TUESDAY:
STOKE V BRIGHTON
It's been another season of mid-table mediocrity for Stoke this season with the Potters currently 17th in the Championship. Consistency has been their main issue ever since they've been in the Championship and it's again been their problem this season despite having a good group of players.
Alex Neil's side don't have a reliable goal scorer in their side and their lack of one could prevent them from causing an upset here. Anything is possible in the FA Cup but with the Potters lacking an out and out goal scorer and consistency, their chances of causing an upset here look pretty slim.
Brighton will hopefully play a strong team for this one having not played during the weekend which will have given the players more time to recover and prepare themselves for this game. They might make some changes with it being a cup tie but with the FA Cup being a competition they could go far in, Roberto De Zerbi should still field a strong team here. Especially after not playing at the weekend.
The Seagulls may have one eye on qualifying for Europe this season as they're sitting just a point outside those spots in the Premier League. But they could still get there if they go far in this cup which is more than possible given the season they're having and the form they're in.
PREDICTION: 0-3
I'm going for a Brighton win here because I think they'll have more than enough quality to win the game. I can see them play a strong team after not playing at the weekend and with the amount of time they've had to prepare for this game, they should win this one reasonably comfortably.
LEICESTER V BLACKBURN
Leicester didn't offer enough going forward against Arsenal at the weekend and I have no doubt that James Maddison's absence played a part. The Foxes just aren't the same team without him as he offers both creativity and a goal threat when he's available. They'll be hoping to have him back for this one.
The Foxes have struggled defensively for much of the season and they'll need to be focused in this one as they're up against one of the best attacking teams in the Championship. They are a good counter attacking side on their day but Brendan Rodgers' side still need to be focused defensively.
Blackburn are having a great season in the Championship this season with John Dahl Tomasson's side currently 4th and playing some good football. It's good to see them near the top of the Championship as they're a big club and I hope that they do get back to the Premier League soon because of the size of club they are.
They do however lack a consistent goal scorer which might end up costing them here. They do have some good attacking players who will look to cause Leicester all kinds of problems but they might not have the cutting edge in front of goal to win them the tie.
PREDICTION: 3-2
I'm backing Leicester to win here because I think they'll have just enough quality to win the game. Especially if James Maddison returns. Blackburn will give it a good go as they're a good side to watch but I think the Foxes' Premier League superiority will see them over the line.
FULHAM V LEEDS
Fulham will have Aleksandar Mitrovic back for this one which will be a massive boost for them both in this game and their season. They may not have lost during his absence but the Serb was still a miss for them going forward as they lacked that focal point up top who they could get the ball to.
One player who has stepped up on the goals front has been Manor Solomon who has netted off the bench in his last three games. He impressed in the last round against Sunderland in the replay and has since pushed himself to be a regular starter in the team after a tough time with injuries prior to joining Fulham.
Leeds got off to a winning start under Javi Gracia against Southampton at the weekend where their performance was much improved and more controlled. It was the result they needed after going a long spell without winning and the start that Gracia wanted.
Gracia may make some changes for this cup tie as Premier League survival will be his top priority. But I do hope he'll field a strong team as he'll want his side to carry the confidence gained from their win over Southampton.
PREDICTION: 2-0
I'm backing Fulham to win this one because I think they'll be the more clinical side with Mitrovic back. Leeds have been wasteful in front of goal for much of the season whilst Fulham look a more clinical and convincing side when Mitrovic is available. I can see the Serb decide the outcome of this match.
BRISTOL CITY V MAN CITY
Bristol City are having a solid season in the Championship this season with the Robins sitting comfortably in 13th. Mid-table is roughly where they deserve to be as they're more than good enough to stay up but don't have quite enough to push for the play offs despite having a good squad of players.
Nigel Pearson's side have been known for being tough to beat and organised over the years and I can see them set themselves up defensively in this one. They won't have much of the ball and because of that they're more likely to get men behind the ball and make things difficult for City.
It was a comfortable win for Man City at the weekend against Bournemouth and it was good to see Phil Foden back to his best after a spell out the team. Bournemouth did play into their hands at times but City still had to turn up and win the game which they did.
