The FA Cup (Quarter Final Preview)
It started off with 758. Now with just eight clubs remaining in the FA Cup, they all know that they’re just a victory away from booking a spot in Wembley. But who would the four be?
Here are the remaining teams in the competition along with the kickoff times.
| 09/03 (Saturday) | Everton |
v. |
Wigan |
? 6:15 pm (IST) |
| 09/03 (Saturday) | Man City |
v. |
Barnsley |
? 11:00 pm (IST) |
| 10/03 (Sunday) | Millwall |
v. |
Blackburn |
? 7:30 pm (IST) |
| 10/03 (Sunday) | ManUnited |
v. |
Chelsea |
? 10:00 pm (IST) |
In cup competitions, there’s nothing like underdogs. Of course there are favourites, but never underdogs. This has been proved by Oldham beating Liverpool, Luton beating Norwich, Blackburn beating Arsenal, Brighton Hove & Albion beating Newcastle.
Everton v Wigan
Road to the Quarter Finals:
Everton:
Beat Cheltenham Town 1-5
Beat Bolton Wanderers 1-2
Drew Oldham Athletic 2-2
Beat Oldham Athletic 3-1
Wigan:
Drew Bournemouth 1-1
Beat Bournemouth 0-1
Beat Macclesfield Town 0-1
Beat Huddersfield 1-4
Likely team to progress: Everton
Prediction: 3-0
Manchester City v Barnsley
Road to the Quarter Finals:
Man City:
Beat Watford 3-0
Beat Stoke City 0-1
Beat Leeds United 4-0
Barnsley:
Beat Burnley 1-0
Beat Hull 0-1
Beat Milton Keynes Dons 1-3
Likely team to progress: Man City
Prediction: 4-0
Milwall v Blackburn Rovers
Road to the Quarter Finals:
Milwall:
Beat Preston North End 1-0
Beat Aston Villa 2-1
Beat Luton Town 0-3
Blackburn Rovers:
Beat Bristol City 2-0
Beat Derby County 0-3
Beat Arsenal 0-1
Likely team to progress: Blackburn in the replay
Prediction: 2-2, 2-1
Manchester United v Chelsea
This game is the tie of the round. Recent meetings between the two have shown that the games are always controversy laden. Such is the bad blood between the clubs’ fans, that they usually refer to Howard Webb as ‘Sir Howard Webb’ who will also be refereeing Sunday’s game. Chelsea v Man United is always a game I look forward to, they’re the ones always competing for titles & once they find their stride they’re very difficult to stop. Luckily they were beaten by Real just three days ago, which will give Chelsea some confidence before going into Sunday’s game. In the last six seasons Chelsea have won the FA Cup four times, which includes last season too, so this is one cup Chelsea fans always think as one of their won. Tough one to call. If you go on recent form it’s Man United, but cup form wise it’s clearly Chelsea. In their last 38 FA Cup games, Chelsea have won 31, drawn 6 & lost 1. Another encouraging fact, when Benitez was a manager at Liverpool, he beat Man United 0-4 at Old Trafford, in 2006. As a Chelsea fan I may be a bit harsh on my prediction, but I think it’ll end as a draw at Old Trafford & Chelsea will win in the replay.
Road to the Quarter Finals:
Man United:
Drew West Ham United 2-2
Beat West Ham United 1-0
Beat Fulham 4-1
Beat Reading 2-1
Chelsea:
Beat Southampton 1-5
Drew Brentford 2-2
Beat Brentford 4-0
Beat Middlesborough 0-2
Likely team to progress: Chelsea in the replay
Prediction: 2-2, 3-2