FA Cup Fourth Round: A Hooligan Take | OneFootball

I’ll admit I was not terribly enthusiastic about this round. The third round was relatively lackluster in producing that special FA Cup magic, and giant-killing was definitely not on the agenda.

However, I am a professional and did my research, and came away a bit more jazzed for the fixtures we are about to consume. There are good ties here, with plenty of potential drama to upset afternoon tea. Or dinner. Whatever you fancy.

Friday, February 7, 2025

Manchester United vs. Leicester City

Who’d have thunk we’d be here… with our team squatting in 13th and 18th places respectfully. In normal years this would be a Man U steamroll, maybe a chance to get some kids a taste of the limelight. This year? Amorim is playing for his job, and he needs the win. And if you don’t think Ruud is below kidnapping Leicester players’ family members to encourage his team to clobber his old club… think again. He’s so keen I can feel his energy thousands of miles away. I think proper geezer Jamie Vardy has something special prepared. Prediction: Manchester United 1 – 2 Leicester City

Saturday, February 8, 2025

Leeds United vs. Millwall

Mid-table Millwall travels north to chilly Leeds, and I don’t see a positive outcome for them. Despite winning two of the last five head-to-head, Millwall hasn’t won at Leeds since March 2010 (when both teams were in League One). The squads are coming into this fixture on fine form, and this should be a cracking match in both energy and physicality.Prediction: Leeds United 2 – Millwall 0

Leyton Orient vs. Manchester City

This is our David vs. Goliath fixture. League One Leyton Orient hope to channel our Biblical slinger and take down the mighty petro-state juggernaut. For City, still sitting on a butt-cushion after that reaming from Arsenal on Saturday, this is a chance for shallow redemption. Should they take pleasure in whipping a team forty-four places below them? No. But they will.Prediction: Manchester City 4 – 1 Leyton Orient

Coventry City vs. Ipswich Town

Face reality, this is really a Championship tie. Ipswich are looking forward to seeing Coventry twice more next year as they are strong relegation candidates. Their last five matches are dead even with two wins apiece, and a draw. The edge goes to Coventry, who have four wins out of five on the bounce with new manager Frank Lampard.Prediction: Coventry City 1-1 Ipswich Town (Ipswich wins in PKs)

Everton vs. AFC Bournemouth

Tough call here. Do you go with the Toffees, suddenly feisty and resplendent on their Moyes high? Or with the Cherries, overachievers-of-the-season and stinging from their Liverpool loss. I like the Cherries.Prediction: Everton 1 – 3 AFC Bournemouth

Preston North End vs. Wycombe Wanderers

Oh this one will be good and spicy. Wycombe’s jets may have cooled slightly since their explosive start, but with only one loss in their last six they’re primed to go. Preston have enjoyed an identical run of form and will not want to lose to a lower league side. They do love a draw, Preston, so expect this to hit extra time. Prediction: Preston North End 3 – 2 Wycombe Wanderers (a.e.t.)

Southampton vs. Burnley

Only one place across two leagues separates these two teams. But don’t be fooled… this is Burnley’s match to lose. They are stronger on nearly every metric, and should win easily. Southampton have the desperation of a cornered rodent, which makes them dangerous if you come in unprepared. Burney won’t.Prediction: Southampton 0 – 3 Burnley

Stoke City vs. Cardiff City

Sitting cheek-by-jowl in the lower end of the Championship, they’ve already played each other five times in the past two years. Four of those have ended in draws. This is as close to a coin-toss game as there will be. Prediction: Stoke City 1 – 1 Cardiff City (no call here.)

Wigan Athletic vs. Fulham

Fulham have to be very, very careful here. 50 places separate the two. All the signs are pointing to a Cottager win, but I smell an upset. Don’t ask we why.Prediction: Wigan Athletic 1 – 0 Fulham

Birmingham City vs. Newcastle United

The Blues are flying high. So are the Magpies. Someone is crashing down. I don’t think it’s Newcastle. The league win won’t happen, but if they can take the Carabao and, just maybe, the FA Cup? They’ll be primed.Prediction: Birmingham City 0 – 3 Newcastle United

Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Chelsea

Sorry Chelsea. You’re going home. It’s not your year.Prediction: Brighton & Hove Albion 3 – 2 Chelsea

Sunday, February 9, 2025

Blackburn Rovers vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers

They haven’t played each other since 2017. So this is as open a fixture as you could hope for. Only 9 places separate the teams. Blackburn are in the crapper, having lost four of their last five. Prediction: Blackburn Rovers ? – ? Wolverhampton Wanderers. Honestly, I got nothing.

Plymouth Argyle vs. Liverpool

Since firing corpulent manager Wayne Rooney Plymouth Argyle are… still dead last in the Championship. Hm. The only question is by how much for Liverpool, and which young academy prospect will impress?Prediction: Plymouth Argyle 0 – 3 Liverpool

Aston Villa vs. Tottenham Hotspur

Oh my… in this fixture we have two teams seeking redemption and validation. I have to give the edge to Villa here. One, they haven’t played a Champions League match earlier in the week. Two, they have a bevy of just-signed talent ready to make their mark. Three, Spurs will have no choice but to field the same team that just got spanked by Liverpool in the Carabao semi, though without Richarlison… who went down with injury.Prediction: Aston Villa 2 – 0 Tottenham Hotspur

Monday, February 10, 2025

Doncaster Rovers vs. Crystal Palace

I’m a Palace fan and of course I think we’ll win but there’s a nagging suspicion in the back of my brain, like the cousin of Robert Kennedy’s brain worm casting doubts…. Eh, I’ll pop an antibiotic and tell that taenia solium to shut the eff up. Sixty-three places between them. Christ, we can’t lose? Right? Wormy?Prediction: Doncaster Rovers 1 – 2 Crystal Palace

Tuesday, February 11, 2025

Exeter City vs. Nottingham Forest

Well it was nice knowing you, Exeter. It’s not the 59 places between the two squads that’s the issue… it’s that Forest are simply amazing right now.Prediction: Exeter City 1 – 5 Nottingham Forest