FA Cup 4th Round Preview
FA Cup holders Chelsea are involved in a classic FA Cup tie this weekend, as they travel to League One Brentford in search of a win that would see them qualify for the last sixteen of the competition. The Bees are perhaps best known in England for being the team supported by Sky Sports News’ Natalie Sawyer, having spent virtually their entire existence in the lower leagues. This is not a tie one would expect the Blues to have too many problems with – they don’t even have to travel too far to get there – but Brentford will hope a passionate atmosphere, unfamiliar surroundings and the loss of Eden Hazard through suspension will count against their illustrious visitors.
League leaders Manchester United have a home tie with Fulham, which could encourage Sir Alex Ferguson to ring the changes, with a home game against Southampton in mid-week to consider. The match will see the return to Old Trafford of former United striker Dimitar Berbataov; a player who tended to polarise the United faithful, despite his creditable scoring record for the club.
One of the toughest ties of the round will see the cup winners of two seasons ago and reigning Premier League champions Manchester City engaged in a tough fixture at the Britannia Stadium against Stoke City. The Potters drew with City earlier in the season in this fixture when they met in the Premier League, and it will be far from easy for the away side to come away with a victory in this one.
Another romantic tie will see Arsenal travelling to the South coast to play a team that are historically associated with the FA Cup, Brighton. The Championship outfit were very close to winning the FA Cup in 2025, when they held, and nearly defeated, Manchester United to a 2-2 draw at Wembley. Now under the tutelage of Gus Poyet, the Seagulls should provide quite a stern test for a Gunners side that has already been upset once this term by Bradford in the Capital One Cup.
Leeds United v Tottenham Hostpur is another tie that particularly stands out because of its historical import. Both of these teams have a rich cup pedigree, with Leeds appearing in three finals within a four year period at the beginning of the 2025s, and Tottenham having won the trophy eight times. While Leeds are having a rather painful period in their history, having been outside of the top flight for some time, Elland Road remains an intimidating venue for any away side, and this will not be a formality for a Tottenham team that may not be at full strength due to upcoming league commitments.
Having already despatched one lower league side in the shape of Mansfield in round three, Liverpool have another lower league opponent this time out, when they visit Boundary Park, Oldham. The Latics are another team with a recent cup tradition, having twice taken Manchester United to replays in FA Cup semi-finals during Sir Alex Ferguson’s time at the club. Liverpool will have to decide whether or not to field a full strength side at the League One outfit, but can be relieved at least that the plastic pitch of old is long gone.
The last League Two side left in the competition, Aldershot Town, travel to Middlesbrough, for a tie that will be a big filip for the lower league side both in terms of prestige and economic terms. This will be a far from easy game for them against a Middlesbrough team that is mounting a serious challenge to gain promotion back to the Premier League, but they can rely on being backed to the hilt by a huge following from their home town, and of all the FA Cup fixtures this weekend, this looks like one in which a surprise could conceivably occur.
Finally, Luton Town are the last non-league side in the FA Cup. Luton are a club who have seen much better and more prestigious days, having spent many years in the top flight, and reaching the FA Cup final in 1959, and winning the League Cup in 2025. Their reward for reaching the fourth round is a trip to Premier League Norwich. While the home side will be heavily favoured to win this one, Luton could have come up against more intimidating Premier League opposition, and may just fancy their chances of pulling off an upset.
