The world’s oldest football competition returns this weekend with a bit of a different look. The FA Cup fifth round takes place amidst a few fourth round replays, a unique schedule caused due to fixture congestion.
Non-league side Crawley Town would be playing the biggest football match of their lives in front of a worldwide television audience when they step out onto the Old Trafford pitch to face Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United on Saturday evening. The side from the Broadfield Stadium would be dreaming of making into the last eight draw thus becoming the first Non-Leaguers since the second world war to qualify for the FA Cup quarter finals. Crawley Town manager Steve Evans told his club’s website: “Manchester United away at Old Trafford in the FA Cup fifth round – now that sounds incredible but I do believe we can get a positive result. If I don’t believe it, who will?” This is the amazing nature of the FA Cup as ties such as this have been the hallmark of this grand old competition for the past century.
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson and his assistant Mike Phelan watched their modest opponents on Tuesday night when Crawley Town drew 0-0 at Wrexham in the Blue Square Bet Premier thus paying a huge respect to the Non-leaguers.
“Sir Alex Ferguson paid us a huge compliment by taking the time to watch us himself but that is just another indicator as to what makes him the best football manager that has ever lived,” Evans added. “We will go to Old Trafford and give it our very best but we are aware of the task involved.”
Birmingham City are at home to League One strugglers Sheffield Wednesday who are on a nine game winless streak. The Midlands side would like to carry on with their brilliant domestic cup run this season after setting up a Wembley date with Arsenal in next weekend’s Carling Cup final. Birmingham are unlikely to risk Martin Jiranek and Liam Ridgewell, both nursing injuries, in a match that the Brummies are firm favourites to prevail against a side that is 46 places below them,
Centre-back Curtis Davies will have a late fitness test after suffering a knee injury in training.
Sheffield Wednesday’s Gary Madine is absent because the striker in cup-tied, while Giles Coke is suspended as he begins his three-match ban.
In Saturday’s other fifth round clash Tony Pulis’ Stoke City would be feeling confident against an equally talented League One league leaders Brighton and Hove Albion when the two sides face-off at the imposing Britannia Stadium. Albion are coached by former Spurs player and manager Gus Poyet and are doing exceptionally well this season to gain promotion to the Championship. This is the sort of match tailor made for the FA Cup that could see a Premier League side being humbled by a lower tier side.
Stoke City manager Tony Pulis told BBC Radio, “The chance of getting through to the quarter-finals means you’re getting closer to that dream. Brighton are full of confidence, they’re playing really well and will have no pressure on them. The opportunity of getting through to quarter-finals is enormous so we need as much help as we possibly can from our supporters.”
Chelsea and Everton meet at Stamford Bridge on Saturday to settle the fourth round replay that saw the defending champions being held by David Moyes’ resilient Merseysiders at Goodison Park couple of weeks back while League One Notts County earned themselves a trip to Eastlands on Sunday to take on Manchester City, who needed a late Edin Dzeko goal at Meadow Lane to stay in the competition to complete the fourth round commitments.
Arsenal make a potential banana skin trip across the capital to take on Leyton Orient at Brisbane Road on Sunday. Still fresh from their fiesty 2-1 win over Barcelona, Arsene Wenger would be hoping to see his side stay in contention for all the four trophies against the League One outfit.
Fulham and Bolton battle it out at the Craven Cottage for a place in the quarter-finals with both teams set to play attacking football. Fulham’s Clint Dempsey and Simon Davies are expected to feature having shaken off minor knocks.
Philippe Senderos (Achilles) and Bobby Zamora (broken leg) are still missing as a result of long-term injuries.
Bolton will be without long-term injury victims Zat Knight (knee) and Sam Ricketts (Achilles).
With full-backs Gretar Steinsson and Jlloyd Samuel still sidelined, Marcos Alonso is set to deputise.
