FA Cup favourites Manchester United travel to League One Preston North End in the fifth round of the FA Cup on Monday.
With Chelsea, Manchester City and Southampton all out of the equation, Louis van Gaal’s United were installed as the top seeds in the tournament by the bookmakers followed by Arsenal.
This week Van Gaal denied a FA misconduct charge relating to comments he made following last month’s FA Cup draw away at Cambridge United.
“Louis van Gaal denies FA misconduct charge in relation to media comments and requests personal hearing, date to be confirmed,” the FA said on Twitter.
“It is alleged his comments constitute improper conduct in that they allege and/or imply bias on the part of the match referee and/or bring the game into disrepute.”
When it was put to the Dutchman that one of his predecessors, Alex Ferguson, believed the FA could have an agenda against United due to the club’s status, Van Gaal said: “If I say that, then I am maybe rightly charged, so I don’t say it.”
To reach the glamorous clash against United, Preston battled hard with three goals in the second half to oust Sheffield United.
The last time United and Preston met in the knock-out competition was 43 years ago.
1972 (fourth round): Preston-United 0-2.
1966 (quarter-final): Preston-United 1-1
Replay: United-Preston 3-1.
1962 (quarter-final): Preston-United 0-0.
Replay: United-Preston 2-1.
1948 (quarter-final): United-Preston 4-1.
1946 (fourth round, first leg): United-Preston 1-0.
1946 (fourth round, second leg): Preston-United 3-1 (agg 3-2).
1890 (first round): Preston-United 6-1.
The fifth round draw brought about three all-Premier league clashes – Crystal Palace-Liverpool, West Brom-West Ham and Aston Villa-Leicester.
Palace, who under new manager Alan Pardew lost only one game, saw off high flyers Southampton in the previous round as Liverpool required a replay to despatch Bolton.
Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers told reporters he is happy that young Jordon Ibe produced a man-of-the-match performance against Everton. Rodgers reckons the winger has given himself a “springboard” to become an im-portant player at Anfield.
Ibe had been on loan at Championship side Derby County during the first half of the season but Liverpool recalled him last month and Rodgers opted to include him in the starting XI for the 0-0 draw in the Merseyside derby.
West Ham are boosted by a 2-1 win away at West Brom in the Premier League ahead of today’s cup tie. Yet, the Baggies shared the points in the return.
The Midlands derby at Villa Park sees managerless Aston Villa playing Leicester. Villa sacked Paul Lambert on Wednesday after a series of negative displays.
Pearson’s chances
Leicester boss Nigel Pearson could also face the chop before the season closes as he has been unable so far to lift the Foxes from the bottom places of the Premier League table.
Pearson, however, is boosted with results from the previous FA Cup rounds − home vs Newcastle (1-0) and away vs Tottenham (2-1).
Championship hopefuls Middlesbrough eliminated Manchester City in the fourth round and tomorrow they face another difficult task after being paired with holders Arsenal away.
The upset to Tottenham was a low point for the Gunners and they just managed to take the points from lowly Leicester this week. However, Arsenal will want to keep their hopes alive of retaining the FA Cup.
At Sunderland, the arrival of Jermaine Defoe was a shot in the arm to the club but the Black Cats, who play Bradford City away tomorrow, are still embroiled in the relegation struggle.
Defoe’s first-half goal against Swansea meant that the 33-year-old became the first player to have netted against all 20 of the current Premier League sides.
In previous rounds of the FA Cup, Sunderland won both their clashes with Championship teams Leeds and Fulham.
Fixtures and forecast
FA Cup fifth round
Blackburn-Stoke City - 2
Crystal Palace-Liverpool (18:30) - 2
Derby County-Reading - 1
West Brom-West Ham (13:45) - 2
Tomorrow:
Arsenal-Middlesbrough (17:00) -1
Aston Villa-Leicester (13:30) - X
Bradford-Sunderland (15:30) - X
Monday:
Preston-Man. United (20:45) - 2
The Championship
Blackpool-Nottm Forest - 2
Bolton-Watford - X
Bournemouth-Huddersfield - 1
Charlton-Brentford - 2
Fulham-Ipswich - X
Leeds United-Millwall - 1
Norwich City-Wolves - X
Sheffield Wed.-Brighton - 1
League One
Bristol City-Sheffield United - 1
Chesterfield-Leyton Orient - 1
Crawley-Barnsley - X
Crewe-Fleetwood - X
Doncaster-Yeovil - 1
Gillingham-MK Dons - 2
Oldham-Colchester - 1
Peterborough-Rochdale - 1
Scunthorpe-Swindon - 2
Walsall-Port Vale - 1
League Two
Burton-Oxford - 1
Cheltenham-Bury - X
Hartlepool-Stevenage - 2
Luton-Carlisle - 1
Mansfield-Northampton - X
Plymouth-Cambridge - 1
Portsmouth-Exeter - 1
Shrewsbury-AFC Wimbledon - 1
Southend-Accrington - 1
Wycombe-Newport - 1
York-Tranmere - X
Tomorrow:
Morecambe-Dagenham (14:00) - X
Hot four
Bournemouth, Leeds Utd, Chesterfield, Oldham.