Two goals in the first twenty minutes set the stage for an extremely comfortable 3-0 win for Chelsea over Nottingham Forest in the fourth round of the FA Cup three weeks ago. Now, the Stamford Bridge side has been blessed with another home tie, their third this year and all against lower level opposition.
On Saturday Norwich makes the trip to London after narrowly beating League One side Blackpool on Tuesday evening in a replay. Two goals from Darren Huckerby brought his Cup tally to five goals in two rounds and three games so far.
Tamworth was beaten 4-1 in the third round with doubles from Huckerby and the apparently ageless Dion Dublin. Then the Canaries drew away from home against Blackpool (1-1) that set up a replay. It needed substitute Chris Martin to score his first ever goal for Norwich eight minutes from time to edge Blackpool in a five goal thriller at Carrow Road.
After failing to gain promotion back to the Premiership at the first attempt last season and with things looking no brighter after two months of this one Norwich fired Nigel Worthington who had been in charge for close to five years.
Former Celtic player and West Ham United assistant manager Peter Grant was hired as a replacement but the East Anglian side is still only five points out of a relegation spot albeit with a couple of games in hand.
Grant released Coach Doug Livermore earlier this week while bringing in former Chelsea, Portsmouth, Dundee and Hibs man Jim Duffy. With only two away wins and only two wins in their last ten games in the Championship Norwich will approach Saturday’s trip with much trepidation.
While Huckerby has stepped up with goals in the FA Cup the absence of Robert Earnshaw has left a noticeable hole in the Norwich attack. The diminutive striker led the Championship with 17 goals when he went down with a groin injury that will keep him out for the rest of the season.
After Saturday’s cup match Norwich will face six of their next eight games against teams pushing for automatic promotion or a play-off spot. The full fifth round draw can be found here and this is a link to the latest news from the official FA Cup website. The fifth round winners pocket around $240,000 in prize money and a place in the 6th round draw.
Past Featured Games Extra Preliminary Round Jarrow Roofing Boldon C.A. 5-2 Billingham Synthonia. Preliminary Round Jarrow Roofing Boldon C.A 5-4 Thackley F.C First Qualifying Round Fleetwood Town 3-0 Jarrow Roofing Boldon C.A. Second Qualifying Round Fleetwood Town 4-2 Goole AFC Third Qualifying Round Fleetwood Town 2-0 Warrington Town Fourth Qualifying Round Fleetwood Town 2-0 Wisbech Town First Round Salisbury City 3-0 Fleetwood Town Second Round Salisbury City 1-1 Nottingham Forest Second Round Replay Nottingham Forest 2-0 Salisbury City Third Round Nottingham Forest 2-0 Charlton Fourth Round Chelsea 3-0 Nottingham Forest
Arsenal ohh arsenal the game should be 3-1 now its 1-1 and we are going to e.t. This is why you have to take your chances I just hope they don't cost us in when it's all over.
I know ill probably get a lot of stick but you accept the deserved praise for FSC soccer report, they ought to be able to accept some criticism as well.
Pretty appalling show last night. I can accept those 2 clowns slaggin off on arsenal, particularly since they own the beloved Man Ure, but when these 2 buffons start laughing and making jokes about the hooliganisms that threatens the game its really over the top. You may want to remind them of the names of people who have been killed in europe and in south america before these 2 second ranked hack comics start giggling like school girls. Pretty shameful
FA Cup 5th Round--and the big winner of this much overhyped tournament is probably going to be -- Portsmouth.
The way the draw has gone, Arsenal has a fair chance to make the quarterfinals (if they can beat Blackburn @ the Emirates); Chelsea are a shoo-in (home to lower-league opposition for the third tie on the bounce); and Man Utd. and Reading play one another. ...
That sets up a Final 8 of Arsenal, West Brom (who will put 'Boro out of my misery on Saturday), Chelsea, ManU/Reading, Derby, Ipswich, Fulham & Preston. ... All the little balls have to do is keep Chelsea separated from ManU/Reading and Gunners until the Final, and the seventh-place team in the League will be awarded the third and final UEFA Cup spot for next season. Hello, Big Sam. ...
