Tony Pulis swerves a war of words with Tim Sherwood

Sherwood has wound up the Baggies by claiming they're "a good, little club" and by saying they will have to play better than they did in Tuesday's 2-1 Premier League defeat at Villa Park to reach Wembley in this evening's quarter-final.

Pulis however has declined the chance to get involved in a war of words with the outspoken new Villa chief as the West Midlands rivals prepared to do battle before a 40,000 crowd at 5.30pm.

"I'm the manager of West Bromwich Albion," he said.

"While I'm here as manager, head coach or head bottle washer, we'll do it the way I want to do it here. Other people have different ways of doing it.

"That's Tim – it's no problem with me, and no problem with the chairman.

"Tim's Tim – he'll be good fun for the time he's in the Midlands."

"That's fine by me, it's a diverse country – everybody's got the opportunity and the chance to express themselves.

"It's brilliant. That's why it's such a great country."

As for Sherwood's opinion that Albion must improve this time, Pulis agrees.

"I hope we do. It would be lovely to prove him right!" said the Baggies boss.

"We're talking about a game that got away from us in the last 30 seconds through a mistake.

"It didn't get away from us because Villa were pounding us. They didn't murder us. They were on the front foot, they were quicker to the ball and they played really well.

"They were better for 45 minutes – in the second half we had the best chances to win the game and Craig Dawson normally puts those away."

If Sherwood's "little club" jibe didn't stir them up for the first game, Pulis insists he has no problem motivating his players for tonight's derby, when 6,500 Baggies fans will descend on Villa Park.

"Not really– I don't think we need any motivation," he said.

"It's a local derby, it's the quarter-final of the FA Cup and it's absolutely wonderful we've got to this stage.

"These are big games that everybody should look forward to and we're certainly looking forward to it."

Meanwhile, Brown Ideye is hoping to get to Wembley – so his mum can see him play live for the first time.

"In summer it's possible, right now it's cold for her," said the £10m club record signing. "I want us to get to the final. If we do then I can arrange it."