FA Cup: Chance of redemption for so many sides
Manchester United's Harry Maguire celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the English Premier League match against Ipswich Town at the Old Trafford . Picture: AP Photo/Dave Thompson
The Premier League takes a break for the weekend, and the Champions League is not on till Tuesday, so the attention switches to the once venerated but now sadly neglected FA Cup fifth round.
The money and profile of the Premier League and Champions League understandably means that most clubs now show a lot of disrespect when it comes to fielding teams in a cup competition that was once the most prized football title in the world.
Nevertheless, when it comes to the fifth-round, sides tend to start taking it a bit more seriously. With 16 sides left, the chance of Wembley silverware suddenly becomes a real viability. At this point, the remaining clubs are a mixture of Premier sides lucky enough to make it to this stage after putting out the reserves, and lower division teams that either avoided big club encounters or pulled off a classic giant-killing upset, so synonymous with the FA Cup.
As of going to print, we have no idea of the outcome of the Friday night Aston Villa v Cardiff evening game. Villa have done so well this season, domestically and in the Champions League. And they were impressive in exiting Spurs from the fourth round. Cardiff edged into the fifth round by beating fellow Championship strugglers Stoke in a penalty shootout. Surely Villa have the class to this test with comfort. This may not age well.
Today’s hodgepodge of divisions for the cup fixtures is stereotypical of FA Cup draws, but not seen as often these days. Thus, offering a genuine opportuning for lower division sides to create an upset or for established Premier League sides put on a determined push for silverware.
The pick of the early kick-offs is the Crystal Palace v Millwall London derby. Two impressive Premier League wins against fancied Fulham and a 4-1 victory over the aforementioned Aston Villa has really put The Eagles on the front-foot in the league. They should have too much for midtable Championship Millwall. Millwall can be spicy opponents and derbies are always a crapshoot, but at Selhurst Park, Palace get the nod.
Preston North End against Burnley is an all-Championship fixture, meaning that at least one second-tier side will make the quarter finals which makes this more interesting than first appearance. Third-place Burnley should have the edge over 15th-place Preston.
Bournemouth against Wolves is the 3pm game and is an interesting one to call. A few weeks ago, you would have said this would be an easy one for Bournemouth but they have recently had a few jitters in the league with two successive defeats to Brighton last week, and against today’s opponent Wolves, the week before. Wolves season has been indifferent, but they have shown flashes of brilliance. This could go all the way to penalties.
The evening game is the weekend highlight, as Man City host Plymouth Argyle. Plymouth can boast something City cannot this season, and that is the fact that they have beaten Liverpool. The south coast Championship relegation contenders showed great resilience to hold off the late onslaught of the Premier League leaders to claim an unexpected win in the last round.
City had their own wobble in the last round against Leyton Orient but scrambled the win over the line to set up the Plymouth fixture. With no other silverware available it seems unlikely that City will stumble in this and should field a strong squad to secure the win.
Tomorrow’s games are the closest contests. Newcastle against Brighton is the early game. The Toon will be stinging by their league defeat to Liverpool midweek, so will be all out to win this at St James’ Park, giving them the edge perhaps over an improving Brighton.
Man United host Fulham in the evening game. As bad as this season is for United, it’s easy to forget that United are the current FA Cup champions and will be eager to maintain their hold on it, while the rest of the season collapses around them. Fulham have been a revelation this season and will be the toughest of opponents and could well come away from Old Trafford with a United scalp. But with so much on the line and it being at home, one might think that even this United side will show enough pride and fight to claim a victory here.
Monday rounds off the weekend fixtures, as Nottingham Forest host Ipswich at the City Ground. Forest effectively ended Arsenal’s Premier League title bid midweek, with a dogged display of defending, while Ispwich showed great fighting spirit to just come up short against Man United in a 3-2 game at Old Trafford. They will put it up to Forest, but The Garibaldis should be able to outflank the crashing Tractor Boys here.
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