Tottenham Hotspur and Fulham will be favourites to reach the FA Cup fifth round via home replays on Saturday and could be joined by fellow London clubs Brentford and West Ham, although the latter face tricky away ties.
Eight-time winners Spurs will look to progress against struggling fellow Premier League side West Bromwich Albion at White Hart Lane but will have to do it without their captain Ledley King, who is doubtful with a groin injury.
The teams drew 1-1 at the Hawthorns in the first match and while Tottenham returned to form last week, inspired to victory by loan signing Mido on his debut against Portsmouth, West Brom twice threw away the lead to lose at Norwich.
"Last week has gone now, we need to put it behind us," West Brom captain Darren Purse told the club's website. "We can't change what has happened. Hopefully, we can put things right starting on Saturday."
Spurs, with Swiss left winger Reto Ziegler in contention after injury and Simon Davies returning to form on the other flank, will be confident of earning the right to host second division relegation contenders Nottingham Forest.
EXCELLENT CHANCE
Fulham should get past improving second division side Derby in a replay at Craven Cottage earned by a late Collins John goal at Pride Park.
The west Londoners have reached at least the fifth round in the last three seasons and should be able to set up a visit to fellow Premier League side Bolton Wanderers, despite losing their 2005 unbeaten record in last week's 3-1 loss at Liverpool.
"We've got to put the defeat behind us, and we know that if we can get past Derby in the Cup then we've got an excellent chance of progressing further against Bolton," defender Zat Knight told the club's website.
West Ham have won the famous old trophy three times but their main focus this season is on the playoffs and Sunday's trip to second division rivals Sheffield United may see their Cup campaign come to an end at Bramall Lane.
Honours are even between the teams so far this season, both won away in the league and they shared a 1-1 draw in the Cup tie at Upton Park. The mouth-watering prospect of a visit to face English champions Arsenal awaits the winners.
Brentford travel north for an all-third division replay at Hartlepool on Saturday with the prize being a lucrative visit to top flight Southampton in the last 16.
© 2024 Rediff.com -