FA Cup Fifth Round Draw Today, 28/01/2007

Premier League leaders Manchester United will play second placed Arsenal at Old Trafford in the stand-out tie of the fifth round of the FA Cup.

League One side Huddersfield Town will travel to Stamford Bridge to face last year's winners Chelsea.

Sheffield United manager Bryan Robson will take on former team Middlesbrough while Liverpool will play Championship opposition in Barnsley at Anfield.

League One strugglers Bristol Rovers face Championship side Southampton.

Portsmouth also have Championship opposition when they travel to Deepdale to play Preston, who beat Premier League bottom side Derby 4-1 at Pride Park on Saturday.

Fifth round fixtures:

Bristol Rovers v Southampton

Cardiff City v Wolves

Sheffield United v Middlesbrough

Liverpool v Barnsley

Manchester United v Arsenal

Preston v Portsmouth

Coventry City v West Brom

Chelsea v Huddersfield Town

The ties are scheduled to take place on 16 and 17 February.

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Teams in FA Cup fifth-round draw:

1. Arsenal
2. Coventry City
3. Huddersfield Town
4. Bristol Rovers
5. Chelsea
6. Liverpool
7. Barnsley
8. Southampton
9. Manchester United
10. Portsmouth
11. Preston
12. Wolves
13. West Bromwich Albion
14. Sheffield United
15. Middlesbrough
16. Cardiff

The draw will be made by FA Cup winners Jimmy Case and Ray Wilkins at Soho Square in London.

Only six of Premier League Teams are left in the competition.

For the first time since 1957, there are no fourth-round replays as every match was decided at the first time of asking.

Sheff Utd Vs Man City 27/01/2008

Sheffield Utd 2-1 Man City

Sheffield United added their name to Monday's FA Cup draw after knocking out Manchester City in the fourth round.



Luton Shelton kept his eye on the ball as it bobbled through balloons in the City goal to convert Lee Martin's pass.

Emile Mpenza headed over for City and Paddy Kenny cleared Blumer Elano's free-kick before Jon Stead knocked in Derek Geary's cross on the break.

City substitute Daniel Sturridge whistled in Martin Petrov's corner but despite late pressure United hung on.

Man City's travelling band of fans may have unwittingly had a hand in Shelton's opener.

A clutch of balloons littered City's goalmouth and when Martin, on loan from Manchester United, crossed to Shelton, the ball momentarily got lost amongst them, leaving defender Michael Ball bamboozled.

Shelton managed to keep his eye on the ball and stabbed it home to pumped fists of praise from under-pressure manager Bryan Robson.

The balloons were quickly burst; and City pressed forward in search of the equaliser.

Mpenza headed over from eight yards and Elano had two good chances; first rattling the post with his right-footed effort before seeing his free-kick from 25 yards clawed away brilliantly by Kenny.

Despite City's dominance another well-worked break brought the Blades their second goal.

Geary broke for the right-hand corner, and turned in a cross which first found Shelton before Jon Stead slotted it beyond Joe Hart.

The match, though tipped in favour of United, settled into an exciting see-saw of attack and counter-attack.

Petrov was denied by a timely challenge from Leigh Bromby while Stephen Quinn blocked Darius Vassell's shot.

Kenny then flapped at a Vedran Corluka corner and Richard Dunne almost took advantage only for the ball to fly wide as United held firm.

City boss Sven-Goran Eriksson made an inspired switch at half-time replacing the increasingly wild Elano with highly-rated striker Sturridge.

Within two minutes, the teenager found himself unmarked and able to rifle home Petrov's corner for his first senior goal for City.

The play continued to swing pulsatingly from end to end. City were forced to make some desperate tackles but Martin failed to find reward from the resulting free-kicks.

Quinn headed Geary's cross just wide as the Blades harried away at City, and it looked as though Eriksson's men were running out of ideas.

With every City attack, United were ready to respond with some stout defending before punting the ball down field on the break.

Shelton found himself on course for a second only for his shot to be blocked after Vassell had fumbled the ball at the other end.

Dunne rose well to collect Petrov's free-kick but headed wide before Kenny saved from the hard-working Vassell.

Substitute Geovanni scooped the ball high and wide as City drove at the Blades defence and Blades's Billy Sharp did likewise at the other end.

