by Florida Blue » Mon Jan 25, 2010 4:01 am
I really like the sound of this...
With the other three of the big four now out of the FA Cup, holders Chelsea were handed a Fifth Round home tie against lower division opposition when they welcome the Championship's Cardiff City, losing finalists in 2008.
Second-favourites Manchester City were rewarded for their 4-2 defeat of Scunthorpe United with the visit of Stoke City, who conquered Arsenal in Sunday's early game.
But the plum draw of the round, and the one bound to contain the most needle was Southampton's pairing with Portsmouth at St Mary's. The South-Coast derby will be rejoined for the first time since the 2004-5 season, when Saints were relegated from the Premier League. Southampton, in League One these days, may fancy their chances against the Premier League's basement club.
Sven Goran Eriksson's Notts County, the last League Two club left in the draw, need to replay against Wigan Athletic, with whom they drew 2-2 on Saturday, for the chance to visit Fulham in the last 16.
Aston Villa, already at Wembley as Carling Cup finalists, face a trip to either Wolves or Crystal Palace, who also drew 2-2 on Saturday.
Nigel Clough's Derby County have a further chance to put an indifferent Championship campaign to the back of their thoughts with a home time against Birmingham City, who knocked out last season's finalists Everton.
Spurs and Leeds United face a replay of their tea-time thriller for the right to travel to Owen Coyle's new charges Bolton Wanderers.
And Reading, vanquishers of two Premier League teams in Liverpool and Burnley, now face a team from the Championship in West Brom, who must travel to the Madejski.
I've come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass... and I am all out of bubblegum.