Two non-league sides still remain in the FA Cup and we’ll get to see if they are able to keep their dream alive in the fifth round matches. One of the sides, Lincoln, face a trip to Burnley, looking for their biggest scalp yet. They’ll do well to cause an upset at Turf Moor however given the Clarets’ strong home record. The other National League outfit, Sutton United, welcome Arsenal to their artificial pitch on Monday night. It’s a gigantic occasion for the south London side who would be forever be remembered in FA Cup history if they were to progress.
There are some Championship sides facing tricky matches against Premier League opposition too. Wolves’ reward for beating Liverpool is a home clash against Chelsea on Saturday evening. They couldn’t have asked for more challenging opponents but their fans will be hoping they are up to the task once again. Fulham on the other hand get to host fellow Londoners, Tottenham, at Craven Cottage. The last time these two sides met in the FA Cup, Fulham won 4-0 but you won’t find too many backing a repeat scoreline for this one.
Saturday 18th February 2017
Burnley v Lincoln (12:30) – Burnley to win to nil (5/4 with BetVictor)
Despite their great league form, the bookies have priced the Imps as long as 9/1 (Betfair) to sail into the next round without needing a replay. Lincoln currently sit top of the National League by and do so by a three point margin. While this is the fifth tier of English football, their cup wins over Ipswich and Brighton show that they are capable of playing at a higher standard. While they only have a three point lead at the top of the table, there will be no resting of players for this game who will relish being the underdogs once again.
With Premier League safety looking relatively assured at the moment, Sean Dyche can afford to field a strong line-up for this fixture and avoid any embarrassment. A completely second string side could come unstuck but a near full strength side is likely to have too much for the Lincolnshire side. Burnley’s impressive home record, which has seen them keep four clean sheets in their last five games at Turf Moor, should keep them in control. Their compact defensive style will prevent Lincoln catching them on the counter and it’s not hard to see their Premier League class showing in a win to nil.
Wolves v Chelsea (17:30) – Chelsea to win by two goals (10/3 with Bet365)
With Wolves having a little bit of breathing room from the drop zone, the FA Cup will be a welcome distraction for Paul Lambert who can fully focus on this big tie. They first knocked out Stoke in the third round although they had a wonderful goalkeeping performance from Carl Ikeme to thank for that. Following this, Lambert’s men secured a very memorable win at Anfield, beating Liverpool 2-1 in a result few saw coming. With Chelsea not showing the same frailties against smaller opposition though, this will surely be the toughest test yet for the midlands outfit.
Chelsea have netted four times in both of their previous two FA Cup matches this season and you’d expect more goals from them here. Even with some expected rotation, Antonio Conte’s side should pack a punch going forward against a side that keeps few clean sheets at home. Being on the road should make life a little more testing for the Blues with their less than formidable away form but Conte will be determined to grab any extra silverware this season. While Wolves are a little unpredictable, it’s worth taking a gamble on a two goal Chelsea win here.
Sunday 19th February 2017
Fulham v Tottenham (14:00) – Both teams to score (4/6 with Bet365)
Fulham are unquestionably one of the most inconsistent teams in the league, spending almost five months of the Championship season without getting the same result twice in a row. It’s an incredible record and one which makes the result a tough one to call. One thing Fulham do tend to do though is score goals. With Tottenham’s defence not at full strength and perhaps even fully rotated for this game, it’s not hard to see the home side add to their scoring tally this weekend. League Two side Wycombe managed to score three past Tottenham in the last round and this should give Fulham plenty of belief.
Mauricio Pochettino has given fringe players a run out so far in this competition and you can expect more of the same here. His back up men are certainly very capable on paper but are liable to struggle having had very little time playing together. Defensively this can make them suspect but you always fancy them to score goals, even if requires somebody coming off the bench to do so. They’ve fired blank in their last two league games away from home but with less at stake here and a replay unwanted, they should be able to put on a more entertaining and adventurous attacking display.
Monday 20th February 2017
Sutton United v Arsenal (19:55) – Sutton United to win with a +3 handicap (8/13 with Coral)
This is the biggest match ever for Sutton United who saw fans queue in the early hours to get their spot in the 5,000 seater Gander Green Lane. Those in attendance for the fourth round saw their side secure a deserved 1-0 win over a second-string Leeds United side. They are likely to face a rotated side again but they will include players of a much higher calibre than the ones faced before. Sutton’s artificial pitch, supposedly a pitch travelling players rarely enjoy, will work in their favour but only to a certain degree and shouldn’t cause the Arsenal players a real headache.
A win, or even a draw for Sutton United here is probably wishful thinking for their fans or indeed the neutrals but that doesn’t mean they can’t put up a fight. While the Gunners dismantled Southampton 5-0 in the last round, performances like this have been few and far between. Sutton will certainly be giving it a lot more than a very much changed Southampton side did last month. Their commitment and determination combined with a decent defensive record at home should be enough to stop them being hammered here so they are worth backing with a +3 goal handicap.