FA Cup fourth round: Chelsea aim for second Wembley trip; Man City vs Spurs
Chelsea vs Aston Villa - 7.45pm, Friday
Chelsea have already set up a Carabao Cup final with Liverpool this week. It will be a repeat of their 2022 Wembley showdown, which the Reds edged on penalties. They did the same in the FA Cup final at the end of that season - and both clubs will have eyes on going all the way in this competition again too.
For Mauricio Pochettino a cup success of any sort feels almost essential if he is to launch this Chelsea project in a meaningful way. While their inconsistent Premier League form looks set to lead to another underwhelming campaign, a trophy lift would be a fillip and something for his young side to build on.
However, standing in their way this Friday night is a side far more formidable than the Middlesbrough team they swept aside in midweek. Villa have already won at the Bridge this season and have lost just two of their last 21 games in all competitions. Add in cup-specialist Unai Emery's tactical nous and it is clear Chelsea have a huge task on their hands to maintain their cup-run momentum and make this a potentially pivotal week.
Peter Smith
Bristol City vs Nottingham Forest - 7.45pm, Friday
Bristol City's 38-year-old manager Liam Manning was still in primary school the last time his side saw off an opponent of the West Ham's stature in this competition.
That was Graeme Souness' Liverpool, back in 1994, and the Reds were evidently so shocked they sacked their manager the following day.
In the three decades since, Huddersfield's David Wagner, in 2019, is the only Premier League manager to taste the bitter pill of an FA Cup humbling at the hands of the Robins… and that was their ninth consecutive defeat in all competitions.
Just 10 days after David Moyes' side finally joined those
Read on m.allfootballapp.com
