The curtain fell on the Fourth Round of this season’s FA Cup following the five-midweek replays. The rematches didn’t produce any shocks, although Chelsea winning at Villa, following recent league humbling’s by Liverpool and Wolves, raised some eyebrows.
For those 16 teams remaining, the dream of reaching Wembley is becoming more real by the day.
Embed from Getty ImagesMaidstone roll on
There were numerous R4 highlights, but nothing could top non-league Maidstone’s amazing victory at Ipswich. Especially with the Tractor Boys in form and pushing for promotion to the Premier League. The magic of the cup shone in all its glory at Portman Road that day.
The Stones are the first club from outside the top five tiers to reach the FA Cup fifth round since Blyth Spartans in 1978. Maidstone remain on the road for their next Cup clash, where they take on the 1987 winners, Coventry.
The Kentish giant-killers would have loved to have hosted an EPL club at the Gallagher Stadium. The fact they’ve already dumped a Championship side out means they won’t fear their trip to the West Midlands though and George Elokobi is sure to have his defiant troops primed and ready. That encounter kicks off the Fifth-Round schedule on Monday 26th February.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe current top two in the Premier League are both still involved, so it’s hard for the remaining Cup hopefuls to get too over-excited just yet. With Liverpool entertaining Southampton and Man City travelling to Luton in the next round, both Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola will be confident of being in the hat for the last-8 draw.
With Klopp departing at the end of the season, he’ll be aiming to go out in a blaze of glory draped in silverware. One area of concern for the Mersey Reds is that they welcome the Saints to Anfield for their R5 clash just 3 days after their League Cup Final clash with Chelsea.
Last season’s treble-winners Man City go from strength to strength and love to attack on all fronts. They are aiming to become the first side since Arsenal in 2015 to defend the FA Cup crown.
Pochettino’s search for silverware
The likes of Man Utd, Chelsea and Newcastle will be hoping Liverpool and Man City lose Cup focus along the way as the league title race hots up. Erik ten Hag and Mauricio Pochettino have both been feeling the heat this season following inconsistent EPL campaigns. Successful Cup runs will help ease the mounting pressure.
Bagging the League Cup last season helped ten Hag breathe a little easier and he will be keen to keep his Red Devils on their toes in the FA Cup. Last year’s League Cup runners-up, Newcastle, will also want to go one better at Wembley this season.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Toon will need to return to their early season form after some chilly moments in the last couple of months. Chelsea boss, Mauricio Pochettino, is still desperately attempting to get his hands on his first piece of English silverware.
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A positive for him is that the Blues have a good FA Cup pedigree having reached five of the previous seven finals, albeit lifting the trophy only once in that time.
FA Cup Fifth Round schedule:
MONDAY 26TH FEBRUARY
Coventry v Maidstone
TUESDAY 27TH FEBRUARY
Bournemouth v Leicester
Blackburn v Newcastle
Luton v Man City
WEDNESDAY 28TH FEBRUARY
Chelsea v Leeds
Nottm Forest v Man Utd
Wolves v Brighton
Liverpool v Southampton
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