FA Cup: Glory awaits those in need of silverware

The international break, for a change, proved a fruitful distraction last week for the Republic of Ireland side. But now, most of those players and of the other international squads will be back with their clubs as the FA Cup quarter finals play out this weekend and when the Premier League resumes midweek.

The FA Cup this season has probably been at its most unpredictable for many years, with a genuine opportunity for an unfamiliar name to the winners’ roll of honour. Coming off the back of Newcastle’s first cup win in 70 years at the Carabao Cup final two weeks ago, there is a genuine chance that an underdog club will mount the steps at Wembley to collect the venerated trophy.

The action starts early this afternoon with the London derby meeting of Fulham and Crystal Palace at Craven Cottage. The hosts are one of those sides that would dearly love a tilt at the final, with Fulham’s last and only FA Cup final occurring way back in 1975 when they lost to West Ham 2-0.

The Cottagers will have their hands full with their South London neighbours, but showed no small measure of nerve and resilience in getting to this quarter final by beating Man United after extra time and a penalty shootout at Old Trafford. And while they have had their inconsistencies in the Premier League this season, on their day they can beat anyone.

Palace have also never won an FA Cup final but have got closer to claiming the cup than Fulham. The side last made a final appearance in 2016 when they were leading with just nine minutes remaining against Man United. Only for the Red Devils to get an 81st minute equaliser to push it into extra time, where they then claimed the winner from Jesse Lingard. Similarly, the great Palace run to the 1990 final, which saw them famously knock out a red-hot Liverpool side 4-3 but again managed to lose to Man United in the final, again in extra time, and again 2-1. So, Palace will be glad at least that Fulham put United out for them this time.

Prediction: Palace.

The evening game has Palace’s hated rival Brighton host fellow Premier League high-flyers Nottingham Forest.

The Seagulls have also drawn a blank when it comes to the FA Cup, with their one and only trip to the final coming in the 1983 final where they held Man United to a 2-2 draw, only to lose the replay five days later 4-0. Brighton have returned to form of late winning their last six fixtures in all competitions after a mid-season wobble that knocked them back a bit. They will be a handful at home for Forest.

Nottingham Forest are the first of our quarter-finalists to have won the FA Cup, with two cups already banked in the trophy cabinet. But they could hardly be described as familiar with taking to the Wembley steps up to lift the trophy. Their two dates to claim the cup coming in 1898 and 1958. Their last visit to the final being 1991 when they lost to Spurs 2-1 after extra time, which was also the Londoners last FA Cup final visit too. Forest too have steadied their Premier League ship of late and are genuine contenders to claim a Champions League qualification, which must be their priority and may distract them here.

Prediction: Could go all the way to a shootout. Edged by Brighton.

Sunday’s quarter-finals start with Preston North End welcoming Aston Villa to Deepdale.

Preston are again two-time winners of the cup but again not in this century, with final triumphs in 1889 and 1938, and their most recent final visit coming in 1964, when they lost 3-2 to West Ham, with Geoff Hurst among the scorers for the Hammers. As the only non-Premier League side remaining, they will have their work cut out for them. And their Championship form in 14th place doesn’t bode well either. But they are the venerable poster child for the ‘Magic of the FA Cup’ cliché should they manage to win here.

Villa have seven FA Cup wins, putting them t fourth in the all-time list. But their last win, again, was a distant era ago when the won in 1957. Their last final visit coming in 2015 when they were hammered 4-0 by Arsenal. This season’s Villa are well better than that team and apart from the notable distraction of still being in the Champions League, will be eager to advance in this competition.

Prediction: Villa’s to lose.

The last quarter-final is arguably the tie of the round with Bournemouth hosting Man City on the south coast tomorrow evening.

The Cherries have the worst record of the remaining sides, with tomorrow’s game being the furthest they have ever progressed in the competition, which they have only managed once before, back in 2021, losing 3-0 to Southampton, which must have stung.

Bournemouth have had a roller coaster season in the Premier League, winning against some high-profile opponents yet stumbling against lower sides in the table. If it clicks, they have the ability to beat this City side.

City, like Villa, have seven FA Cups to their name, but unlike the rest of the quarter-finalists, their wins are far more recent. The 2023 FA Cup was the last FA Cup triumph for the Citizens and was part of their remarkable Premier League and Champions League treble that season. That treble seems a long time ago to this current City side, who have struggled all season and on all fronts. Their year comes down to this match and any advance from here. They are still City and have all the equipment to win this entire competition, they just have to find the will that has so far deserted them in all the other competitions.

Predictions: City must win this.