FA Cup Fifth Round: A Preview of the Upcoming Matches
Football writer Ben Bloom examines the remaining teams in the FA Cup fifth-round action and what to expect.
The FA Cup has reached its business end, with only 16 teams left in the competition. Supporters are eagerly anticipating the fifth-round matches, dreaming of a Wembley final.
The Premier League dominates the field, with 11 of the remaining sides plying their trade in the top division, while the other five hail from the Championship.
FA Cup Fifth-Round Fixtures
Friday, 28 February
20:00 Aston Villa vs. Cardiff City
Saturday, 1 March
12:15 Crystal Palace vs. Millwall
12:15 Preston North End vs. Burnley
15:00 AFC Bournemouth vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers
17:45 Manchester City vs. Plymouth Argyle
Sunday, 2 March
13:45 Newcastle United vs. Brighton & Hove Albion
16:30 Manchester United vs. Fulham
Monday, 3 March
19:30 Nottingham Forest vs. Ipswich Town
Match Previews
Aston Villa vs. Cardiff City
Unai Emery’s Villa side will look to bounce back from a midweek defeat at Palace, as they aim to end their trophy drought since 1996. However, Cardiff manager Omer Riza has suggested he may not be able to field a full-strength side due to the Bluebirds’ Championship relegation battle.
Crystal Palace vs. Millwall
These fierce southeast London rivals met in the 2021 FA Cup third round, with Palace emerging victorious. The Eagles will hope to reach the quarter-finals for the fourth time in a decade, while Millwall aim to replicate their 2004 FA Cup final appearance against Manchester United.
Preston vs. Burnley
The only match of the round not to feature a Premier League club includes one with firm intentions on being part of the top tier next season. Burnley’s remarkable defensive record has caught the attention of co-owner and former NFL star JJ Watt, who joked about coming out of retirement if the Clarets kept another clean sheet.
AFC Bournemouth vs. Wolves
Bournemouth will be looking to reach the quarter-finals for the third time in their history, but they face a Wolves side that beat them just last weekend. The Cherries have lost three of their last four matches, while Wolves have won two of their last four to build a cushion from the relegation zone.
Manchester City vs. Plymouth
With their early Champions League exit and meek Premier League title defense, the FA Cup remains Manchester City’s only remaining hope of silverware this season. However, they face a determined Plymouth side that has already knocked out Brentford and Liverpool to reach the fifth round.
Newcastle vs. Brighton
Newcastle have already booked a spot in the EFL Cup final, but they have struggled in the Premier League of late. Brighton, on the other hand, have won four successive matches and sit just a point behind the Magpies in the table.
Manchester United vs. Fulham
Manchester United are the reigning FA Cup holders and have beaten Fulham twice in the league this season. However, the Cottagers will be looking to avenge their quarter-final defeat last year, where they imploded and saw three players sent off.
Nottingham Forest vs. Ipswich Town
Nottingham Forest, who sit third in the Premier League, will host Ipswich Town, who are five points from safety in the Championship. This is already the furthest Ipswich have progressed in the FA Cup for almost 20 years, but they face a daunting task against a Forest side that has not lost at home against them in 15 matches.
The draw for the FA Cup quarter-finals will take place on Sunday, 2 March, immediately following the conclusion of the Manchester United vs. Fulham match. The quarter-final ties will be played over the weekend of 29/30 March, which could lead to some intriguing scheduling with a full round of midweek Premier League fixtures for Matchweek 30 on 1/2 April.
Don’t miss the action as the FA Cup reaches its climax. Tune in to witness the potential giant-killings, the continuation of the Premier League’s dominance, and the pursuit of the coveted trophy.
