1
El Ghazi can count on heat Villa welcome
The journey to Aston Villa seems to be tough for Cardiff Metropolis, whose essential focus is avoiding relegation to League One. Anwar El Ghazi, at the very least, was delighted with the draw. The Dutchman spent 4 years at Villa, clinching promotion at Wembley on the finish of a mortgage season in 2018-19 earlier than a everlasting transfer from Lille. El Ghazi scored Villa’s first purpose in a playoff last victory over Derby, with John McGinn and Tyrone Mings the one survivors from that workforce. Each golf equipment’ futures hinged on that sport underneath the arch: Derby spiralled and confronted administration earlier than dropping into the third tier. El Ghazi can depend on a hero’s welcome at Villa Park on Friday. Villa, who will go to Membership Brugge for a Champions League final 16 first-leg tie on Tuesday, hope to advance to the FA Cup quarter-finals for the primary time since ending as runners-up to Arsenal 10 years in the past. Ben Fisher
2
Will Esse line up for a Millwall reunion?
Romain Esse has been used sparingly by Oliver Glasner since he moved throughout south London to affix Crystal Palace from Millwall in January. Regardless of scoring on his debut towards Brentford after coming off the bench, that continues to be the 19-year-old’s solely look within the Premier League. Esse additionally got here on as an alternative within the final spherical of the FA Cup towards Doncaster. After every week wherein Palace have recorded two wonderful victories, may the fifth-round assembly together with his former membership at Selhurst Park be a chance to present him extra minutes? Millwall will relish their position as potential occasion poopers however Esse may come again to hang-out them. Ed Aarons
3
Deepdale unlikely to host a goalfest
Preston’s conflict with Burnley is one in every of three fifth-round ties this season that contain two former winners (together with Aston Villa v Cardiff and Nottingham Forest v Ipswich), although Preston final received previous this stage in 1966. It’s unlikely to be high-scoring: earlier than October these groups had performed out one goalless attract 26 conferences this century. In each Championship video games this season, the latest performed at Deepdale simply two weeks in the past, there have been simply three pictures on track, none of which went in. Preston have scored 36 targets within the league this season, on the charge of 1.06 a sport – solely six Championship sides have scored fewer – whereas Burnley have conceded solely 9 instances of their 34 league video games, lower than half as many as the following greatest defence in all 4 divisions (Birmingham, with 19), and remarkably solely as soon as in all competitions since Christmas. Simon Burnton
Preston v Burnley, Saturday 12.15pm
4
Cherries’ likelihood to interrupt hegemony
What the Cup wants, above something, is a medium-sized membership to finish the “large six” stranglehold on the previous pot, and alternative knocks loudly for Bournemouth. Some glowing soccer previously couple of months has had Cherries followers considering excitedly of Europa League and even Champions League soccer subsequent season. However with wonderful league type jolted by two consecutive defeats and a thicket of golf equipment encroaching on that path to a top-six place, a preferable path to the continent is unquestionably offered by the Cup. Bournemouth have by no means progressed additional than the quarter-finals, falling at that stage in 1957 and 2021, however the likelihood to avenge final week’s league defeat by a Wolves aspect preoccupied by relegation fears must be taken by Andoni Iraola’s workforce. Frustratingly, although, Iraola nonetheless doesn’t have a full-strength squad to select from, with the redoubtable Illia Zabarnyi suspended and Ryan Christie a doubt after limping off within the loss at Brighton. Wolves haven’t seemed like relegation candidates in current weeks, however Bournemouth ought to step up and seize their alternative. Tom Davies
5
Metropolis combating for sole likelihood of silverware
After final week’s Champions League elimination by Actual Madrid and a title defence that has them 20 factors behind the leaders Liverpool, together with October’s Carabao Cup exit at Tottenham, the FA Cup is the one trophy Manchester Metropolis can win this season. Such in poor health tidings for his or her guests from the Championship are additional enhanced by Pep Guardiola’s need to maintain solely his first season in cost, in 2016-17, the one barren one in every of a gilded tenure. Erling Haaland returned from a knee damage to rating the winner towards Spurs within the league on Wednesday and Guardiola was requested if it was an indication that the “previous” Metropolis had returned. “By no means will this season be the previous Metropolis,” he mentioned. “The previous Metropolis was too good. However we’ll be again.” Jamie Jackson
6
Plymouth’s away type is enhancing
Earlier than Miron Muslic was appointed final month Plymouth had draw three and received none of their 14 away video games within the league, matches on their travels ending with a depressing common rating of two.5-0.2. For the reason that Austrian’s arrival their common away sport has ended 1.67-1. At Sunderland in late January, for the primary and solely time within the league to this point this season, they have been even successful away from dwelling (albeit because of an personal purpose and just for two minutes). “I’m fully conscious of the horrible report we’ve away however these are additionally issues you possibly can change and switch round,” Muslic mentioned after the 1-1 draw at Luton earlier this month. “I feel we’re enhancing in one million issues.” On this context their 1-0 win at Brentford within the third spherical is at the very least as a lot of an excellent anomaly because the 1-0 victory over Liverpool that introduced them to the fifth spherical, however this take a look at might be at a distinct degree. Brentford made six modifications and Liverpool 10; the query right here is what number of Pep Guardiola feels he can get away with. SB
7
Will Newcastle relaxation their greatest?
