FA Cup Review
There was no doubt of the biggest news that came out of the fifth round of the FA Cup. Michael Appleton’s early career at Blackburn Rovers was handed a massive boost, as the team that were relegated from the Premier League last season turned over Arsenal on their home turf. It’s fair to say that Blackburn’s goal, scored by Colin Kazim-Richards, represented their only shot on target during the entire match, but it would be extremely uncharitable not to give credit to Rovers for their resolute and tremendously organised defensive display. Arsenal, by contrast, were booed off at the final whistle, having wasted some very presentable chances.
The defeat left Arsene Wenger in something of a vulnerable position. Whether or not this is fair is debatable, depending on what one believes is a reasonable expectation for the club. Critics of Wenger point to eight years without a trophy. Defenders of the Frenchman state that Arsenal qualify for the Champions League year after year, and are waiting for the economic playing field to level in their favour before launching a real assault on Europe’s major prizes. Regardless of which one of these perspective one considers to be more reasonable, Tuesday’s Champions League tie against Bayern Munich assumes an even greater significance.
Another manager under some pressure, Roberto Mancini, will have been relieved to see his Manchester City team comfortably see off Leeds United by four goals to nil, with Sergio Aguero returning to something close to his best form. Ironically, the emphatic defeat could help to seal the fate of Neil Warnock, with the Leeds manager strongly heckled by his own supporters at the final whistle. With City having been handed a very favourable home draw in the quarter-finals against Championship side Barnsley, they have been instilled as the favourites to win the FA Cup, and another Wembley visit for the semi-finals at least would seem to be highly likely. Whether winning the FA Cup will placate the City board in a season in which City look destined to finish a distant second to Manchester United in the Premier League, and having crashed out of the Champions League rather tamely, remains to be seen.
Oldham Athletic’s FA Cup journey continued, as the struggling League One outfit grabbed a late equaliser at Boundary Park to deny Everton. Having taken the lead early on through Jordan Obita, the Latics gave a superb account of themselves throughout the match, despite falling behind to goals scored by Victor Anichebe and Phil Jagielka. Indeed, many Oldham fans might have been wondering how a team that could give such an excellent performance against a strong Premier League side could have picked up only one point from nine matches in League One. Nonetheless, Matt Smith’s late strike from a corner earnt Oldham a replay at Goodison Park, and while the Premier League side will be strongly fancied to progress, the Latics have shown enough spirit in this year’s competition to indicate that they won’t go down without a fight.
After nearly being eliminated by Brentford at Griffin Park, Chelsea saw off the League One club in the replay, with goals from Mata, Oscar, Lampard and Terry in a 4-0 victory. This result would have been a boon to interim manager Rafael Benitez, but the prospect of travelling to Old Trafford for a quarter-final tie will be less welcome.
Elsewhere it was assured that one Championship team will play in the semi-finals, as Millwall – conquerors of the last non-league side in the competition, Luton Town – were drawn at home to Blackburn Rovers. Wigan put out Huddersfield, and will travel to Everton, assuming they eventually see off Oldham, while Barnsley put out the MK Dons, and will hope to perform in exceptional fashion at Eastlands. With one of Manchester United or Chelsea, Manchester City and Everton all likely to be in the semi-finals, this year’s last four is looking to be a potentially powerful line-up.
