Europe's glamour clubs have been warned - the Dons are on their way!

Joe Kinnear's men signalled their intent with Tuesday's 2-1 Worthington Cup Quarter Final triumph over Chelsea at Selhurst Park - which left them favourites to win the competition and qualify for the UEFA Cup.

Kinnear said: "It's my third semi-final in three years and maybe this time we'll make it."

"The only time we've been to Europe is on the ferry for the duty free shopping. It would be a magnificent ending to the fantastic Wimbledon fairytale.

And judging by the way the Dons sent Gianluca Vialli's international galaxy of stars packing from the competition, European football would hold no fears for the Crazy Gang.

But for all their multi-million pound stars, Chelsea had no-one to match the classy skills of Michael Hughes.

Robbie Earle jumped highest to meet Hughes's swirling 20th minute cross to put the Dons in front.

Despite Chelsea's half-time re-organisation and a series of bizarre refereeing decisions from referee Graham Poll which resulted in four Dons players being booked for a range of minor offences, Chelsea showed little sign of getting through the outstaning Dons' defence - Chris Perry, Dean Blackwell, Kenny Cunningham and Ben Thatcher.

Even Poll couldn't fail to give the Dons a penalty 18 minutes from time when Frank Lebeouf climbed all over Marcus Gayle. Hughes thumped in the penalty.

Vialli pulled one back after 87 minutes and the Dons were made to sweat in the last few minutes before recording their first ever Selhurst Park victory over Chelsea - and inflicting their first defeat in 20 matches.

If they don't win the Worthington Cup, the Dons may be able to qualify for Europe through the league.

Currently in ninth place, they will want to avoid being brought down to earth with a bump by struggling Coventry at Selhurst Park on Saturday.

Coventry won 2-1 in the corresponding fixture last season and although Dion Dublin has left for Villa, Gordon Strachan's men boast possibly the Premiership's fastest striking partnership in Noel Whelan and Darren Huckerby.

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