Redknapp hunts FA Cup win number four against Man Utd

Five stats about this weekend’s football

1. While Tottenham were knocked out against Manchester United in the FA Cup fourth round last season, they have a manager more than capable of causing an upset at Old Trafford. Harry Redknapp has won FA Cup games against the Red Devils with three of his four previous clubs. He won 2-0 at home to them with Bournemouth before enjoying 1-0 away wins while managing West Ham and Portsmouth.

2. If Chelsea see off Southend in their replay they will face Ipswich at home in the fourth round. This will be the ninth time in eleven third-to-fifth round draws that Chelsea have been given a home tie with a lower league club.

3. Carlton Cole has been leaving his £10 million rated strike partner Craig Bellamy in the shade recently, scoring in three consecutive games for the first time in his club career. His tally of seven goals so far this season is one better than his overall total last season.

4. The third round saw eight London clubs host games at 3pm on Saturday (although Leyton Orient’s was eventually called off) while five underground lines experienced closures but the fourth round draw has ensured no repeat. Only Watford, plus Chelsea and Leyton Orient if they win their replays, have been drawn at home. If they all win their replays, eight London clubs could be playing away in the next round, with West Ham and Millwall facing the prospect of both travelling to the North East on the same day.

5. Successive 1-0 home wins over Valencia and Villarreal mean that Real Madrid have yet to concede in three home games under Juande Ramos. The reigning Spanish champions shipped ten goals in four games at the Bernabeu prior to his arrival.

Posted: January 5th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn |