FA Cup Fourth Round Draw

The FA Cup to date has only produced one shock result. That shock result was again the last ball drawn out of the pot in today’s FA Cup fourth round proper.

After Leeds United 1-0 victory at Old Trafford, they were again the last team drawn out of the hat. This time, another Premier League scalp is on the line as Leeds will face Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane. Tottenham were very impressive on Saturday…against lowly Peterborough United, winning 4-0.

The Third Round Proper will be remembered for two things. The first being the havoc weather conditions across England played on matches. Games at Accrington Stanley, Brentford, Bristol City and Notts County were postponed well before kickoff and York City’s bus was stuck on the motorway and needed a police escort to get to Stoke City’s Britannia Stadium. Pitch inspections were plentiful, but most games were able to get off without a hitch.

The second thing this round will be remembered for is the lack of upsets. On Saturday, we saw games that didn’t go to replay go exactly to form. Everton struggled early, but in the end were a comfortable 3-1 winner against Carlisle United. York City, despite showing up late in Stoke, took a shock 1-0 lead. That only lasted 2 minutes before they went behind 2-1, eventually losing 3-1. Bolton Wanderers had a scare against Lincoln City being level at nil at halftime, but found four goals in the second half to win. The only quasi-shock of the third round was Liverpool going away to Reading, needing a replay to advance after leaving level at 1.

A couple of story lines about the fourth round draw

• Wigan Athletic will have to travel furthest down the table. They will either be traveling to Notts County of League Two or Forest Green Rovers of the Conference.
• Preston North End and Chelsea will be a battle of the sides who scored the most goals in the Third Round (Preston North End scored 7 v Colchester United, Chelsea scored 5 v Watford).
• There is only one guaranteed all Premier League clash in the fourth round, but that could go as high as four should Liverpool, Portsmouth and Birmingham City win. There will be only two all Championship clashes in the draw.

The Entire FA Cup Fourth Round Proper Draw:
Southampton v Ipswich Town

Reading/Liverpool v Burnley

Millwall/Derby County v Brentford/Doncaster Rovers

Bristol City/Cardiff City v Leicester City

Stoke City v Arsenal

Notts Couty/Forest Green Rovers v Wigan Athletic

Scunthorpe United v Manchester City

West Bromwich Albion v Plymouth Argyle/Newcastle United

Everton v Nottingham Forest/Birmingham City

Accrington Standley/Gillingham v Fulham

Bolton Wanderers v Sheffield United/Queens Park Rangers,

Portsmouth/Coventry City v Sunderland

Preston North End v Chelsea

Aston Villa v Brighton and Hove Albion

Tranmere Rovers/Wolverhampton Wanderers v Crystal Palace

Tottenham Hotspur v Leeds United