United never gave up and after four minutes of added time the Championship side completed their upset, claiming the 14th Premiership scalp in this season's FA Cup.

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Sheff Utd

* 01 Kenny
* 26 Geary
* 02 Bromby
* 05 Morgan
* 03 Naysmith
* 19 Gillespie
* 15 Speed
* 23 Martin
* 28 Quinn
* 07 Shelton
* 08 Stead

Substitutes

* 11 Hendrie,
* 16 Kilgallon,
* 18 Tonge,
* 20 Armstrong,
* 24 Sharp

Man City

* 25 Hart
* 16 Corluka
* 04 Onuoha
* 22 Dunne
* 03 Ball
* 11 Elano
* 21 Hamann
* 28 Gelson
* 15 Petrov
* 09 Mpenza
* 12 Vassell

Substitutes

* 19 Schmeichel,
* 07 Ireland,
* 08 Geovanni,
* 17 Jihai,
* 36 Sturridge

Manchester United Vs Tottenham 27/01/2008

Man Utd 3-1 Spurs

Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice to put Manchester United into the last 16 of the FA Cup after an entertaining tie.

First Half Highlights




Ronoldo's Penalty



Ronoldo's Second goal



Wayne Rooney cleared Dimitar Berbatov's header off the line before Robbie Keane converted Aaron Lennon's cross to put Tottenham ahead in a lively first half.

Ryan Giggs teed up Carlos Tevez to level but Edwin van der Sar superbly denied Jermaine Jenas before half-time.

Ronaldo netted a penalty after Michael Dawson went for deliberate handball and Radek Cerny then let his shot through.

It continued United's long unbeaten run at home against Spurs - which began in December 1989 - and was no less than the Premier League champions deserved after a dominant second-half display.

They were tested, however, during an opening 45 minutes which featured plenty to admire from two sides that have won the Cup 19 times between them.

For all their fluid movements, the home side often lacked a telling final ball and Spurs drew encouragement from the success they had in containing the lethal triumvirate of Rooney, Tevez and Ronaldo.

Indeed, the visitors came desperately close to an opener in the 15th minute when Berbatov headed Lennon's corner goalwards, only to be thwarted by Rooney on the line.

The warning signs were there for the favourites and when a raking pass from Michael Dawson was collected by Lennon, the winger's cross was met by Keane, who ghosted past the centre-halves to claim claim his fourth strike in as many games.

United responded wth predictable vigour and after Radek Cerny tipped over a fierce Giggs strike from the edge of the area they were deservedly level.

John O'Shea's deep ball caused confusion for Young-Pyo Lee and Dawson, allowing Giggs to nip in and lay-off to Tevez, who fired across Cerny and into the net.

Spurs were undaunted and, with the game opening up, almost regained the lead right on half-time.

Jenas raced clear down the middle following Steed Malbranque's defence-splitting pass and he got in an effort which Van der Sar pushed past the post.

More composure soon after the break would have yielded another Tottenham goal.

A slip from left-back Patrice Evra allowed Lennon to break free but he chipped over, and a clever punt from Keane created an even better opening for Jenas, who sidefooted off-target.

Those misses proved costly as Sir Alex Ferguson's men cranked up the pressure.

Ronaldo was enjoying more freedom and he really should have made it 2-1 when a sublime pass from Tevez sent him clear into the box.

And the goal United had been threatening duly arrived when Dawson saw red for using his arm to deny Rooney a shooting opportunity and Ronaldo fired home his 10th goal in eight games from the spot.

The game looked up for Tottenham but they bravely ventured forward and Wes Brown's attempt to clear a Malbranque cross bounced back off the post.

Any hopes they were harbouring off a replay were ended, however, when a dreadful error from Cerny saw Ronaldo's shot squirm over the line.

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About the Match

Manchester United against Tottenham Hotspur is one of three ties that will see a Premier League club through and one join the nine to have already fallen by the wayside from the third round.

Since 1984-85, Manchester United have played 110 FA Cup ties, and only been knocked out by Premier League clubs on 16 occasions (that includes the two finals won by Southampton and Arsenal after penalty shoot-outs).

These clubs have won the cup 19 times between them; United, a record 11 times, Spurs eight.

