The cup success has been achieved by beating Bournemouth (League One), Macclesfield (Football Conference), Huddersfield (Championship), Everton (Premier League) and Millwall (Championship).
That’s nowhere near the quality of the weekly Premier League opposition and hardly constitutes kicking on.
It is when you think of Swindon (League Two), Bolton (South West Lancs.), Notts County (League Two), Tottenham (Premier League) and Chelsea (Premier League). Perhaps you would have preferred to lose in the early rounds this season?
Kicking on would be to establish the training ground and youth academy to maintain the first team in the Premier League. The television fees from the Premier League next season could do that.
Now we face the prospect of trips to an outpost of Eastern Europe and to Bournemouth next season. I would settle for trips to Swansea and Cardiff.
Alternatively, trips to Inter Milan, Valencia and Braga and we are not down yet!