FA Cup 4th Round Preview

The FA Cup returns to centre stage this weekend having thrown up several all-Premiership ties along with the more traditional minnows versus giants encounters. Holders Chelsea face a tricky trip to Deepdale to take on Championship side Preston North End, while Tottenham host Leeds who accounted for Manchester United in Round 3 and Arsenal travel to the Britannia Stadium to take on Stoke.

Another two Premiership sides meet at Goodison Park as Everton entertain Birmingham and there will also be a top flight tussle at Fratton Park between Portsmouth and Sunderland. New Bolton manager Owen Coyle will be keen to ensure that his side are not embarrassed at home by Sheffield United and the same applies to fellow Lancashire clubs Burnley and Wigan who travel to Reading and Notts County respectively.

Aston Villa shouldn’t have too many problems disposing of League One strugglers Brighton at home, but Manchester City will not relish their trip to Scunthorpe, Wolves will not have it all their own way against Crystal Palace at Molineux and Fulham will be tested when they make the long journey north to face League Two side Accrington.

Preston North End v Chelsea
Deepdale
Saturday 23rd January 2010

Preston North End may have lost their first game under new boss Darren Ferguson on Saturday and lie 17th in the Championship, but there is a feeling around Deepdale that better times may be just around the corner and what better way to start than by claiming the scalp of Cup holders Chelsea?

The Lilywhites have lost just one of their last seven home games and in the last round of the Cup they ran riot against Colchester, hammering the League One outfit 7-0. There is certainly plenty of experience in the side with defender Callum Davidson and midfielder Chris Sedgewick boasting over 750 league appearances between them. Irish international Sean St Ledger has been in impressive form at the back and keep an eye out for midfielder Richard Chaplow who was regarded as a future England international when he first came through the ranks at neighbouring Burnley. North End also have high hopes for teenage winger Danny Mayor who made his senior debut against Bristol City last weekend.

The two sides did meet in the FA Cup back in 2002, with Chelsea prevailing at Stamford Bridge and indeed you have to go right back to 1981 to find the last time that North End managed to topple the Blues in any competition.
You also have to go a fair way back to find the last time Chelsea lost in any competition this season, to December 5th to be exact, when they were beaten by Manchester City.

There were suggestions that the West Londoners would struggle when a number of their key players headed off to play in the African Cup of Nations, but they were barely missed last weekend as Carlo Ancelotti’s men went on a seven- goal rampage against Sunderland. Ancelotti’s main tasks this week have included attempting to persuade Joe Cole to sign a lucrative contract extension and monitoring the fitness of Michael Essien who has been forced to withdraw from the African Cup of Nations after picking up a knee injury. The Blues are expected to make a number of changes for the trip to Lancashire, with rising stars Gael Kakuta and Daniel Sturridge almost certain to be included in the travelling party, while the likes of Deco and Nicolas Anleka are likely to be rested.

Preston will certainly not die wondering on Saturday, but it’s very difficult to foresee them overcoming a Chelsea side that even when much-changed, still oozes quality. An heroic effort from the home side is unlikely to be enough to prevent the visitors from booking a place in Monday’s Fifth Round draw.
Prediction: Preston North End 0-2 Chelsea