FA Cup fifth-round draw: Middlesbrough to visit holders Arsenal
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Version 0 of 1. Bradford City and Middlesbrough have been rewarded for their eye-catching victories at the Premier League’s top two, with both potentially given a further opportunity to take top-flight scalps following the draw for the fifth round of the FA Cup. Phil Parkinson’s City, the League One side who triumphed so startlingly at Chelsea on Saturday in one of the greatest shocks the competition has ever witnessed, have a tie against either Sunderland or second-tier Fulham at Valley Parade. The Bradford co-chairman Mark Lawn is backing his club to go further. “We’re at home. I think we can win at home,” he told Sky Sports News. “They won’t want to come down here and get this lot [the fans] bouncing. I don’t think Sunderland or Fulham will want to come to Valley Parade.” Boro, challenging for promotion in the Championship and victors at Manchester City, the Premier League champions, travel to the holders, Arsenal, on the weekend of 14-15 February. Related: FA Cup fifth round draw – as it happened Liverpool, who travel to Bolton Wanderers in a replay a week on Wednesday, would have an awkward tie at Alan Pardew’s resurgent Crystal Palace if they were to win at the Macron Stadium. Liverpool have failed to prevail in their past six visits to Selhurst Park. Brendan Rodgers’ team were defeated 3-1 in south London this season, having shipped three goals in the last 11 minutes of their visit back in May. Pardew’s finest moment as a player came with a headed winner in extra time in the FA Cup semi-final against these opponents at Villa Park in 1990. Manchester United, who must overcome Cambridge of League Two in a home replay next Tuesday to reach the fifth round, face another away tie at lower-division opposition, with either Preston North End or the Capital One Cup semi-finalists Sheffield United awaiting in the last 16. There were two other all-Premier League ties, with Tony Pulis’s West Bromwich Albion hosting West Ham, while Leicester City’s reward for winning at White Hart Lane is a trip to Aston Villa. Derby County will host Reading, while Stoke will travel to Blackburn Rovers after beating Rochdale 4-1 on Monday. Related: Football Weekly: Bradford lead the charge in FA Cup giantkillings Fifth-round draw Crystal Palace v Liverpool/Bolton; Arsenal v Middlesbrough; Aston Villa v Leicester City; West Bromwich Albion v West Ham United; Bradford City v Sunderland/Fulham; Blackburn Rovers v Stoke City; Derby County v Reading; Preston NE/Sheffield United v Cambridge United/Manchester United |