The Tribune

By STUART CONDIE AP Sports Writer LONDON (AP) -- Although Wolverhampton Wanderers could trade divisions with Birmingham at the end of the season, the relegation-threatened Premier League club will get a chance to put its local rival in its place when the teams meet in the FA Cup today. The central England sides are set to replay a third-round match at Molineux after a 0-0 draw on January 7 and Birmingham are the form side. While Wolves are just a point above the Premier League relegation zone, the Blues hover just outside the promotion playoff spots in the second-tier League Championship following a 6-0 win at Millwall at the weekend. But Wolves showed they can still compete with in-form sides with a 1-1 draw at third-place Tottenham on Saturday and manager Mick McCarthy is looking for his team to carry that improved form into Wednesday's match. "We have been harder to beat in recent weeks, without a doubt," McCarthy said. "We'd been tough and determined as we always are and we were well organised I didn't want any more heroic failures." The chance for local bragging rights should mean neither side is complacent about a match that both might understandably place below league fixtures on their list of priorities, but McCarthy is still set to tinker with his lineup. Steven Fletcher scored his ninth goal of the season at the weekend but is likely to be omitted on Wednesday. "I did (rest Fletcher) last week against Birmingham amid much confusion about why I wasn't playing my best player," McCarthy said. "Well, I want him to play in the Premier League because it's paramount we have a player there who is on a run and is scoring goals. "I didn't think having Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and Kevin Doyle against Birmingham was a downer anyway. Rest assured, Fletch will probably be getting a rest on Wednesday." Birmingham and its manager Chris Hughton are trying to get back into the Premier League and Wolves are fighting to stay there. "It's nice to get a point at Arsenal and Spurs but ... we can't rest on our laurels with two good performances in North London," McCarthy said. "We need to do it in the West Midlands as well." QPR, Bolton avoid upsets in FA Cup replays LONDON (AP) -- Danny Gabbidon headed in Shaun Wright-Phillips' corner kick in the 73rd minute, and Queens Park Rangers beat the third-tier MK Dons 1-0 in a replay Tuesday night to reach a fourth-round matchup against London rival Chelsea in the FA Cup. Bolton also reached the last 32 of soccer's oldest knockout competition, defeating fourth-tier Macclesfield 2-0 on goals by Kevin Davies in the first minute and Martin Petrov in the 26th. Bolton will play Swansea next in another all-Premier League match on January 28. Second-tier League Championship teams Leicester and Millwall also progressed from replays on Tuesday. Leicester routed Nottingham Forest 4-0 behind a Jermaine Beckford hat trick and will play fourth-tier team Swindon. Millwall will host fellow League Championship team Southampton after defeating Dagenham & Redbridge 5-0 as Darius Henderson scored three goals.