Head To Head Details

All competitions

This is the 164th competitive meeting; Manchester United have won the last four and are unbeaten in 13 (won 11, drawn two - all Premier League). Spurs' last victory was 3-1 at White Hart Lane on 19 May 2001. The Londoners have not won at the Theatre of Dreams in 19 visits since a 0-1 top-flight triumph on 16 December 1989.

FA Cup

This is the ninth time these clubs have been drawn together in the competition. Tottenham lead by five wins to three, but United won the most recent 2-0, at home in the third round in 1997 when Paul Scholes and David Beckham were their scorers.

Wigan Vs Chelsea 26/01/2008

Wigan 1-2 Chelsea

Nicolas Anelka scored his first goal for Chelsea to help them beat Wigan in their FA Cup fourth-round tie.




The opening half was highly forgettable with Joe Cole's first-minute shot the only real effort of note.

But eight minutes after the interval Anelka put Chelsea ahead with a sublime volley from Juliano Belletti's pass.

Anelka set up Shaun Wright-Phillips to make it 2-0 before Antoine Sibierski pulled a goal back with a super volley, while Marcus Bent hit the bar late on.

The Wigan pitch looked in a poor state and unfortunately the quality of the football in the first half was no better.

With a wide, boggy stripe running right down the centre of the field, it was perhaps unsurprising that neither side opted to pass their way through it.

But that made for a scrappy, fragmented match as the ball spent a fair amount of time pinging about in the air.

It might have played to Wigan's advantage but striker Emile Heskey struggled to impose himself on the game and

And the one time the striker did make a telling contribution, Marcus Bent allowed the pass to run across his body and Wayne Bridge nipped in to clear.

At the other end, Anelka was largely anonymous, but Cole showed glimpses of attacking verve without making a breakthrough.

Aside from Cole's early strike, there was nothing that resembled a chance in the opening period.

Chelsea, though, were the team who had showed a little more control and creativity and they deservedly took the lead on 53 minutes.

Belletti chipped a teasing pass into the box and Anelka, with one eye fixed on the onrushing Chris Kirkland, steered a sublime volley into the net.

Shortly after, Wright-Phillips showed purpose with a direct run but his shot lacked precision and did not trouble Kirkland.

Cech, though, was called into action to prevent Heskey's shot sneaking in at the near post.

But as Wigan pressed for an equaliser they were undone by some route one football.

Anelka raced clear after beating Kevin Kilbane to Cech's long goal-kick and the Frenchman squared the ball to provide Wright-Phillips with the simplest finish.

Wigan appeared to be out of the game by then, but Sibierski produced a moment of sheer brilliance to give them a lifeline when he controlled the ball on his chest, swivelled and smashed an edge-of-the-box volley into the top corner.

An unlikely comeback was almost completed when Bent lashed a shot against the bar, but Chelsea held on to progress to the fifth round.

Arsenal Vs Newcastle 26/01/2008

Arsenal 3-0 Newcastle

Emmanuel Adebayor's brace helped secure Arsenal's passage to the FA Cup fifth round at the expense of Newcastle.



Kevin Keegan's side regularly worried the Gunners early on, with Gael Clichy heading Alan Smith's shot off the line.

But Arsenal dominated after the break and took the lead when Adebayor thrashed home a sumptuous strike.

The Togolese sealed the win with a superb run and composed finish, before Nicky Butt headed a Cesc Fabregas free-kick into his own net.

The Magpies showed glimpses of the attractive attacking football that Keegan has promised since returning to the club, but were ultimately undone by Adebayor's class.

Arsene Wenger made seven changes to the Arsenal side that were hammered by rivals Spurs on Tuesday with Adebayor claiming the bickering rights over Nicklas Bendtner, who started on the bench.

Newcastle shed the lethargy that embodied their performance during Keegan's first game in charge against Bolton and displayed an attacking purpose that threatened to upset the Arsenal defence.

Arsenal too, were positive in attack and after a shaky start, had chances to break the deadlock.

Eduardo's thumping half-volley brought a fine save from Shay Given, while the unmarked Fabregas should have made better contact with Clichy's pass from deep when put clean through.

The Gunners were too often fragile at the back with only captain William Gallas holding the unit together with a number of crucial blocks and challenges.

But for Clichy's positioning and headed clearance off the line, Smith would have given Newcastle a deserved lead when he dug out a shot on the turn.

The French full-back then showed his worth at the other end too when he forced Given into a firm save from the edge of the box.

