Irish Daily Mail

WHERE WILL THE SHOCKS COME THIS WEEKEND?

- By ADAM SHERGOLD

WYCOMBE v ASTON VILLA

6th League Two v 20th Premier League

(Today, 12.45pm, Live on BT Sport 2) Winless in all competitio­ns since September 22, the last thing woeful Villa wanted was a tricky away tie at a tenacious lower-league opponent. Villa cannot win for love nor money and Remi Garde’s first taste of the FA Cup as manager could easily end in disaster against Gareth Ainsworth’s promotionc­hasing side. SHOCK RATING: 4/5

BIRMINGHAM v BOURNEMOUT­H

8th Championsh­ip v 16th Premier League

(Today, 3pm) The last time these two sides met at St Andrews, Bournemout­h racked up eight goals without reply en route to Premier League promotion. Birmingham have improved vastly since then and are within touching distance of the play-offs after a few seasons in the doldrums, while the Cherries — just four points above the drop zone — may be content to focus on survival. SHOCK RATING: 3/5

DONCASTER v STOKE

11th League One v 10th Premier League (Today, 3pm) Stoke have shone in the Capital One Cup and will seek a similar run in the FA Cup. But first they must get through a testing tie at a Doncaster side whose form has recovered since Darren Ferguson (left) was appointed manager.

SHOCK RATING: 2/5

EASTLEIGH v BOLTON

4th National League v 24th Championsh­ip

(Today, 3pm) It’s been a nightmare season for Bolton, with players going unpaid, spiralling debts, a transfer embargo and a winding-up petition issued by HM Revenue & Customs. So a trip to aspiration­al non-League side Eastleigh is far from ideal. With plenty of money behind them and summer signings brought in from Nottingham Forest and Bournemout­h, Eastleigh are a Football League club in all but name. SHOCK RATING: 4/5

MAN UTD v SHEFFIELD UTD

5th Premier League v 8th League One

(Today, 5.30pm, Live on BT Sport 2) Have Louis van Gaal and United turned a corner? This will be an acid test. Sheffield United reached the semifinals of the Cup in 2014 and the Capital One Cup last season. And with the home team sluggish at Old Trafford of late, the Blades, who will be backed by 8,500 fans, know a shock could be on the cards. SHOCK RATING: 2/5

OXFORD v SWANSEA

3rd League Two v 17th Premier League (Tomorrow, 12pm, Live on BBC Two Wales) It’s been a poor season for Swansea, who are teetering on the edge of the Premier League drop zone following a wretched run of just one win in 10. So a trip to in-form Oxford, on course to win promotion from League Two, is far from ideal. SHOCK RATING: 3/5

CHELSEA v SCUNTHORPE

14th Premier League v 15th League One (Tomorrow, 2pm, Live on BT Sport 2) On paper, Guus Hiddink’s slowly-improving Chelsea side should have far too much for their League One visitors. But Scunthorpe will take inspiratio­n from Bradford City’s glorious win at Stamford Bridge in the fourth round last season. Iron manager Mark Robins (right) will tell his side to go out and play without fear — and hope Chelsea are rattled. SHOCK RATING: 2/5

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