Manchester City striker Georgios Samaras scored his fourth goal in eight games for his new club to pave the way for a 2-1 home victory over Aston Villa in their FA Cup fifth-round replay on Tuesday.
City will meet the winners of Wednesday's replay between West Ham United and Bolton Wanderers in a quarter-final tie scheduled for the City of Manchester stadium on Monday.
It is the first time City have reached the last eight of the competition for 13 years.
"I am proud of my players," manager Stuart Pearce told Sky Sports. "I don't ever doubt their battling commitments.
"They have been outstanding all season. I was delighted with them and I think they deserved that victory."
Pearce, who this week signed a two-year rolling contract he agreed with City in July, has steered them to 10th in the Premier League with 40 points from 29 matches.
Greek international Samaras, who joined City from Dutch club Heerenveen for six million pounds in January, opened the scoring after 17 minutes.
He raced clear of the defence and slotted in the rebound after his first effort was parried by keeper Thomas Sorensen.
Winger Trevor Sinclair wasted an excellent chance to make it 2-0 in the 39th minute, shooting straight at Sorensen from 15 metres after beating the offside trap.
Villa continued to struggle and their former striker Darius Vassell added a second goal for City from close range after good work by Albert Riera four minutes into the second half.
City went close to scoring a third goal when Antoine Sibierski headed against the post two minutes later.
Villa rarely threatened until midfielder Steven Davis pulled one back with his eighth goal of the season in the 85th minute.
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