FA Cup Fifth Round Draw Preview
This round of FA Cup will be the first time Semi-Automated-Offside-Technology (SAOT) will be used in the competitive English football matches. Successful usage of the technology in the competition, may allow for it to be implemented later in the Premier League season.
The technology will allow for the offside process to be reduced to less than 30 seconds. Previously the process was hindered with VAR officials having to draw lines on players manually with angles further slowing down the process.
Thet technology uses player tracking, and creates a virtual offside line, and then produces graphics to broadcast the outcome of the decision to fans, officials, and players alike.
2nd March – Manchester United vs Fulham
If SAOT was used in the previous round, then Harry Maguire’s 90+3rd minute winner would have been quickly disregarded. As the English centre back was a few yards ahead of the Leicester backline.
Alas, Manchester United advance, and face a repeat of their 2023 FA Cup tie. Which saw a hectic 15 minutes with Willian denying a goal scoring opportunity, which in turn saw Fulham manager Marco Silva, Mitrovic, and Willian all sent off. Allowing Manchester United to breeze into the semi-finals against the managerless 9 men of Fulham.
The FA Cup Holders Manchester United will hope that they will be able do the same in this tie, as Fulham’s record against the Red Devils is poor, with just one win in their last 21 meetings.
Fulham however have come close this season with the side already playing twice and Manchester United narrowly beating the side one-nil in both occasion the London club will believe that third time is the charm.
28th February – Aston Villa v Cardiff City
Aston Villa’s fifth-round clash is against Cardiff City, the second lowest-ranked side left in the competition, currently sitting 20th in the Championship.
Villa impressed in the previous round, sweeping aside Tottenham while showcasing several of their new signings, including Malen, Asensio, Rashford, and Garcia. However, Diasi is still awaiting his Villains debut, having been cup-tied.
Progressing into the latter stages of the tournament adds to Villa’s congested fixture list, with the team now set to play eight matches in just 21 days. This match also comes just before their first leg in the Champions League knockout stage.
Unai Emery’s side will look to manage squad rotation carefully, taking lessons from Liverpool’s approach to balancing domestic and European commitments.
1st March – Manchester City vs Plymouth Argyle
Bottom of the Championship Plymouth Argyle are the lowest ranked team left in the FA Cup, coming off the back of beating the highest ranked in Liverpool. Next will be the reigning Premier League champions, Manchester City.
Argyle Manager Miron Mulisic called the result against Liverpool the ‘biggest moment’ in his manager career. Debatably in the history of the club too. The side used the newfound confidence and gone on to move up the table with big wins against Millwall and now remain four games unbeaten.
Prior to the 500-mile round trip ahead to the Etihad. The Pilgrims will have ample opportunity to build upon their performances in the Championship with the side playing a host of the lower table clubs. It will remain to be seen whether they will be the lowest ranked in the competition when the fixture arrives.
This tie offers Plymouth not only potential to progress into the quarter finals, but they will be in with the chance of earning up to £1million according to Argyle Chairman Simon Hallet, “We’ve yet to work out the exact figures, but I am going to say it’s going to be somewhere between £600,000 and £1m to Argyle,” Hallet told BBC Radio Devon.
Manchester City will be looking to reinforce their credentials as they trailed at halftime to the League One side, Leyton Orient. Pep Guardiola’s abundance of talent shone as the match drew on with De Bruyne sweeping a shot past Keeley to make sure of City advancing.
City will be delighted with the draw with their credentials of winning the previous 18 FA Cup games against sides from lower divisions.
The rest of the draw entails:
- Nottingham Forest v Ipswich Town
- Crystal Palace v Millwall
- Newcastle v Brighton
- Bournemouth v Wolves
- Preston v Burnley
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