EX-Hammer Martin Allen is threatening to swim the River Thames if his Brentford team win through to a mouth-watering FA Cup quarter-final clash with mighty Manchester United!

Brentford first have to beat Harry Redknapp's Southampton in a fifth round replay at Griffin Park on March 1 after last Saturday's thrilling 2-2 draw on the south coast, where the League One side came from two down to force a draw.

Before that tie 'Mad Dog' lived up to his name by swimming in the River Solent, having previously swam in the River Tees prior to Bees' FA Cup match at Hartlepool United.

"As each round goes by, we're facing bigger teams and I suppose I'll have to take a dip in the Thames if we do reach the sixth round and play Man United!"

But Allen, who made his mark as a wholehearted midfielder at Upton Park between 1989 and 1995, is not counting his chickens (or pulling on his Speedos and flippers!) just yet.

He warns: "FA Cup history usually shows that the underdogs only get one bite at the cherry, with the favourites usually going on to win the replay. We've still got to beat a Premiership team in Southampton, and that's a big 'if', before we can think about Man United and that will be a very tough game.

"There is no denying, though, that the opportunity of meeting Man U at Brentford, and facing Sir Alex and his world class players, is a very exciting one."