Eddie Howe is much less gung ho than he was. Gamers carrying accidents are now not pushed by way of the ache barrier however rested once they hit the fatigued “purple zone” whereas Newcastle’s default high-intensity fashion will not be their computerized modus operandi nowadays. Howe additionally appreciates that it isn’t heretical to prioritise sure video games. A lot as he insists he needs to beat Brighton within the FA Cup, he is aware of that successful the Carabao Cup last towards Liverpool and Champions League qualification are Newcastle’s prime targets. Accordingly will probably be no shock if the “barely injured” Alexander Isak sits out a second successive sport and some fringe gamers take pleasure in uncommon run outs. Joelinton and Sven Botman might get some minutes following current accidents however will probably be attention-grabbing to see if Howe persists with Nick Pope, rusty since his personal return from damage, or remembers Martin Dubravka in purpose. Louise Taylor
Newcastle v Brighton, Sunday 1.15pm
8
Fulham hope to repeat consequence from 1908
In March 1908, Fulham and Manchester United met within the FA Cup with United high of the league and on their solution to the primary title of their historical past and the Cottagers sixth within the second division. What adopted, within the phrases of the Manchester Guardian (because it was then), “illustrated the fantastic uncertainty of the sport”. Our report suggests the match had all of the hallmarks of a freak consequence: “a really fortunate purpose scored within the first quarter of an hour” (Herbert Burgess, the United defender, booted a clearance into Fulham’s Fred Harrison and it rebounded into the online), a freakishly good efficiency by a defender (Billy Morrison “stood head and shoulders above his colleagues; his head or his toes have been at all times in any person’s manner”) and the favourites experiencing some “vile luck” for good measure. “Fulham rose to the event all spherical in splendid trend,” we concluded, “however on the overall run of the play they scarcely deserved to win.” Win they did, although, 2-1, their final Cup victory over United and a consequence they’ll hope to emulate this weekend. SB
Manchester United v Fulham, Sunday 4.30pm
9
Ipswich will concern Forest’s set-piece hazard
Since thrashing seven targets previous Brighton on the primary day of the month, February has been an ungainly one for Nottingham Forest: they wanted further time and penalties to beat 10-man Exeter within the fourth spherical of the Cup, misplaced to each Fulham and Newcastle, and on Wednesday drew 0-0 with Arsenal. There was evident reduction in Nuno Espírito Santo’s description of a battling efficiency towards Mikel Arteta’s aspect: “Crucial factor was to understand how we do issues … the constructive is the clear sheet and, greater than something, discovering ourselves as a workforce once more with the best way we do issues.” Ipswich may think about this soul-searching a little bit of an overreaction to a few poor outcomes, provided that they’ve misplaced six of their eight league video games this calendar yr. On Wednesday they conceded thrice from set items at Manchester United, and Kieran McKenna admitted “we weren’t capable of cope with United’s energy and physicality within the penalty field”. They are going to be braced for one more take a look at towards a workforce that has been outscored from set items solely by Arsenal within the league this season. SB
Nottingham Forest v Ipswich, Monday 7.30pm
10
Don’t concern, VAR is again to save lots of the FA Cup
The fourth spherical gave us a satisfying smattering of magical moments. Maybe your soul was stirred by Plymouth’s giant-killing of Liverpool, or the beautiful targets common by Birmingham’s Tomoki Iwata and Leyton Orient’s Jamie Donley. Alternatively, you may simply have spent the weekend bemoaning Harry Maguire’s offside purpose for Manchester United towards Leicester and the absence of VAR. During which case, bellyache no extra, for the soothing balm of expertise is again for the fifth spherical to ensure us no extra controversies. Much more excitingly, we even have semi-automated offside expertise, geared toward rushing up selections, being trialled in any respect ties besides Preston’s assembly with Burnley, the one match not hosted by a Premier League workforce. The introduction of the expertise, which was used on the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, was delayed whereas additional refinements have been made. Skilled Sport Match Officers Restricted and Premier League officers have declared themselves happy with its progress and it’s all methods go, so count on no extra arguments about offside ever once more. TD
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