Aitor Karanka has vowed not to let history repeat itself as he attempts to steer Middlesbrough to cup glory and Premier League survival.
Twenty years ago, Boro reached both the League and FA Cup finals with a star-studded side built around Juninho, Fabrizio Ravanelli and Emerson.
However, a replay defeat by Leicester after a 1-1 draw at Wembley and a 2-0 reverse at the hands of Chelsea saw them twice fall at the final hurdle, and worse was to follow when the club surrendered its top-flight status at the end of an eventful 1996-97 campaign.
On Saturday, Boro entertain League One Oxford with a place in the FA Cup quarter-finals at stake, but sitting just two points clear of the drop zone and, while head coach Karanka will allow both his players and the fans to dream, he will not take his eye off the ball and risk a similar mistake.
Oxford United
