THE FA CUP returns this weekend with a scattering of 4th round replays and fifth round ties. The games are mixed up and smothered around a Premier League fixture in which West Brom entertain Wolves at the Hawthorns, furthering evidence that the famous English cup; the longest standing cup competition in footballing history, has lost its magic. The FA has proposed new changes to the Cup, including the scrapping of replays, but this weekend sees the following fourth round replays: Man city vs. Notts. County and Chelsea vs. Everton. The fifth round tie everyone is talking about is at Old Trafford on Saturday where Manchester United play host to Crawley Town, who with a win would be the first non – league side to reach the sixth round. It would be a giant killing for Crawley, who are favourites to get promoted to League 2 this year. The league is their priority but they won’t let that get in the way of a trip to the Theatre of Dreams, where Crawley hope their dreams come true and the number they represent is still being drawn from the hat come Sunday evening. Remaining fifth round ties are: Birmingham vs. Sheffield Wednesday, Stoke vs. Brighton, Fulham vs. Bolton, Leyton Orient vs. Arsenal and West Ham vs. Burnley.
The Premier League holds fixtures on Tuesday, where Blackpool entertain Milan victors Tottenham, who will be hoping to make the transition from the San Siro to Bloomfield Road; and on Wednesday, where Arsenal, themselves Champions League winners in midweek, host Stoke, involved five days earlier in the Cup.
