Honesty the best policy

Watching Stoke City's 2-1 FA Cup quarter final victory over West Ham, it was clear to see players would do anything in order to win.

Freddie Piquionne's handball and Matty Etherington's dive were just two examples of this.

I believe a new policy should be introduced for situations like this.

If the officials can't conclusively give a decision one way or the other, they should ask the player involved.

In the Piquionne incident, the referee could have went up to him and asked if he had handballed.

If he said no, the ref would take his word for it. If he said no and TV replays proved he was lying, then give him a one game ban for unsporting behaviour.

It's as simple as that. With the Etherington penalty incident, just ask him if he's been caught. I'm sure most players would tell the truth when threatened with a one match ban and reputation for cheating.

This policy could have been used for Thierry Henry's handball against Ireland, and would be a lot easier than using technology.

As for the game itself, I feel Stoke fully warranted the win.

They dominated the early period and deserved to go in front, with Robert Huth heading home unmarked from a trademark Rory Delap throw-in.

Piquionne's equaliser, more than helped by the aformentioned handball, turned the game on its head and West Ham became the better side.

Then came the Potters' penalty at the start of the second half. Etherington dived, but justice was done when Robert Green superbly saved his penalty.

Stoke weren't to be denied, though, with Danny Higginbotham drilling a hotly-contested free-kick through Green.

West Ham did put pressure on the home side in the closing stages, with Matthew Upson hitting the bar in one of their best opportunities.

Scott Parker was once again their inspiration and it seems strange he isn't their captain, to look at him it would seem obvious he is the captain.

Overall though, Stoke deserved to progress.

It sets up an interesting semi final with Bolton, with one of the teams set for a cup final appearance and a season in Europe.

That means, unless Wanderers finish an unlikely fifth, European places will only go to the top five sides in the league, with Birmingham claiming a place through their Carling Cup triumph and Stoke or Bolton qualifying with their cup final appearance.

As for Sunday's other quarter-final, Manchester City had to work hard for their 1-0 win against Reading, with Micah Richards heading a late winner.

City, in a similar way to neighbours United, are mechanical at the moment and at times dour to watch.

With the talent Roberto Mancini has at his disposal, there is no need for such negative tactics.

Unless he shows adaptability and a willingness to attack, particularly in home games against lesser opposition, City are going nowhere fast.

But they got the job done and this could be the season their prolonged trophy drought comes to an end.

They would have loved to have ended it with a cup final victory over United, but would settle for a semi final win over their fierce rivals all the same.

The game should be mouthwatering, but will probably be a drab 0-0 draw which goes to penalties.

Whatever happens though, it will be an interesting watch.

Maybe this could be City's year after all.