Crystal Palace travel to Doncaster in good spirits and are fancied to prove a cut above their League One opponents in Sunday’s FA Cup clash. The Eagles are in the fifth round for the first time since 2016, when they went on to reach the final, and Roy Hodgson looks to be eyeing another long run.
FA Cup ties don’t come much more romantic than Newport hosting Manchester City and we’re hoping the hosts enjoy an occasional flurry on their big day. County appear to be facing mission impossible in terms of getting through, but bagging a consolation goal could be within their compass.
Brighton made hard work of getting past West Brom in the last round of the FA Cup but are still fancied to see off Derby. Albion can fully focus on this clash, as they don’t play again in the Premier League for 10 days, whereas the Rams may be distracted by two crucial Championship fixtures coming up.
Newport will be fired up for another FA Cup upset when entertaining Middlesbrough in Tuesday night’s fourth-round replay. County have already beaten Leicester at Rodney Parade and are eyeing another notable scalp, whereas Boro are far more focused on chasing promotion from the Championship.
The Hive will be buzzing for Monday’s FA Cup clash between Barnet and Brentford, not least because both teams are nicknamed the Bees! Non-league Barnet will welcome a £150,000 fee for hosting this televised tie and are fancied to further boost their coffers by earning a replay at Griffin Park.
Sheffield Wednesday will take a big travelling support for Sunday’s FA Cup clash with Chelsea and have vowed to “give it a go” against the holders. The Owls do not have a good recent record in this event but their interest seems to have been rejuvenated by a third-round replay win at Luton.
West Ham have already beaten AFC Wimbledon away in the EFL Cup this season and we see no reason for a different result when they meet in the FA Cup. The Dons did have Rod McDonald sent off after 18 minutes when leading, but a much-changed Hammers line-up still ran out worthy 3-1 winners.
Millwall have generally been playing well in the Championship of late and are fancied to give Everton a tough test in the FA Cup. Toffees boss Marco Silva looks to be taking this competition seriously after fielding a strong team in the last round, so a close encounter could be on the cards at The Den.
Derby have enjoyed some memorable moments in knockout matches this term and are fancied to prove a class apart from Accrington in the FA Cup. The Rams beat Southampton on penalties in the last round and knocked Manchester United out of the EFL Cup earlier in the season.
Southampton’s priority is to stay in the Premier League but they are still fancied to prove a cut above Championship Derby in the FA Cup at St Mary’s. County showed great heart to come from behind in an entertaining 2-2 draw at Pride Park, but Saints are tipped to show their class in the replay.
Blackburn looked hungrier for FA Cup success than Newcastle when drawing 1-1 on Tyneside and are fancied to go through on home turf. Rovers can afford to give it a go in this competition from a mid-table Championship berth, but the Magpies are focused on a Premier League relegation battle.
Woking are participating in the third round of the FA Cup for the first time in 22 years after knocking out League Two Swindon. Watford, the 1984 finalists, have failed to progress beyond the fourth round in eight of the last nine seasons, reaching the last four in 2015/16.
Newport enjoyed a good run in the FA Cup last term and are fancied to rise to the occasion again when hosting Leicester in this season’s third round. The Welsh outfit beat Leeds at this stage 12 months ago and then earned a Wembley replay when drawing 0-0 with Tottenham at Rodney Parade.
Tottenham begin their quest for a first FA Cup triumph since 1991 with a fairly straightforward test at Tranmere. Spurs prevailed 4-0 when these teams met in this competition at White Hart Lane back in 2002, having prevailed by the same scoreline at Prenton Park in the EFL Cup four months earlier.