Season 2017-18 - Quarter Finals

Saturday 17^th March

Manchester United 2 Brighton & Hove Albion 0

Goals from Romelu Lukaku and Nemaja Matic saw The Red Devils reach the Semi Finals of the Emirates FA Cup after they saw off Brighton & Hove Albion at Old Trafford in their Quarter Final tie.

The hosts were looking to bounce back from their disappointing Champions League exit at the hands of Sevilla in midweek whilst The Seagulls were in a decent run of form and fancied their chances of an upset at the ‘Theatre of Dreams’.

The first opening saw United Anthony Martial and Juan Mata exchange one two’s on the edge of the box before the latter’s effort was deflected wide of the target, and from the resultant corner from Mata, the ball eventually fell to Chris Smalling, and the defender fired an effort off the outside of the visitors post.

The visitors then went close for the first time when a corner found Lewis Dunk who lost his marker to power a header at goal, only to see Sergio Romero equal to it and palm away superbly to keep the scoreline at 0-0.

But with eight minutes of the first half remaining the hosts broke the deadlock, when a superb ball in by Matic found Lukaku, and from point blank range sent a powerful header into the back of the net and the home side had a slender lead at the break.

Half Time Manchester United 1 Brighton & Hove Albion 0

The visitors came out with the bit between their teeth in the second half and created the half’s first chance when a ball laid across to Pascal Gross on the edge of the box saw him hit across an effort which ended up going inches wide of the post, and then the Seagulls went close again when a poor header out was controlled by Jurgen Locadia before he sent a decent effort at goal which Romero saved well.

Brighton came again and this time a cross by Solly March found Locadia at the back post, however the latters header went just over the top of the bar, and United could breathe a sigh of relief again.

The home fans were getting ever more frustrated with their teams performance as it looked like the visitors could quite easily find an equaliser and force extra time, however with six and a half minutes remaining Ashley Young sent in a free-kick towards the back post and saw Matic send a downward header into the far corner and seal the win for the home side.

It was tough on Brighton who really took the game to United in the second period, however the hosts got the job done in the end and they are the ones who go through to the final four of this seasons competition.

Full Time Manchester United 2 Brighton & Hove Albion 0

Here are some images from the day, courtesy of Brighton & Hove Albion FC:-

Right let’s see how the other three Quarter Finals panned out:-

Saturday 17^th March

Swansea City 0 Tottenham Hotspur 3

Christian Eriksen scored twice as Tottenham reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup for a second successive season with a comfortable win at Liberty Stadium. Fabulous first-half goals from Eriksen and Erik Lamela set Spurs on their way as they chase a ninth FA Cup win. Eriksen's second made the result safe just past the hour mark. Tottenham might even have had the game sewn up by half-time, but Son Heung-min's effort was ruled out for offside after consultation with the video assistant referee (VAR). Spurs are seeking a first trophy since they won the 2008 League Cup.

Sunday 18^th March

Wigan Athletic 0 Southampton 2

Mark Hughes called Southampton's win over Wigan "a statement of intent" as they reached the FA Cup semi-finals in his first game in charge. Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg fired in from a second-half corner, shortly after Christian Walton had saved his header.  Wigan's keeper then made an outstanding save from Manolo Gabbiadini's penalty after Dan Burn had brought down the striker. Cedric Soares slotted past Walton to confirm the win in stoppage time. It was a good start for Hughes, who replaced Mauricio Pellegrino as Southampton boss this week after he was sacked with the club one point above the Premier League relegation zone.  He said his side "stood up to Wigan" after the League One promotion contenders created a number of chances throughout the game. Shortly before Cedric's goal - like Hojbjerg's, his first for the club - Paul Cook's side almost grabbed an equaliser through Noel Hunt, whose sidefoot volley was headed over the bar by Southampton defender Jack Stephens. Wigan could have scored in the first half too as Gary Roberts, Will Grigg and Cheyenne Dunkley all came close. Roberts' effort looped over the bar after Dunkley almost poked home Burn's deflected strike in an exciting half full of chances.  Southampton had the upper hand after the break, though, as they booked a place in the last four for the first time since 2003.

