The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON
Fifth Round Proper
Saturday 16 February 2008
Winning clubs will receive £120,000 from The FARecent FA Cup Results - Results
Ray Wilkins and Jimmy Case, two stars of the 1983 Final, got together again to make today's draw for The FA Cup's Fifth Round at Soho Square.
For the first time in more than half a century all 16 ties in the Fourth Round were resolved without the need for replays, so there were eight clear-cut Fifth Round ties in the draw.
Only six Premiership teams are still in the competition at this stage and that has never happened before. They include Chelsea and Manchester United, last season's finalists at the new Wembley, and both have been given home draws. Chelsea host League One Huddersfield after beating them 2-1 at the Bridge in the Third Round only two years ago and United welcome Arsenal for the tie of the round.
The Gunners' last success at Old Trafford was a 2-0 win in a Fifth Round tie in 2003.
The other League One side, Bristol Rovers, have just won two FA Cup matches inside five days and without conceding a goal. Their reward is a home tie with Southampton.
Today's draw guarantees that at least three teams from outside the Premiership will line up in this season's quarter finals.
Millwall were the last team from outside the top flight to reach the final, losing to Manchester United in Cardiff in 2004. Ten teams from the second tier have made it through to the final since the last war, but just three of them - Sunderland (1973), Southampton (1976) and West Ham United (1980) - have actually lifted The Cup.