The Purge of the Top Teams continues. For One Day. FA Cup Magic Special Offer Only - We're not a Top Team, Honest, Guv.

[Mike Oxsaw]

Finger in the air time! I'm still in the middle of updating my database in preparation for relegation, so don't have a complete history for many of the lower division teams,as you will clearly see.

However, you've got to be in it to win it, so...

FA Cup
Friday, 13 February 2026 19:45
Hull City v Chelsea
Venue: KC Stadium
League Positions: 24 v 5
Current Forms: 22 v 26

Should be routine for Chelsea but can't see a "mauling" from either side.

Prediction: Away Win

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FA Cup
Friday, 13 February 2026 19:45
Wrexham v Ipswich Town
Venue: Racecourse Ground
League Positions: 26 v 23
Current Forms: 23 v 28

Nicely poised game this. Will Ipswich's pedigree hold them in good stead or Wrexham's Hollywood blockbusting continue? I've a sneaky suspicion it just may.

Prediction: Home Win

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FA Cup
Saturday, 14 February 2026 12:15
Burton Albion v West Ham United
Venue: The Pirelli Stadium
League Positions: ? v 18
Current Forms: ? v 26

Prediction: 
Well, this is the stuff!! A West Ham dream primed to fade & die.

Personally I think the media have set us up here to have a pop at us whichever way this goes. Lose and you know we'll be tomorrow's main story. Edge a win and we'll be deemed "lucky", win by 3 or more goals and we'll be portrayed as heartless destroyers of fairy stories and the magic of the FA Cup. (Draw and a replay and Sullivan will have Cash Flow kittens).

Even if we field a much changed side (for the first half) I suspect we'll still be too strong and the game will be all but over by the time the 4th official announces the first half's Fergie Time.

We may come out of this with a few bruises, but:

Prediction:  Away Win

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FA Cup
Saturday, 14 February 2026 15:00
Burnley v Mansfield Town
Venue: Turf Moor
League Positions: 19 v ?
Current Forms: 18 v ? 10

Even Burnley should be able to dispatch Mansfield in front of their own supporters. Stranger things have, indeed, happened, but I don't think this will be one of them.

Prediction: Home Win

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FA Cup
Saturday, 14 February 2026 15:00
Manchester City v Salford City
Venue: The Etihad Stadium
League Positions: 2 v 72
Current Forms: 41 v 21

City to go for another 10-0 statement win? Against a local rival neighbour? I suspect this one will be a "just enough" sort of victory. A:

Prediction: Home Win

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FA Cup
Saturday, 14 February 2026 15:00
Norwich City v West Bromwich Albion
Venue: Carrow Road
League Positions: 38 v 42
Current Forms: 36 v 8

Albion are pitiful at the moment, got torn a new arse mid-week by Birmingham City, of all people. Listen out for those singing canaries.

Prediction: Home Win

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FA Cup
Saturday, 14 February 2026 15:00
Port Vale v Bristol City
Venue: Vale Park
League Positions: 68 v 28
Current Forms: 14 v 25

Like most of my footballing thoughts, I've absolutely no idea on either team. Might be a bruiser, but I don't thing anyone's getting their Bristol Cities out this afternoon.

Prediction: Away Win

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FA Cup
Saturday, 14 February 2026 15:00
Southampton v Leicester City
Venue: St Mary's Stadium
League Positions: 33 v 37
Current Forms: 41 v 1

Yet another all-Championship tie 
I had to do a double take on Leicester's current form and it could be wrong, but doubt that will make much difference. Southampton beat them away in a 7-goaler earlier this week. Don't expect that many goals but do a similar outcome. As an aside, I've a suspicion that we'll be drawn away against the winner of this tie...should we have won our earlier game, naturally.

Prediction: Home Win

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FA Cup
Saturday, 14 February 2026 17:45
Aston Villa v Newcastle United
Venue: Villa Park
League Positions: 3 v 11
Current Forms: 28 v 16

Aha! (Partridge stylee, naturally). Two teams I do have up to date stats on. Not sure Villa will want an FA Cup run taking resources away from their push for a place in the Champions League through finishing in the PL top 4, but it's probably helpful to have a "Plan B" - Sullivan take note.

