CRAIG Short hopes history will repeat itself for Blackburn but not for him after Rovers reached the Worthington Cup semi-final for the second successive season.

The defender missed last season's final with Tottenham Hotspur through suspension, along with captain Garry Flitcroft.

So the duo are even more determined to secure another trip to Cardiff - but this time to be in the thick of the action, and not on the sidelines.

Rovers will face Manchester United over two legs after last night's draw - but Short is still confident.

"I was really disappointed last season because it was the only final I could have been involved in," Short said. "I really enjoyed the day but I would be very disappointed to miss out on it again this time because it would be my last chance to get to a major final.

"And even though it's not the major final in the football calendar in this country, when you get down there it's an incredible day.

"The atmosphere, the streams of traffic going into Cardiff, it was a super day. Obviously it's better to win it, because it got us into Europe as well.

"It was a wonderful weekend. You ask any Rovers fans who went down, they would certainly accept another trip down there I should think."

And the 34-year-old believes the competition could lose its 'Worth-less' tag as three Premiership clubs vie for a place in the final along with First Division promotion chasers Sheffield United.

"The priority for us is to stay in the Premiership, which is still a tough job for us," he said. "The cup has been a bonus for us and hopefully we can take another step.

"This competition doesn't get taken very seriously by the top teams," he added. "But after the experience we had last year, the club will take it very seriously.

"Although bosses don't make it a priority at the start in the initial rounds, when you manage to get through those, all of a sudden you realise it's important and you start putting out your first team."

With Liverpool suffering a poor run of form and Manchester United fending off competition from the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea in the hunt for the Premiership title, it is a valuable route into Europe.

And Short believes it could be Rovers' only option.

"I don't think we will get into Europe another way. We enjoyed the experience this year, although we didn't do very well against Celtic, but if we're still in the Premiership and Europe again next season, it would be another major achievement for the club."