Latics hoping history can repeat itself
League One leaders, Wigan Athletic, will hope history can repeat itself after landing an FA Cup rematch with Manchester City in the fifth-round draw. The DW Stadium clash will stir memories of the 2013 final when Wigan – then sliding out of the Premier League – snatched a stunning late winner to clinch the Cup through a Ben Watson header. City also came unstuck against Wigan in the Cup in 2014, when they were beaten 2-1 at home in the quarter-finals by a Latics side who were then in the Championship.
In the pick of the other ties, new Swansea manager Carlos Carvalhal will face a quick return to his former club Sheffield Wednesday, provided the Swans beat Notts County in a replay.
Manchester United will travel to either Huddersfield or Birmingham, who battled out a 1-1 draw at the weekend and face a replay at St Andrew’s. Chelsea face Hull at Stamford Bridge while Millwall could face Tottenham in a repeat of last season’s quarter-final provided they win replays over Rochdale and Newport respectively.
West Brom and Southampton meet in an all-Premier League clash, Sheffield United travel to Leicester, while Brighton face 1987 winners Coventry at the Amex.
The draw in full
Sheffield Wednesday v Notts County or Swansea
West Brom v Southampton
Chelsea v Hull
Leicester v Sheffield United
Huddersfield or Birmingham v Manchester United
Millwall or Rochdale v Newport or Tottenham
Brighton v Coventry
Wigan v Manchester City
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“That’s 10 times in succession that Swansea have been drawn away in the FA Cup – is that a record? Is there some memo about us never getting a home FA Cup tie, that Swans fans weren’t copied in on?” writes Thomas Glyn. “Carvalho back to the club that sacked him at Christmas.” Yes, that’s a very quick return for The Owls’ former manager if Swansea beat Notts County .
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And that’s that. No stand-out tie really but Wigan drawing Man City at home is nice and there’s a chance of a couple of underdogs making it into the last eight.
Wigan v Manchester City. That’s a repeat of the 2013 final. Will Grigg will have to be on fire.
Brighton v Coventry
Millwall or Rochdale v Newport or Tottenham
Huddersfield or Birmingham v Manchester United
Leicester City v Sheffield United
Chelsea v Hull
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West Brom v Southampton
The draw begins!
Sheffield Wednesday v Notts County or Swansea is first out of the bag.
“Look at those Baggies! We’re No 1! We’re No 1! I’ll take Birmingham City, please,” whoops a giddy Jr in Illinois.
Tonight’s draw is being carried out live on the BBC’s topical magazine programme and occasional vehicle for b@ntz, The One Show. So far I’ve watched clips of the emergency services being attacked by members of the public, sunlounger chat, a dormouse stuffing its face to survive winter and Ruud Gullit confessing his love for all things Griff Rhys Jones. It’s been quite the lead into the draw for the FA Cup fifth round! Can the last 16-draw match that? Let’s hope so. The balls will be plucked out of the bag by Gullit and the ever-grinning Robbie Savage, who is never off the telly or radio for more than five seconds at a time. We shouldn’t have long to wait now …
The draw ball numbers
Evening. It’s FA Cup tombola time. Coventry City are the only League Two side definitely into the fifth round, having beaten MK Dons 1-0 away from home, so kudos to them for that. But Newport County’s name will be in the hat after going oh so near to sending Spurs tumbling out at Rodney Parade only for Harry Kane to play the role of Captain Buzzkill and prevent what would have been an outstanding act of giant-killing by the Welsh side.
Notts County, second in League Two, are still in the velvet bag having drawn 1-1 with Swansea and League One Rochdale were a minute away from making it into the last 16 until Millwall’s Ben Thompson equalised at The Den to force a replay at Spotland. The draw could throw up a couple of tasty derbies too. Both Sheffield teams progressed last weekend and the Manchester clubs are balls No 5 and No 7. Ten Premier League sides are among the 20 in the bag but Arsenal, Everton and Liverpool, who were beaten by a fantastic West Brom performance at Anfield last Saturday, are not among them. The Fifth-round matches will be played across the weekend of 17-18 February.
1. West Bromwich Albion (Premier League)
2. Leicester City (Premier League)
3. Huddersfield Town (Premier League)/Birmingham City (Championship)
4. Notts County (League Two)/Swansea City (Premier League)
5. Manchester United (Premier League)
6. Sheffield Wednesday (Championship)
7. Manchester City (Premier League)
8. Coventry City (League Two)
9. Millwall (Championship)/Rochdale (League One)
10. Southampton (Premier League)
11. Brighton & Hove Albion (Premier League)
12. Wigan Athletic (League One)
13. Hull City (Championship)
14. Newport County (League Two)/Tottenham (Premier League)
15. Chelsea (Premier League)
16. Sheffield United (Championship)
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