Fulham v Tottenham Hotspur & Reading vs Aston Villa – FA Cup Preview

Fulham v Tottenham Hotspur – Craven Cottage, Saturday 6^th March 2010

 Tottenham may have the FA Cup pedigree and enjoy an eleven point advantage over Fulham in the Premiership, but the Cottagers will approach Saturday’s London derby in a mood of quiet confidence following their impressive recent exploits in Europe. Roy Hodgson’s men produced two stunning displays to bundle holders Shakthar Donetsk out of the Europa League and set up a mouth-watering clash with Juventus and having conceded only one goal in their last five league outings, will fancy their chances of downing their more glamorous neighbours and booking a place in the last four. Injury-wise, the Cottagers are sweating on the fitness of Paul Konchesky who is struggling to overcome an ankle injury, while Andy Johnson, John Pantsil and Clint Dempsey all remain unavailable.

Tottenham, meanwhile, appear to be intent on getting to Wembley the hard way, requiring replays to see off both Leeds United and Bolton after defeating Peterborough in the Third Round. With the race for fourth place in the Premiership hotting up, boss Harry Redknapp could have done without those extra games and could certainly have done without the injury crisis that is threatening to engulf the North London club. Tom Huddlestone became the latest Spurs star to be struck down as he picked up an ankle ligament problem in the win over Everton that could rule him out for up to six weeks, while Aaron Lennon’s groin strain will keep him out for a similar period of time. Jermaine Jenas is poised to undergo surgery, David Bentley has a groin tear, the luckless Ledley King is struggling with a thigh problem and fellow-defender Jonathan Woodgate is expected to miss the rest of the campaign. At least Peter Crouch has provided a rare bit of positive news from the White Hart Lane treatment room this week, the towering England target-man shrugging off an ankle problem and declaring himself fit for Saturday’s cup clash.

Spurs have still managed to produce some impressive results despite their recent injury woes and they will have to dig deep once again if they are to overcome a buoyant Fulham side. The visitors are likely to be installed as slight favourites, but Hodgson’s men are on a roll and may just edge a close one.

Prediction: Fulham 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur

Reading v Aston Villa - Madejski Stadium, Sunday 7^th March 2010

 Having already disposed of both Liverpool and Burnley during their impressive run to the last eight, Reading will certainly not be overawed by the prospect of welcoming Aston Villa to the Madejski Stadium on Sunday. The Royals’ FA Cup form has also prompted a significant improvement in their league performances, with five wins from the last six games lifting them four points clear of the Championship relegation zone. Those results were enough to earn caretaker boss Brian McDermott the job on a permanent basis and a third Premiership scalp would be another feather in the cap of the unassuming former Arsenal midfielder. Unfortunately for the Berkshire side, mercurial midfielder Jobi McAnuff is unavailable due to suspension and on-loan defender Zurab Khizanishvilli is cup-tied having played for Blackburn, ironically against Villa, earlier in the competition. Kalifa Cisse and Brynjar Gunnarsson, however, are both expected to return from injury in time to feature. The main goal threat for the home side will come from the Polish-Welsh combination of Grzegorz Rasiak and Simon Church who have bagged eighteen goals between them this term.

Last weekend’s defeat in the Carling Cup Final was Villa’s first since the turn of the year, but boss Martin O’Neill will have taken plenty of positives from what was a spirited display in the club’s first Wembley appearance since 1996. Still heavily involved in the race for fourth place in the Premiership, O’Neill will be concerned by his squad’s heavy workload and will therefore not be too disappointed that key defender Richard Dunne withdrew from the squad for Ireland’s midweek friendly against Brazil. The former Manchester City man is still expected to overcome his muscle strain in time for Sunday’s trip to the Madejski and unless any of the other players away on international duty succumb to injury, the Villa boss should have a full squad from which to make his final selection.

A full house is expected for what is the Royals’ first appearance at this stage of the competition since 1927 and Villa can expect an early storm from a fired up home side. The visitors’ solid defence has been their cornerstone this season, however and the West Midlanders should be able to build upon that platform to secure a hard-fought victory.

Prediction: Reading 0-1 Aston Villa