Taylor looped over Jens Lehmann from Duff's clipped pass and Owen narrowly missed Stephen Carr's teasing cross with the Arsenal defence badly caught out.

On the stroke of half-time, Given pulled off another superb save - tipping the excellent Abou Diaby's 25-yard curler over the bar.

Five minutes into the second half, the home side moved ahead with a clinical finish from their leading scorer Adebayor.

Eduardo found space on the edge of the area and clipped his effort past Given on to the post. The rebound eventually found the Togolese who jinked past Claudio Cacapa and rifled his effort into the corner.

The goal lifted the Gunners with Fabregas and Diaby pulling the strings from midfield and Eduardo linking up neatly up front.

Adebayor put the tie beyond the visitors when his foraging run gave him the time and space to fire past Given with Taylor helpless to stop the shot on the line.

Butt inadvertently headed Fabregas' free-kick past Given in the closing stages to register a scoreline that flattered the Gunners.

Liverpool Vs Havant & W'looville 26/01/2008

Liverpool 5-2 Havant & W'looville

Liverpool had to come from behind twice to beat Havant & Waterlooville and reach the FA Cup fifth round.




Richard Pacquette's header put Havant ahead before Leiva Lucas equalised for Liverpool with a superb 25-yard curler.

Alfie Potter restored the part-timers' lead with a deflected effort, but Yossi Benayoun made it 2-2 from 15 yards.

Benayoun drove in just after the break and stroked home from a rebound to complete his hat-trick before Peter Crouch tapped in to make it 5-2.

Once they had moved into the lead, Liverpool finally looked like a team of millionaire professionals playing against non-league part-time opposition.

But it was far from that way in the first half as Liverpool squandered possession and were harried into making mistakes as Havant showed little sign of big-match nerves.

Yet the home side should have opened the scoring on three minutes when Jermaine Pennant outpaced his marker and delivered a perfect cross, but Benayoun somehow headed wide.

Havant, buoyed by their let-off, soon gave a warning to the Reds defence when Potter got himself in a good position and forced Martin Skrtel to make a block.

And three minutes later, the team 122 places beneath their hosts proved it was no empty threat as they took the lead from a set-piece.

Mo Harkin whipped in a corner and Pacquette headed the ball downwards, and wheeled away in celebration after seeing it bounce into the top corner.

Surely that would prove just a blip, and Liverpool would go on to dominate, but not so, as the Blue Square South side snapped into the tackles, kept their discipline and their shape - and kept Liverpool at bay with relative ease.

Liverpool's passing continually went astray and a Havant side containing a van driver, a binman and a school caretaker started to look like they might just pull off one of the biggest Cup shocks of all time.

Indeed, Havant had a great chance to take a two-goal lead when the ball fell to Neil Sharp after a goalmouth scramble, but his volley was always rising.

Instead, the Reds were level when Lucas produced his side's first moment of genuine quality, curling in a brilliant effort as Havant stood off him.

Cue relief all around at Anfield - bar the 6,000 away fans - but it proved to be short-lived, lasting only four minutes.

Deservedly, Havant restored their lead when they capitalised on a mistake by Steve Finnan, whose misjudgement allowed the ball to reach Potter, whose shot went in off Skrtel.

Still Liverpool struggled to make an impact but then they created a chance that proved crucial to the outcome just before the interval.

Pennant threaded a pass through to Benayoun and he clipped the ball onto the left corner to ensure the score was all-square at half-time.

After the interval, Liverpool raised their game and took the lead for the first time in the match when Pennant crossed for Benayoun, who swivelled and unleashed a fierce shot which went in off the underside of the bar.

It seemed to settle Liverpool, and left the Hawks reflecting on what might have been.

And when Benayoun cracked in his third goal to put Liverpool 4-2 up after Ryan Babel's shot had been well saved, you could sense that Havant might struggle to keep the score down.

Benayoun was denied his fourth goal when his volley was saved superbly by Kevin Scriven as Liverpool finally began to dominate.

It would have been harsh on Havant had Liverpool gone on to record a huge victory.

And in fact, Havant almost made the score closer when Tom Jordan's header was acrobatically kept out by Charles Itandje.

But they did concede a fifth as Crouch tapped in, but Havant can be proud of an excellent display that certainly had the Premier League giants squirming.