA Cup clash against Manchester United or Wolves, even though they are yet to secure their place in the fourth round.

The Hornets were due to play their third-round replay against League One side Tranmere on Tuesday night but the game was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

The tie will now be played on January 23, which could see the Hornets play three times in the space of six days should they win the replay.

The winners of the replay will host either Wolves or Manchester United in the fourth round on January 26, leaving Watford or Tranmere with little time to sell tickets if they waited until progression was secured.

As a result, Watford will put tickets on sale on Thursday morning and the club has guaranteed 'refunds will be processed if we do not win our replay at Tranmere.'

As a result of the postponement, Nigel Pearson's side are now facing a nightmare fixture schedule.

The Hornets face Aston Villa away from home on January 21 and should they beat Tranmere they will face  United or Wolves on January 26.

Fans travelling to both the Villa and Tranmere game will face a 400-mile-round trip in just over 48 hours.

The fixture congestion was realised after the Hornets released a statement that their third-round tie would not be going ahead on Tuesday afternoon.

Following a pitch inspection, the referee decided against the tie from going ahead.

Heavy rain and 80mph winds have hit large parts of the country.

Liverpool's Women's Super League clash with Manchester United at Prenton Park was also postponed on Sunday due to a waterlogged pitch following heavy rain the night before.