FA Cup fifth round - who'll make the QF's NEWS
Its FA Cup time again and there are some intriguing match-ups in this weekend's fifth round ties, not least at Millwall where the last non-league team left in the competition, Luton, take on Championship side Millwall at the Den.
There's only one all Premier League match in the fifth round, the clash between top of the table Man Utd and relegation zone dwellers Reading, the other top flight teams taking on sides from the lower leagues, meaning that the fifth round still has that proper FA Cup feel, with the tantalising possibility of further upsets.
Conference side Luton, who've so far eliminated Championship team Wolves and Premier League outfit Norwich, have a great chance of causing a further upset when they take on Millwall at The Den Road. Of course Luton have a long history in the Football League and its not all that long ago that they were a top flight team themselves. However, that shouldn't detract from their fantastic achievements so far in the Cup this season.
All the rest of the fifth round matches, except the Man Utd v Reading match, feature a Premier League team taking on a team from at least a division below them. Of course there is still one fourth round match yet to be resolved, with the winners of Chelsea v Brentford taking on Middlesbrough next weekend in the last fifth round game.
Back to the games this weekend and the two that really catch the eye are the visit of Everton to Oldham, who shocked Liverpool in the last round before deciding to part ways with manager Paul Dickov, and the game between man City and Leeds at the Etihad.
Ordinarily you wouldn't give either of League One Oldham or Championship side Leeds a prayer against such class opposition but both of those unfancied teams will look at the games ahead of them and feel they have a chance of causing a shock.
Oldham were excellent against Liverpool, taking an early lead and then holding off a Liverpool comeback. Everton are unlikely to be in any way complacent after what happened to Liverpool but the Toffees are the worst team in the Premier league at conceding headed goals and the Latics are sure to test them at every set-piece.
Leeds have shown themselves to be an excellent Cup team this season, enjoying a run to the League Cup quarter finals and a fourth round win over high-flying Spurs, Gareth Bale and all. As is always the case in such Cup encounters Leeds have nothing to lose and that will make them a dangerous opponent for a Man City team low on confidence and form.
Other Premier League teams facing the risk of embarrassment of elimination by so-called lesser opposition are Wigan who are away at Huddersfield and Arsenal who host Blackburn, who are only a season removed from being a regular visitor to the Emirates.
The fifth round weekend is finished off with the all Premier League tie at Old Trafford with Cup favourites Man Utd hosting Reading, hoping to keep alive their dreams of another treble, after they enjoyed a satisfactory 1-1 draw at Real Madrid offering them real optimism of reaching that competition's quarter-finals.
As well as the fifth round ties the fourth round remains to be completed and Chelsea take on Brentford on Sunday to decide who will progress. There's also one Premier League clash this Sunday with Liverpool taking on Swansea at Anfield.
Here's BritEvent's full preview of all the games whether they're round four, five or Premier League: -
Saturday 16 February
Luton v Millwall - 12.45pm ko at The Den. It's great to see a Conference side still in the competition and it wouldn't surprise anyone, outside of a few die-hard Millwall fans, if they won this match and took their place in the last eight. A non-league team still in the competition at this stage would usually be regarded as the ultimate romantic Cup story. There are two mitigating factors against this though. One - Luton have switched the game to The Den, putting money ahead of a better chance of making the quarter-finals. Two - they're playing Millwall and you can't mention them and romance in the same sentence. If Luton win they'll be the first non-league side to make the quarter-finals since 1914. However, today is the day their Cup run ends as Millwall will make them rue the decision to switch venues.
Arsenal v Blackburn - 3pm ko at the Emirates. The big question here is how strong a team Arsenal will put out with their Champions League game with Bayern Munich coming up on Tuesday. With the league out of reach the FA Cup and Champions League are the Gunners' only chances of ending their seven year trophy drought. I suspect A fairly strong line up to combat the threat of an improving Blackburn, who have other priorities too. Rovers' main aim is an immediate return to the Premier League so they too may not see this as a win-at-all-costs game. I fancy Arsenal to win, with or without Jack Wilshere who is a doubt.
