Irvine aware he is still walking tightrope in spite of Sheffield Wednesday victory

SHEFFIELD Wednesday manager Alan Irvine admitted that the club's fourth round FA Cup victory over Hereford United at the weekend may have saved his job.

Pressure has mounted on Irvine after a sequence of five games without a win in League One but the Owls booked a ticket to the

FA Cup fifth round for the first time in 11 years, which will see them travel to face Premier League Birmingham City.

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Goals from Clinton Morrison (2), Darren Potter and Jermaine Johnson ensured the Owls avoided a shock defeat after Hereford took an early lead through Stuart Fleetwood.

The game was also level at 1-1 until the 69th minute when Hereford defender Joe Heath was sent off for a foul on Morrison, who scored from the subsequent penalty.

"I would be naive if I thought I wasn't in a precarious position at this moment," said Irvine, who yesterday signed midfielder Isaiah Osbourne, 23, on loan from Aston Villa for the remainder of the season.

"It was a big result for me but also for the club which is most important.

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"It's a hard job being a football manager and even harder at times like this. If you don't win for a few games you're going to be put under scrutiny."

Irvine revealed that he adopted a more relaxed attitude in training last week in an attempt to take the pressure off his players.

Asked if the move had worked, he said: "Not in the first half! I thought there was still a lot of tension and fear. But I've tried to take all the pressure off the players and put it onto me which meant a less thorough approach to this particular game.

"We didn't do as much in the way of tactical work, we didn't do our normal video presentation, we just provided them with the information and the bare essentials – not because we thought 'it's only Hereford' but simply because I felt the players were feeling the pressure."

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Although the club's success in the FA Cup will lead to fixture congestion in the league, Irvine said: "I'm delighted we're in the fifth round. It's been a long time since we've been this far. I wouldn't say it's a bad thing and we have gone on to have good form after our other cup games this season. Hopefully that'll prove to be the case again."

Irvine was unable to fill the Owls' bench with seven players due to the late withdrawal from his squad of defenders Lewis Buxton (hamstring) and Richard Hinds (virus). Both are likely to be available again for tomorrow night's trip to Peterborough United.

Manchester United, who have won the FA Cup a record 11 times, will play host to non-league Crawley at Old Trafford in the fifth round.

Yesterday's draw at Wembley paired the Premier League leaders with the Blue Square Premier side, who have knocked out league sides Swindon, Derby and Torquay on their way to the last 16.

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Crawley manager Steve Evans said: "It (getting paired with United) was just a surreal moment. We got the tie that everyone in the country wants. I suppose if you are Arsene Wenger or Alec McLeish you don't want that draw – but we did.

"We will approach the tie in a really positive nature.

"The only non-league club capable of beating Manchester United is Crawley Town as we stand today...miracles do happen."

He added: "This is going to be the biggest day in our lives but we will give them the respect that Real Madrid gave them... the utmost respect."