'The unknown keeps you dreaming'

When nearly five thousand Southampton fans belted out Que Sera, Sera from the terraces at Craven Cottage after dispatching of Premier League opposition, it was a nod to tradition rather than conviction.

News then came about the potential chance of drawing League One Port Vale in the quarter finals to make it to Wembley in the final four.

They couldn't, could they? In the club's 50th anniversary of winning the world's oldest cup competition, what a story that would be...

As I am sure Vale fans were also doing, supporters tuned into the draw with anticipation of luck hopefully being on their side and being pulled out alongside the only other EFL representative left in the hat.

First ball out – number one.. Southampton… home tie – tick!

Second ball out – number five… Arsenal… yellow and blue commemorative balloon – popped!

The current Premier League and Champions league leaders, still on course for the quadruple was not in the script of following in the footsteps of 1976.

But, here is the thing. The initial "oh, well that's that then" has already subsided into a statistic that points out Saints have won three of their last four cup ties against the Gunners.

Optimism that Mikel Arteta's side are fighting on four fronts may see him ring the changes, two 16 year-olds started in the last round.

We will ignore the fact that even the C-team will be worth more than St Mary's Stadium.

Ultimately in a knockout competition there is always hope and that is the true magic of the cup.

On the day you never know what could happen, and in a data-driven world of stats and probabilities, it's the unknown that keeps you dreaming.