FA Cup 4th round preview
The pick of the matches is Arsenal v. Manchester United at the Emirates. Between them the Gunners and the Reds have won the trophy 25 times (Arsenal 13 to United’s 12), they’ve appeared in a total of 58 semifinals (29 each) and in 40 finals (20 each).
The 16 ties to be played over the next few days, are: Accrington v. Derby County AFC Wimbledon v. West Ham
Arsenal v. Manchester
United
Barnet v. Brentford Brighton v. West Brom Albion
Bristol City v. Bolton Wds. Chelsea v. Sheffield Wed. Crystal Palace v. Tottenham Doncaster Rovers v. Oldham Manchester City v. Burnley Middlesbrough v. Newport Millwall v. Everton Newcastle v. Watford Portsmouth v. QPR Shrewsbury v. Wolves Swansea City v. Gillingham
Fact File
■ The pick of the matches is Arsenal v. Manchester United at the Emirates. Between them the Gunners and the Reds have won the trophy 26 times, they’ve appeared in a total of 58 semi-finals (29 each) and in 40 finals (20 each).
■ Holders Chelsea and London rivals Spurs, have both won the Cup eight times, followed by Newcastle with six victories, then Everton and Manchester City on five each.
■ The last ‘derby’ final was in 2017 when Arsenal beat Chelsea 2-1, and the last final not to feature a London club was 2013 when Wigan stunned Manchester City 1-0.
■ There are 15 teams in the 4th round who have already won the Cup, lifting the trophy 81 times between them. Lancashire teams have gained 28 victories so far; London clubs have 32 successes to date; those from the Midlands have ten wins to their name; one North-east team (Newcastle) boasts six wins; Yorkshire has had three victorious winning teams and one South-coast winning team (2 wins).
■ For the first time in the competition, two Albion’s of the FL will meet on the south coast when Brighton take on West Bromwich.
■ The only non-League team left in the competition, Barnet, feel they have a chance of gaining a result against Brentford.
■ There’ll be at least four
Premiership clubs in the last sixteen, plus at least one from the Championship.
■ The team making the longest journey this weekend will be Newport County whose round trip from South Wales to Teeside (Middlesbrough) comprises 542 miles. Watford’s return trek to Newcastle is 534 miles while Everton’s journey to Millwall is 472 miles there and back. There are seven games ‘live’ on TV
■ Arsenal v. Manchester United, BBC 1, tonight (8.55pm)
■ Accrington v. Derby County, BT Sport 2 tomorrow (1.30pm)
■ Millwall v. Everton, BBC 1, tomorrow (6.30pm)
■AFC Wimbledon v. West Ham, on BT Sport 2 tomorrow (8.45pm)
■ Crystal Palace v. Spurs, BT Sport 2, Sunday (5pm)
■Chelsea v. Sheffield Wed, BBC 1, Sunday (7pm)
■ Barnet v. Brentford, BT Sport 2, Monday (8.45pm).