Statistics on all four televised FA Cup fifth round games

Will we see more Tic Tac adverts than goals this time around?

Fulham, Chelsea and Manchester United may be under pressure to avoid FA Cup giantkillings but that is nothing compared to the scrutiny ITV’s coverage will suffer following their Merseyside derby blunder. Here’s our guide to the four games that will be shown on TV, subject to further “technical problems”:

Swansea v Fulham (12.45pm, Saturday, ITV1)
The last time these two sides met in 1997, they were both competing in the fourth tier of English football. Despite not winning away from home in the league all season, Fulham have won on the road in the last two rounds of the FA Cup. However, Swansea are unbeaten in fifteen games, nine of which have been draws, so Fulham’s best chance might be to take the game to a replay. Three of the last five meetings between the two sides in Wales have finished 2-2, which is 16/1 on 888sport, while both sides won one each 2-1.

Watford v Chelsea (5.30pm, Saturday, Setanta Sports 1)
It’s Lampard versus Lampard at Vicarage Road this weekend as the Chelsea midfielder comes up against the team where his dad works as a football consultant for former Blues reserve manager Brendan Rodgers. Chelsea have failed to win either of their two previous FA Cup away games against Watford, drawing one and losing one. Even if that record ends, it could be worth betting on the visitors conceding for the eighth straight cup match. The Hornets have lost just three of their last ten home games and have only failed to fire in one of those. Bet365 offer evens on both teams scoring.

Everton v Aston Villa (2.30pm, Sunday, Setanta Sports 1)
Aston Villa have won their last seven Premier League away games but last month’s 0-0 draw with Doncaster shows they run doesn’t always translate to the FA Cup. Martin O’Neill’s side have only got passed this stage once in twelve seasons and on that occasion (1999-00) they reached the final. Since Villa’s last gasp win at Goodison Park in December, the Toffees have gone unbeaten in six home games, conceding just one goal. However, they have won none of their last three home games against the Midlanders.

Derby v Manchester United (4.30pm, Sunday, ITV1)
Manchester United have reached the quarter-finals in four of the last five years, although this round has been the one they have been eliminated in on the last two occasions they failed to make the last eight. Sir Alex Ferguson’s side have won on just three of their last eleven visits to Derby but last month’s 1-0 defeat at Pride Park was the only loss in 23 games since being beaten 2-1 by Arsenal in November. Click this link for more superfacts about this fixture as well as to explore in further detail Manchester United’s record against lower league opposition in cup competition.

Posted: February 13th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn |