Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate can't wait to pit his wits against Sir Alex Ferguson after his side set up an FA Cup quarter-final clash against Manchester United.
Southgate's team held their nerve to beat 10-man West Bromwich Albion 5-4 on penalties after their fifth round replay had finished 1-1 at The Hawthorns on Tuesday.
Now Middlesbrough, who also beat Bristol City on penalties in the last round, will face Premiership leaders United when they visit the Riverside Stadium in the quarter-finals on March 10.
Southgate is in his first season as a boss, while Ferguson has been at United for 20 years, but the former England defender is already dreaming of a win in the biggest match of his short managerial career.
"In the first half we were as poor as we have been for a long while," Southgate said. "But great credit to the players, they rallied themselves and in the second half they gave a really good display.
"It looked like we would go on and win it but we weren't able to take some of the good chances we had. We couldn't finish it in extra-time but we've shown great nerve to finish the penalties in front of their fans.
"The effort we put in was incredible. To come here when a lot of people had West Bromwich as favourites to go through and not only get done the job, but come from behind again, showed the character there is in the dressing room.
"Now we have a brilliant tie to look forward to against Manchester United at our place.
"We have put through the mill the fans who have travelled down here but now we've got a quarter final at home against the best team in the country and it will be a brilliant occasion to look forward to."
Middlesbrough were given a torrid time by their Championship opponents in the first half and only an heroic display from stand-in goalkeeper Brad Jones kept them in the match.
The Australian, deputising for his injured compatriot Mark Schwarzer, produced a series of fine stops to deny Richard Chaplow, Zoltan Gera and Nathan Ellington.
Albion finally broke the deadlock in the 26th minute when Darren Carter collected Ellington's pass 25 yards from goal and unleashed a curling shot that flashed past Jones before he could move.
Southgate's side were fortunate not to fall futher behind after half-time when Jonathan Greening's shot was well blocked by Jones.
That near-miss proved to be the turning point as Middlesbrough drew level in the 63rd minute.
Stuart Panarby sent in a cross that Albion failed to clear and Australia striker Mark Viduka pounced to send in a shot that deflected off Curtis Davies and past Dean Kiely for his eighth goal in 10 games.
Middlesbrough took control after that and Yakubu's blistering shot was tipped over by Kiely before South Korea's Lee Dong Gook, on for Viduka, had an effort turned away.
Albion were reduced to 10 men early in extra-time when Ellington was dismissed for a two-footed lunge on Panarby. But the visitors couldn't make their advantage count and the tie went to penalties.
The shoot-out went to sudden death and Sherill MacDonald, on loan from Anderlecht, made the decisive mistake as he blasted over to put the visitors through.
Albion boss Tony Mowbray admitted his side's efforts could damage their promotion challenge.
They face Sunderland in a crucial match on Saturday and Mowbray said: "It was the worst-case scenario really because it went to extra-time. We had a man sent off as well so we had a long period with 10 men.
"We've got a tough game on Saturday and Sunderland manager Roy Keane will be a happy man.
"But I'm delighted with the way the team applied themselves, especially in the first hour. We've got to build on that."