FA Cup fourth-round draw – as it happened!
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http://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2015/jan/05/fa-cup-fourth-round-draw-live Version 0 of 1. 7.51pm GMT19:51 Is there a special atmosphere to expect if Chelsea would entertain Millwall? asks Michael Schlagenhaufen via email. Yes, Michael, there would be a cracking atmosphere at Stamford Bridge but Millwall, as mentioned, will face a really difficult task at Bradford next week after their initial meeting at the Den ended 3-3 on Saturday. Paul Airey has a valid point about Cambridge United v Manchester United: I know this plea will fall on deaf ears, but wouldn’t it be refreshing if whoever reports on this fixture avoids the pitfall of writing about “United” if who they really mean is the team from Manchester rather than Cambridge? We live in hope! And Elliot Carr-Barnsley adds … Cambridge versus Man U? I smell a punditry call up for Dion Dublin. Elsewhere, among several standard and uninspiring fixtures, if Liverpool win tonight Emile Heskey will be returning to Anfield in a Bolton shirt … On that note, I’m off. Do pop over to AFC Wimbledon v Liverpool – live with Jacob Steinberg. Bye! 7.45pm GMT19:45 Well there you go. One guaranteed highlight – Cambridge United v Manchester United – and a couple of potentially tasty derbies: Chelsea v Millwall (if they beat Bradford in a replay, which is of course no easy task) and Birmingham City v West Bromwich Albion 7.43pm GMT19:43 Manchester City v Middlesbrough 7.42pm GMT19:42 Doncaster/Bristol City v Everton/West Ham 7.42pm GMT19:42 Sunderland v Fulham/Wolves 7.42pm GMT19:42 Rochdale v Stoke City 7.41pm GMT19:41 Brighton & Hove Albion v Arsenal 7.41pm GMT19:41 Burnley/Tottenham Hotspur v Leicester City 7.41pm GMT19:41 AFC Wimbledon/Liverpool v Bolton Wanderers 7.40pm GMT19:40 Cardiff City v Reading 7.40pm GMT19:40 Aston Villa v Bournemouth 7.40pm GMT19:40 Birmingham City v West Bromwich Albion 7.39pm GMT19:39 Preston North End v Sheffield United 7.39pm GMT19:39 Derby v Scunthorpe/Chesterfield 7.39pm GMT19:39 Chelsea v Millwall/Bradford City 7.38pm GMT19:38 Blackburn Rovers v Swansea City 7.38pm GMT19:38 Cambridge United v Manchester United (great tie for the U’s) 7.37pm GMT19:37 Southampton/Ipswich v Crystal Palace 7.37pm GMT19:37 Mark Champan tees it up from the President’s lounge at Kingsmeadow to the usual cheers and oi ois Douglas Hawthorn has been in contact via email: Quick “big up” for Cambridge United. Back in the Football League after a nine year absence, and in the fourth-round for the first time in fifteen years. Glory days. Would settle for a rerun of the rehearsal in the draw, albeit at the Abbey. Yes, big up indeed – always great to see big teams having to step out of their comfort zone. Stef drawing the home teams, Lawrie the aways … 7.34pm GMT19:34 We’re moments away … but here’s a refresher of the numbers in the pot 1. Arsenal 2. Southampton or Ipswich Town 3. Stoke City 4. Blackburn Rovers 5. Crystal Palace 6. AFC Wimbledon or Liverpool 7. Manchester City 8. Rochdale 9. West Bromwich Albion 10. Birmingham City 11. Aston Villa 12. AFC Bournemouth 13. Reading 14. Swansea City 15. Cardiff City 16. Bolton Wanderers 17. Sunderland 18. Burnley or Tottenham Hotspur 19. Millwall or Bradford City 20. Derby County 21. Brighton & Hove Albion 22. Fulham or Wolverhampton Wanderers 23. Leicester City 24. Scunthorpe United or Chesterfield 25. Everton or West Ham United 26. Cambridge United 27. Chelsea 28. Middlesbrough 29. Sheffield United 30. Manchester United 31. Preston North End 32. Doncaster Rovers or Bristol City 7.24pm GMT19:24 There is something terrible about the draw being made with eight teams still to play their third round fixture (not including replays). Then again, who had the bright idea of putting Everton v West Ham on a Tuesday night? Such silliness. 7.18pm GMT19:18 While we wait for the draw, why not pay Jacob Steinberg a visit over on the AFC Wimbledon v Liverpool MBM? Just promise you’ll come back in 10 minutes, ok? 7.11pm GMT19:11 Glamour of the cup captured perfectly by our man at Kingsmeadow tonight Slightly obstructed view from the pressbox at AFC Wimbledon tonight pic.twitter.com/Ly03b2hyls 7.09pm GMT19:09 Lawrie Sanchez, who was part of the victorious Wimbledon team in 1988, and Stef Loucaides, a local grassroots football coach, will be making tonight’s draw. In the trial, Manchester City were drawn at home to Cambridge United, the lowest ranked team left in the competition. 7.02pm GMT19:02 Here we go, then. The FA Cup fourth round draw – almost but not quite as good as the third round draw on the basis that there are fewer chances of a major shock. Then again, there hasn’t been a giantkilling yet (step up AFC Wimbledon, who take on Liverpool right after these balls are pulled out of a drum?). Wrexham promised a surprise until Stoke’s Stephen Ireland ruined it, Sheffield Wednesday led at Man City briefly while Blyth Spartans threatened to upset Birmingham and Southport were denied in desperately late circumstances at Derby. Sheffield United, on the basis of their outstanding record in knockout competitions, winning at a QPR side whose priorities lie elsewhere was hardly a shock. It pains to say, the #magicofthecup has not been all that magic so far. Nevermind, we live in hope, eh? 7.00pm GMT19:00 Alan will be here shortly before the draw, which is due to start at 7.30pm. Here are the teams and their numbers: 1. Arsenal 2. Southampton or Ipswich Town 3. Stoke City 4. Blackburn Rovers 5. Crystal Palace 6. AFC Wimbledon or Liverpool 7. Manchester City 8. Rochdale 9. West Bromwich Albion 10. Birmingham City 11. Aston Villa 12. AFC Bournemouth 13. Reading 14. Swansea City 15. Cardiff City 16. Bolton Wanderers 17. Sunderland 18. Burnley or Tottenham Hotspur 19. Millwall or Bradford City 20. Derby County 21. Brighton & Hove Albion 22. Fulham or Wolverhampton Wanderers 23. Leicester City 24. Scunthorpe United or Chesterfield 25. Everton or West Ham United 26. Cambridge United 27. Chelsea 28. Middlesbrough 29. Sheffield United 30. Manchester United 31. Preston North End 32. Doncaster Rovers or Bristol City |