Millwall player-manager Dennis Wise admitted he was cursing his luck when Paul Scholes escaped an FA Cup Final ban for Manchester United this weekend.

Scholes was already on a yellow card for diving during United's 1-1 draw with Chelsea at Old Trafford on Saturday when he lunged at Frank Lampard, but referee Steve Bennett refused to send him off.

That means the England midfielder is free to face Millwall in Cardiff in a fortnight's time, and Wise insisted United had struck it lucky with the decision after his side's 1-0 win over Bradford.

He said: "The referee had to make a decision and he didn't make it. It wouldn't have been nice for United but it would have been nice for my team to see him unable to play in the final but that's the way it goes."

Millwall were not so lucky when Danny Dichio was shown a red card for violent conduct against Nottingham Forest last month, and the striker will now complete his three-match ban during the final.

Wise admitted his players have been tiptoeing around since Dichio incurred the wrath of the Football Association, and blamed that attitude for Millwall missing out on the play-offs.

He said: "This was the first time I've seen Tim Cahill tackle anyone for seven games. He didn't want to miss the final and a few of my players were like that.

"When my players saw Danny sent off that thought went through all their minds. I think they found it extremely difficult."

The Lions will go into their first final on a high again after Neil Harris ended a seven-match winless run with a penalty winner against the relegated Bantams at the New Den.

And former United captain Bryan Robson, a three-time winner with the club, believes they have every chance of causing an upset.

He said: "In a one-off game Millwall have got a chance. United are a great team and will be favourites but Millwall are a strong side.

"I played in a couple of finals myself against underdogs like Brighton and Crystal Palace and they gave us a really good game. Millwall can do that to United.

"They will raise their game and it's not a foregone conclusion United will win the game. Taking the underdog's side I hope it's a close, tight game.

"United won't romp it and I know they will take it deadly serious. They will have watched Millwall and I know Alex Ferguson won't underestimate them."

Bradford are already relegated, but Robson was furious with referee Rob Styles for sending them down with a defeat.

Styles failed to give the deciding penalty until he consulted his linesman, who ruled that Paul Heckingbottom had handled the ball in his own area.

But Robson said: "It was an absolutely pathetic decision. It drives me wild.

"I think everybody in the stadium could see there was no way he could get out of the way. The officials have done us in. It just about sums up our season."