Prediction: Home Win

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FA Cup
Sunday, 15 February 2026 12:00
Birmingham City v Leeds United
Venue: St Andrew's
League Positions: 27 v 15
Current Forms: 37 v 22

I think that this will be a much closer game than the divisional divide suggests. I suspect that this one will go to a replay (got to confess I've no idea whether or not that's in this year's handbook or not), which Leeds will win. As for this game:

Prediction: Draw

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FA Cup
Sunday, 15 February 2026 13:30
Grimsby Town v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Venue: Blundell Park
League Positions: 80 v 20
Current Forms: 18 v 6

Surely even Wolves have enough to come away with the prize here, I mean, we all know their bad, but this could well be a fillip, a catalyst to a PL resurgence....What? No, I don't believe that, either.

Prediction: Away Win


FA Cup
Sunday, 15 February 2026 14:00
Oxford United v Sunderland
Venue: The Kassam Stadium
League Positions: 43 v 10
Current Forms: 7 v 12

After our game, this is probably the next best "Magic of the FA Cup" tie. Even Inspector Morse won't be able to identify why Sunderland so easily win this bout.

Prediction: Away Win

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FA Cup
Sunday, 15 February 2026 14:00
Stoke City v Fulham
Venue: Britannia Stadium
League Positions: 34 v 12
Current Forms: 9 v 6

Both sides seem to be below par at the moment. For me this all comes down to whether home advantage outweighs league status. Far too hard for me to get off the fence on this one.

Prediction: Draw

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FA Cup
Sunday, 15 February 2026 16:30
Arsenal v Wigan Athletic
Venue: Emirates Stadium
League Positions: 1 v 59
Current Forms: 35 v 1

Don't even bother checking if my stats hold up on this one; Arsenal are going to be absolutely livid at not beating Brentford. Welcome the Wigan whipping boys. If this game gets on match of the day it will need a health warning and provide a contact number for the Samaritans in Wigan. Will I laugh should Wigan do the impossible? You bet your fat arse. All week.

Prediction: Home Win

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FA Cup
Sunday, 15 February 2026 20:00
Liverpool v Brighton & Hove Albion
Venue: Anfield
League Positions: 6 v 14
Current Forms: 30 v 4

I'm fast approaching that "Do I care?" stage in writing this. You know, the exact feeling you had when you opened the fucking thread. Best that can ve said is that there will be at least one less PL team in the hat for the next draw. Both could be considered "bogey teams" for us, so from that point, it don't matter. Form & home advantage just about carries it for me.

Prediction: Home Win

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FA Cup
Monday, 16 February 2026 19:30
Macclesfield v Brentford
Venue: Moss Rose
League Positions: ? v 7
Current Forms: ? v 26

Brentford should cruise this one if they've recovered from playing the Arsenal, that is.

Prediction: Away Win

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If you've nothing better to do...

Hull City v Chelsea -
Wrexham v Ipswich Town -
Burton Albion v West Ham United -
Burnley v Mansfield Town -
Manchester City v Salford City -
Norwich City v West Bromwich Albion -
Port Vale v Bristol City -
Southampton v Leicester City -
Aston Villa v Newcastle United -
Birmingham City v Leeds United -
Grimsby Town v Wolverhampton Wanderers -

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Pretend I know what I'm talking about FA Cup acca:

Wrexham (@ home to Ipswich Town 13/5)
Leicester City (Away @ Southampton 14/5)    
Birmingham City (@ Home to Leeds United 5/2)
Wolverhampton Wanderers (Away @ Grimsby Town (2/5)

Total stake: £11.00
Potential returns: £225.16

[honky cat]

The state of this Grimsby pitch. The wolves keeper is caked in it.

We got lucky with the weather yesterday as well.

[twoleftfeet]

Proper cup match, loved it.

Come on Birmingham 

[violator]

Love the Birmingham 70s retro kit

[El Scorchio]

Officials having a nightmare at Villa without VAR
Abrahams 2ft offside & scores. Goal stands
Digne puts his studs through an ankle … yellow 
Digne handles a yard inside the box. Ref draws a free kick line a yard outside the box

Incompetent buffoons 

Unfortunately, decisons like that, make the case for abolishing VAR a lot weaker.