MK Dons v Barnsley - 3pm ko at the MK Stadium. League One v the Championship - this is only the sixth time these teams have ever met, such is the glory of the Cup, bringing unfamiliar opponents together. The Tykes haven't conceded in the Cup so far this season and they'll fancy their chances at the MK Stadium as the Dons haven't won in five league games. That said Barnsley are struggling in the Championship relegation zone although they did win away at Middlesbrough last time out. The game seems finely balanced but I fancy an away win.
Oldham v Everton - 6pm ko at Boundary Park. Oldham shouldn't surprise Everton as they did Liverpool but they'll still present a difficult, physical obstacle for David Moyes' side. Scorer of a memorable double against Liverpool, striker Matt Smith should return for the home team. Since that famous win Oldham have struggled (they're fourth bottom in League One) and have dispensed with the services of Paul Dickov. Everton on the other hand continue to prosper in the Premier League and the Toffees will be confident that, provided they don't take the opposition for granted, that they can make the last eight.
Sunday 17 February
Fourth round
Chelsea v Brentford - 12pm ko at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea can recall Victor Moses, David Luiz, Demba Ba and John Mikel Obi after they all missed the Europa Cup win at Sparta Prague. Its hard to see Brentford being able to cuase Chelsea the trouble they did in the first meeting, where only a late Fernando Torres strike earned the replay. Of course Brentford, who are currently in a League One playoff place, have nothing to lose at all and that makes for dangerous opponents. Chelsea to pull away in the second half.
Fifth round
Man City v Leeds - 2pm ko at the Etihad. I suspect that the Man City squad have a difficult week after last week's defeat at Southampton and that, unfortunately for Leeds, they'l be in the mood to put things right for their manager who was quite rightly livid at their performance on the South coast. They are still without captain Vincent Kompany although Carlos Tevez returns. Leeds have had a terrible time on the road of late but they'll be sure to lift themselves for the trip to the Etihad. If City are in the mood then Leeds should be brushed aside. If City play like they did last week then the Whites will have a chance.
Huddersfield v Wigan - 3.55pm ko at the John Smith's Stadium. A meeting of two teams that are struggling in their respective divisions, although Wigan are in far more danger of relegation, meaning their priority is not the Cup hence the probable inclusion of squad players in this match. New Terriers boss Mark Robins has already exited the Cup once this season, as Coventry manager, which perhaps doesn't augur well. Wigan have been eliminated from the Cup by lower league opposition in both of the last seasons so Huddersfield have a realistic hope of taking a Premier League scalp and making the quarter-finals for the first time in 41 years.
Premier League
Liverpool v Swansea - 3pm ko at Anfield. After last week's disappointing 2-0 defeat to West Brom Liverpool now sit a point and two places behind Swansea who demolished QPR 4-1 last week. The Reds are able to recall Daniel Sturridge, who has started his Liverpool career well, and manager Brendan Rodgers could give a home debut to new-signing Coutinho. Liverpool have rarely lost two games in a row but a defeat here would actually mean three straight after they lost at Zenit St Petersburg on Thursday in the Europa League. Swansea may have half an eye on next weekend when they will contest the League Cup final against Bradford. Consequently I can see a Liverpool win.
Monday 18 February
Man Utd v Reading - 8pm ko at Old Trafford. The last fifth round match of the weekend sees Man Utd hosting Reading with neither team seeing this competition as their main priority. Utd played very well to earn a 1-1 Champions League draw at Real Madrid and they're sure to rest players ahead of a short week and the visit of QPR in the league next Saturday. Despite recent improvement Reading are still in the Premier League relegation zone and it is top flight survival which will be their main focus. This could make for a more relaxed game where both teams feel able to play with less inhibition. Whatever, Utd will continue their march towards a possible treble.
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Source: BBC Sport
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