In the build-up to the game Wimbledon, who are still in administration, had been forced to sell two more of their best players in Nigel Reo-Coker and Adam Nowland to West Ham.

But their remaining crop of youngsters still showed their potential and Blues manager Steve Bruce admitted they were worthy of a replay.

Cunningham, who spent seven years with Wimbledon, said: “I am delighted to be in the next round of the cup but I feel a little bit for the Wimbledon players.

“After what had happened to them last week, they still played exciting football and were very positive. Our goal was against the run of play and they had some good chances.

“It is sad for me what is happening at the club but for the manager (Stuart Murdoch) and the players it must be soul-destroying.

“They’ve got a bunch of good young talented players and to see them leave one by one must be very disappointing and hard to swallow. To lose people of the calibre of Reo-Coker and Nowland must be difficult to take.

“If they could keep those players together, and add in one or two experienced people, they could easily be mid-table in the First Division.

“Unfortunately they are in the hands of the administrators so the manager’s hands are tied. They have to balance the books and get on with it.

“It will take a lot from them to get out of relegation trouble this season but hopefully they will put down some roots at Milton Keynes and come back.”

Blues produced a shadow of the performance that had earned them a goalless draw at Chelsea the previous week with a goal from Bryan Hughes settling the issue.

Cunningham said: “We faced a different kind of pressure to when we faced Chelsea and were the underdogs and had nothing to lose.

“It was the other way around on Saturday. We were strong favourites and maybe that does not sit too well on our shoulders.

“We like to be underdogs – but it is something we have to learn to deal with, being the ones expected to win.

“That’s why the likes of Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea deserve credit because they have to take that tag around with them every week and cope with it. The Wimbledon game gave us a taste of what they go through.”

Cunningham insisted that the FA Cup is still something special for the players despite the inevitable insistence that staying in the Premiership has to be main priority.

He said: “When the draw was made for the last round, everyone was huddled around the television and there was a real buzz. I am sure that will be the case again on Monday.

“It is still the greatest cup competition in the world. I got to the semi-final once and I’ve got great memories from that run that will stay for me for the rest of my days.”

Blues' match-winner Hughes is still waiting to hear if he will be offered a new deal when the current one expires in the summer.

He said: “It is the same old story. The club are not discussing any contracts until they know they are safe and unfortunately I come into that bracket.

“I am up in the summer. We’ll just have to see. As long as I am playing well and am in the team, I can keep my options open and see how it goes.”

Blues are still hopeful of signing Manchester United midfielder Nicky Butt and they are prepared to break their pay structure to land the player after tabling a £5.5m (€8m) bid.

Sources at St Andrews are adamant that wage demands will not scupper their chances of attracting top players to the club.

Midfielder Robbie Savage said: “If we can get Nicky Butt, it will give everyone a lift. To play in the same team as him would be brilliant.

“I was in the youth team with him at United and hopefully we can play together again at Birmingham.”