The FA Cup is arguably their most realistic chance of ending the season with a trophy and I expect Pep Guardiola to field a strong team here. He usually does in any game because of how strong his squad is and he'll need to field a strong one here with this competition being their best chance of silverware.
PREDICTION: 0-3
I've got to back City to win here because they'll have more than enough quality to win this game. Bristol City will make it difficult for them but City should still find a way like they usually do.
WEDNESDAY
SOUTHAMPTON V GRIMSBY
Southampton have done well in this competition for the last couple of seasons reaching the Quarter Finals last season and the semi finals the season before. They'll be looking to give this competition another shot this season so they can take some momentum with them into the Premier League in an attemot to get them off the bottom of the table.
They barely offered anything against Leeds at the weekend and Ruben Selles who is now their permanent boss will want to see an improvement from his team in this one.
Selles will probably make a number of changes for this game with a big game against Leicester coming up for them this weekend. But he'll still want to field a strong side as he'll want to use the FA Cup as a confidence builder for this side.
Grimsby shocked Luton in the last round and they might fancy themselves to cause another upset here. Especially with Southampton having such a terrible home record this season.
Paul Hurst's side are 16th in League 2 and haven't had a game like this for a while if not ever. They rarely get the chance to play at a Premier League ground and the players will just go out there and enjoy the occasion.
PREDICTION: 2-0
Southampton may have a terrible home record but I still think they'll have more than enough to win this game. They might make a number of changes here but I still think Ruben Selles will field a strong enough team to lead his side to victory. But I do think Grimsby will make it tough for them as they don't concede many goals.
MAN UNITED V WEST HAM
Winning the Carabao Cup could motivate Man United to win more trophies this season and one of them could be the FA Cup. Some teams can switch off after winning a trophy like the Carabao Cup but with the standards Erik Ten Hag has set and the kind of club Man United are, they will have their focus set on winning more trophies.
Erik Ten Hag will probably rest some of his Wembley heroes for this game as his side have a lot of games coming up over the next month. He might play one or two of big hitters but I still see him playing some of the players that came off the bench as he'll want to give them more minutes and game time.
West Ham picked up a crucial win at the weekend against Nottingham Forest and they appear to have finally solved their goal scoring problems in the form of Danny Ings. He certainly made the difference for them against Forest with the goals he scored and keeping him fit will be crucial to their season.
The games are beginning to pile for David Moyes' side as they have both legs of their Europa Conference League tie against AEK Larnaca coming up alongside their Premier League games. They might make a number of changes for this game so they can keep their squad fresh for the quick turnaround of games they have coming up.
PREDICTION: 1-0
I'm backing Man United to win here because I think they'll feel more motivated after winning the Carabao Cup. They might make a number of changes for this game but I still think they'll have enough quality to see themselves through.
SHEFFIELD UNITED V TOTTENHAM
Sheffield United have their sights set on promotion to the Premier League which they pretty much have in the bag as they're seven points clear of third placed Middlesbrough. Their place in those automatic spots may have been under threat after back to back defeats to Millwall and Middlesbrough but a win over Watford at the weekend calmed their nerves.
The Blades were given a good game by Wrexham in the last round both in the replay and the first game. It's their turn now to give the opposition a good game as they're the underdogs and they'll also want to show SPurs what kind of team they'll be facing next season if the Blades get promoted.
Spurs have done well in Antonio Conte's absence winning 3 of their 4 games under caretaker Cristian Stellini. The Italian will probably be in the dugout again for this one as Conte continues his recovery from surgery back in Italy and you have to give him credit for the job he's done in the absence of Conte.
The FA Cup is Spurs' best chance of ending the season with a trophy and I expect they'll field a strong team here. They will make a number of changes because of this one being a cup tie but they should still field a strong team because of this competition being their best chance of ending the season with a trophy.
PREDICTION: 0-2
I'm backing Spurs to win this one because I think they'll have enough quality to win the game. They might make a number of changes with this one being a cup tie but I still think Stellini will field a strong enough team to lead his side to glory.
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