Actually, next year's UEFA Cup may be so besodden with EPL teams that FSC might want to think about prying the rights away from the greedy pay-per-view Irishmen @ Setanta. Spurs are already in the last 16 of this year's tourney, where they should be joined by Newcastle, and -- with just a 2-1 home win over a crummy Leverkusen XI -- Rovers. One of these teams might even win the thing. And, of course, Aston Villa have already announced they'll play Intertoto Cup in July (or am I making that up?). That would be 5 EPL sides in the UEFA Cup, sort of like the usual French & Spanish contingents.
In a way Monday's draw is almost more interesting than some of Saturday's games. It needs some serious seeding. If they just keep ManU, Arsenal and Chelsea apart then the chance of two of them being in the final is very high. I wonder if they ever tried seeding the top 8 league teams, Bobby?
Are Everton the only side to win the FA Cup without conceding a goal from open play during their Cup run? I remember Spurs scoring against them in the 1995 semi final, but I beleive that was a spot kick.
What is this about Ronaldhinho been given up so Ronaldo can join Barca. This is pretty laughable because as good as Ronaldo has been he is still not as good as Ronaldhinho. But would they switch Messi for Ronaldo? I hope not because Messi for me might end up been an all time great like Zidane and the rest, the potential I personally see in that kid is unmatched by any young player right now if only he can stay healthy.
Bobby, you wanted a trivia that might last 24 hours? What distinction, shared by Wigan Athletic and Reading, makes them unique among all the other clubs in English football? (Click on art_durbano at the left for the answer).
Flamini and Ljungberg are not even good enough. Even Walcott. He looks like to join the list of 'English overpriced flops'.henry is a mother ####ken son of a #### , the guy has too much ego for my liking and l honestly feel that if he is sold at the end of the season because he is like playing with ten men
"Seeding has never been used in the FA cup and I don't think anyone would seriously consider."
Other than the FA is bunch of old f**ts, I don't see why not.
Seeding is effectively used in European competitions. Group winners don't play each other in round 1 of the knockouts and are kept apart from the No. 2 in their groups.
No doubt, the great thing about the FA Cup final is the big teams v Minnows with a smattering of top clashes along the way (e.g. Liverpool v Arsenal this year).
Looking back at the finals, the very top teams only get to play a final together every 4 or 5 years. If the FA Cup is just a showcase then that's fine and it doesn't matter. But if it's a chance to see a great game of football between top teams then seeding the remaining highest ranked league teams from round 5 or 6 onward, would be a good way of getting the best of the current system and enhancing the semis and the final. Seeded teams can still get beaten.
I'd be interested if it's ever happend in other countries. It happens in the NFL, obviously.
Actually here's a trivia question without looking it up. Which was the last team not in the top flight to win the FA Cup final and who scored the winning goal?
Last edited by LosAngelesChelseaFan on February 17th at 10:37 AM.
Shortly after an exhilerating 120 min match at bolton, it was foreseeable that the gunners would be flat for an early kick off today. dont relish another match on an already tight schedule.
As long as Fab4 keeps growing as a player for the gunners he can be as arrogant as he wants in my book.
Hey, I know you love your team, but Henry wasn't really that bad against Blackburn. I agree there was a bit too much complaining from him, but he would have scored with that sweet tap shot if it weren't for Friedel being absolutely amazing.
Walcott ran the wings well and created a couple of decent chances. Easy on the kid - he's freaking 17 years old. Your team has played a ton of matches lately and Blackburn threw everyone behind the ball to defend. Arsenal still had a chance to win it, but they'll probably take care of business at Blackburn. You can't defend forever.
Your team has been spectacular as of late - to utterly freak out and start swearing about them getting a cup draw is utterly ridiculous. They're still alive and favorites to advance. Relax.
Go Man City - I'd love to see a Man City - Man U FA cup tie.
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