пятница, 9 января 2015 г.

Brighton and Cambridge get the plum FA Cup 4th Round ties

Chris Hughton will look forward to facing up against Arsene Wenger again

The draw for the FA Cup fourth round was made on Monday night and some tantalising ties were pulled out of the hat (and some dull ones) but lets not dwell on the bad ones.

While it seemed odd for the draw to be made before the third round was even finished, there is no doubting it was a night to remember for League Two Cambridge United.

The U's are the lowest ranked side in the competition - sitting 14th in League Two - and they made the fourth round for the first time in 15 years with a 2-1 victory over Luton Town. Richard Money's side will have imagined the possibility of a big draw, but their dreams definitely came true when they were paired with Manchester United. Cambridge will host the 11-time winners at the Abbey Stadium on what will be a day to remember for their fans.

There was also joy for League One Rochdale who, after shocking Championship side Nottingham Forest in round three, were rewarded with the opportunity to welcome Premier League Stoke City to Spotland. Dale are ninth in League One and will fancy their chances in front of a passionate home support.

FA Cup holders Arsenal overcame Hull in a repeat of last season's final in round three and were drawn to face Brighton and Hove Albion in the fourth round. It will be a tricky trip to the south coast for Arsene Wenger's men to face a Brighton side now managed by former Spurs player and coach Chris Hughton.

There is a tantalising prospect for round four as Chelsea were drawn to face either Millwall or Bradford City at Stamford Bridge. There is a real animosity between Chelsea and Millwall fans - epitomised on the big screen in the Danny Dyer film 'The Football Factory' - so games don't come much bigger than that for supporters of each team.

The prize plum of the Premier League giants at Stamford Bridge is a great prize for either team, and makes the replay between Millwall and Bradford huge. The two sides drew 3-3 at The Den in the third round on Saturday and next week's replay will now have an added spice. Possibly everyone, bar the Bradford fans and the Metropolitan Police, will want Millwall to come out on top.

The fourth round draw conjured up a West Midlands derby as Championship side Birmingham will play West Bromwich Albion from the Premier League. Both of these teams overcame non-league sides in round three, in the shape of Blyth Spartans and Gateshead respectively, and the two sides will meet for the first time since a Premier League game in March 2011.

New West Brom manager Tony Pulis will hope his new troops can win his first derby in charge of the Baggies and spark a cup run that could ignite their league campaign.

Fellow West Midlands outfit Aston Villa will host Championship leaders Bournemouth, who are currently unbeaten in 16 Championship matches under Eddie Howe. Villa only just edged past struggling Blackpool in round three, thanks to a late Christian Benteke goal, so the Cherries are likely to travel to Villa Park in confident mood.

Liverpool won at AFC Wimbledon in the third round thanks to two Steven Gerrard goals at the Cherry Red Records Stadium and the Reds will welcome Bolton Wanderers to Anfield in round four. It means a return to the famous ground for veteran striker Emile Heskey, who recently signed a short-term deal to join the Championship club at the age of 36 but enjoyed four years as a Liverpool player.

There are two potential all-Premier League games in the fourth round, but one is dependent on the result of a replay. Southampton or Ipswich will face Crystal Palace, who won at Dover in round three to give new manager Alan Pardew a winning start as Eagles boss. The Saints and the Tractor Boys drew 1-1 at St Mary's at the weekend and they will pair off again at Portman Road on January 14.

The only confirmed all-Premier League tie at this point will see Leicester City travel to face the winners of the replay between Burnley and Tottenham - a game which ended 1-1 at Turf Moor.

Manchester City needed an injury-time winner as they came from behind to beat Sheffield Wednesday and will take on another Championship side, Middlesbrough. Boro are riding high in the play-off spots under Aitor Karanka and many fans will remember fondly the day they beat Man City 8-1 all the way back in May 2008, though none will likely foresee a similar result.

There are two further ties in which Premier League sides will face Championship opposition. Sunderland scraped past Leeds in the third round and will welcome the winner of the replay between Fulham and Wolves to the Stadium of Light. Swansea City won comfortably at Tranmere and will be on the road again on round four weekend, when they head to Blackburn Rovers.

Derby are enjoying a fantastic season in the Championship and, after overcoming non-league Southport, will face either Scunthorpe or Chesterfield, while Cardiff will face Reading in an all-Championship affair at the Cardiff City Stadium.

There is an all-League One encounter as Preston will face Sheffield United. The Blades are becoming renowned as a cup team under Nigel Clough and they produced one of the shocks of round three as they won 3-0 away at Premier League side QPR. Their reward for that result is a trip to face a Preston side sat four places above them in the League One play-off spots.

Following Everton's 1-1 draw with West Ham at Goodison Park on Tuesday night, those two will play again and the winner will face the winner of the replay between Doncaster and Bristol City, after they drew 1-1 on Saturday.

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