Still hate VAR though.

Just like yesterday. With VAR present we’d have had a pen for handball in normal time and there’s a good chance Potts stays on the pitch. Luckily neither affected the outcome of the game. I think it’s had the double detriment that refs used to being bailed out by it have lost a bit of concentration and sharpness. 

[Westside]

Officials having a nightmare at Villa without VAR
Abrahams 2ft offside & scores. Goal stands
Digne puts his studs through an ankle … yellow 
Digne handles a yard inside the box. Ref draws a free kick line a yard outside the box

Incompetent buffoons 

Unfortunately, decisons like that, make the case for abolishing VAR a lot weaker.

Still hate VAR though.

[Fauxstralian]

That decision not to give a pen against Digne and mark the line about 4yds away was beyond belief

Watched the beginning of the Liverpool game & Laura Woods congratulated James Milner on breaking the Premier league appearance record at Anfield 
It’s FA Cup, love
 

[Mike Oxsaw]

Officials having a nightmare at Villa without VAR
Abrahams 2ft offside & scores. Goal stands
Digne puts his studs through an ankle … yellow 
Digne handles a yard inside the box. Ref draws a free kick line a yard outside the box

Incompetent buffoons 

Guess this simply proves that the technology is not the problem here, but those who use it are.

AI should be mature enough now to sit alongside the VAR officials and broadcast it's observations publicly,  in real time.

THEN we'll get to debate the proper issues affecting the game.

[only1billybonds]

That Villa keeper is going to have a busy hour or so apologising to people around Villa Park. They were looking more than comfortable until the sending off.

[twoleftfeet]

Villa heading out, makes life a little easier 

[Fauxstralian]

Officials having a nightmare at Villa without VAR
Abrahams 2ft offside & scores. Goal stands
Digne puts his studs through an ankle … yellow 
Digne handles a yard inside the box. Ref draws a free kick line a yard outside the box

Incompetent buffoons 

[Fauxstralian]

Scott Parker probably saved his job with the win at Palace
Back in danger losing at home to Mansfield 

Chris Sutton wanking over how good Norwich are on bbc
I see the Australian striker Mo Toure came on after an hour and scored
Came on as a sub in his first game and scored
Started midweek & scored a hat-trick
Libarian kid born in a refugee camp. Moved to Australia with his family & now an Australian international. Doing his World Cup hopes no harm
 

[honky cat]

Liverpool v Brighton & Hove Albion away
​​​​​​Stoke City v Fulham home
Oxford United v Sunderland away
Southampton v Leicester City home
Wrexham v Ipswich Town home
Arsenal v Wigan Athletic away (someone 'big' has to go)
Hull City v Chelsea away
Burton Albion v West Ham United away
Burnley v Mansfield Town home
Norwich City v West Bromwich Albion home
Port Vale v Bristol City hone
Grimsby Town v Wolverhampton Wanderers home
Aston Villa v Newcastle United away
Manchester City v Salford City home
Macclesfield v Brentford away
Birmingham City v Leeds United away

[honky cat]

All of the fourth round matches to cut and paste (sorry not in date order)

Liverpool v Brighton & Hove Albion
​​​​​​Stoke City v Fulham
Oxford United v Sunderland
Southampton v Leicester City
Wrexham v Ipswich Town
Arsenal v Wigan Athletic
Hull City v Chelsea
Burton Albion v West Ham United
Burnley v Mansfield Town
Norwich City v West Bromwich Albion
Port Vale v Bristol City
Grimsby Town v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Aston Villa v Newcastle United
Manchester City v Salford City
Macclesfield v Brentford
Birmingham City v Leeds United

[Manuel]

I'm already stressing about the draw, hope that doesn't sound too arrogant, but don't see a problem(o) here.

Appreciate that not everyone shares this view, but for me it's much better now knowing that there will be a  winner on the day, instead of replays that pretty much nobody wants.

[John Drake]

An opportunity to enjoy the last VAR free round of the season