FA CUP FIFTH ROUND MATCH PREVIEWS – SATURDAY FEBRUARY 20 – MONDAY FEBRUARY 22

The ‘magic of the FA Cup’ has been in short supply since the big teams entered this year’s competition. The third round produced just one real upset – Oxford’s defeat of Swansea – and in the fourth round, no Premier League team was beaten by a lower division side, with the biggest upset being League One Shrewsbury’s win over Championship side Sheffield Wednesday.

If the fifth round goes according to form, then only Premier League sides will remain come the quarter finals.

Arsenal v Hull City – Saturday 1245

League Positions: Arsenal 3^rd (Premier League), Hull 1^st (Championship)

• Hull once again face the team that dumped them out of the Cup in each of the last two seasons. Hull are flying high, are very much used to winning in their own division, and will be super confident, so a major scalp cannot be ruled out. Arsenal are also unlikely to field a first choice eleven given this match is three days prior to their clash with Barcelona. However, an Arsenal win must be the most likely outcome. Nick Powell, on loan from Manchester United, is eligible to play for Hull here.

Reading v West Bromwich Albion – Saturday 1500

League Positions: Reading 15^th (Championship), West Brom 14^th (Premier League)

• West Brom manager Tony Pulis has rung the changes so far in the Cup, and if he does so again, this match could see an upset, especially as the full strength West Brom team performances have been far from inspiring of late.

Watford v Leeds United – Saturday 1500

League Positions: Watford 9^th (Premier League), Leeds 16^th (Championship)

• Leeds are playing out time in mid-table in the Championship, which will be disappointing given their lofty ambitions. The Elland Road side will surely come out all guns blazing for this tie, but have they enough to break down a stubborn Watford defence, or keep out the potent Hornets strike force?

Bournemouth v Everton – Saturday 1715

League Positions: Bournemouth 15^th, Everton 11^th (both Premier League)

• In an extraordinary match last week, Everton failed to score despite having 34 attempts. However, they are one of the league’s highest scorers and, for now at least, that match must be regarded as a one-off. Everton start as favourites here, not least because Bournemouth are more likely to rest their key players.

Blackburn Rovers v West Ham United – Sunday 1400

League Positions: Blackburn 18^th (Championship), West Ham 7^th (Premier League)

• Although they scored three in their last match, Blackburn have struggled for goals and form, and will find West Ham a tough nut to crack.

Tottenham Hotspur v Crystal Palace – Sunday 1500

League Positions: Tottenham 2^nd, Crystal Palace 13^th (both Premier League)

• Tottenham’s title ambitions are very much alive, and given their potentially huge fixture workload, it is highly unlikely that a full strength Spurs side will take the field here. However, with Palace in a dreadful run of form, a home win has to be the most likely result.

Chelsea v Manchester City – Sunday 1600

League Positions: Chelsea 12^th, Man City 4^th (both Premier League)

• The second of a huge cup double header for Chelsea, following their Champions League match in Paris on Tuesday. Chelsea remain unbeaten in domestic matches under Guus Hiddink, and despite the relative league positions of the teams, in no way should the Stamford Bridge side be considered underdogs for this match. This is especially true as Chelsea have a free midweek after the fixture, while City will have an eye on their Champions League trip to Kiev. One cloud on the horizon for Chelsea could be weaknesses in central defence – John Terry has joined Kurt Zouma on the injury list.

Shrewsbury Town v Manchester United – Monday 1945

League Positions: Shrewsbury 19^th (League One), Man Utd 5^th (Premier League)

• Shrewsbury are the last remaining team in the cup from outside the top two divisions, and whatever happens here they will have had a great cup adventure that will have massively boosted the club’s finances, and provided a welcome distraction from their relegation concerns. However, their run looks set to end here.

Tipster Street.