Leicester City 1 Chelsea 2 (aet)

Pedro's extra-time winner gave Chelsea victory at Leicester City to set up an FA Cup semi-final date with Southampton at Wembley.  Antonio Conte's side dug deep after the midweek Champions League defeat in Barcelona to keep their hopes of silverware alive as they survived an attacking assault from the Foxes. Alvaro Morata took Willian's pass in his stride to beat Leicester keeper Kasper Schmeichel in composed fashion to give Chelsea the advantage just before half-time. But Jamie Vardy made amends for a poor headed miss when he pounced in a goalmouth scramble for a 76th-minute equaliser. The decisive moment came just before the interval in extra time when Chelsea substitute Pedro beat the onrushing Schmeichel to N'Golo Kante's cross and headed in the winner.

So all that meant there were just four left in the FA Cup for this season, and here is the semi final lineup:-

Saturday 21^st April

Manchester United vs Tottenham Hotspur (5:15pm, at Wembley Stadium)

Sunday 22^nd April

Chelsea vs Southampton (3pm, at Wembley Stadium)

My featured tie of the round is the mouth-watering clash between Manchester United and Spurs in Saturday evening’s tie.   However I will bring reports on both ties as I may well attend both semi finals myself, so watch this space.  Spurs obviously are playing at their ‘home’ stadium in this one and did beat the Red Devils quite comfortably in the league match they played there, so will that count for anything?  In the other tie you would expect Chelsea to win through however you just never know what can happen in the cup, especially a semi final, however Chelsea are well experienced in cup semis at Wembley, were as The Saints haven’t been in the semi finals of the Cup since 2003, however they did play in the League Cup final last season, so have recent experience.  Promises to be a good weekend of FA Cup Semi Final action.

Season 2017-18 - Fifth Round Proper

Saturday 17th February
Brighton & Hove Albion 3 Coventry City 1
The Sky Blues run in this season's competition finally came to an end after they were knocked out of the Emirates FA Cup by Premier League Brighton & Hove Albion at the Amex.

Coventry's run had seen them see off Maidenhead United, Boreham Wood and Stoke City at the Ricoh Arena, before they knocked out Milton Keynes Dons at Stadium MK to reach this stage of the competition.

They were up against a team in form in the shape of Brighton though who themselves had knocked out bitter rivals Crystal Palace at home before dumping Middlesbrough out at the Riverside in the last round, and the hosts although massive favourites for this tie, would of still been wary of the Sky Blues who had nothing to lose coming into this one.

The Seagulls imposed themselves on their League Two opponents early on and almost took a fifth minute lead when Markus Suttner delivered a corner into the box and saw Uwe Huenemeier head the ball down for Jurgen Locadia who saw his effort smack against the crossbar.

However the visitors then responded and after Dale Stephens had headed over, Johnson Clark-Harris headed a cross against the hosts bar.  But in the 15th minute the hosts grabbed the lead when Locadia netted from close range, converting Anthony Knockhaerts low cross, and the Premier League side had the early goal they needed to settle any nerves.

Two minutes later Solly March weaved his way into the visitors box but failed to get a shot away, and then just past the half hour mark another good delivery into the Sky Blues area by Suttner was met by Locadia, however the effort failed to find the target.

But in the 34th minute the Seagulls doubled their lead when the brilliant Suttner delivered a set-piece into the box and Brighton centre half Connor Goldson rose highest to nod home and see the hosts grab more breathing space between themselves and the visitors.

Coventry knew that they needed the next goal if they were going to get anything from this one, and seven minutes before the break Josh Barrett struck a half-volley just wide of the hosts goal, before down the other end Locadia fired an effort straight at Lee Burge.

Knockhaert then fired over for the hosts a minute later after Dale Stephens had lofted a pass to the far post, and then a  minute before the break Grimmer headed wide for the visitors, and it meant the hosts reached the break with a two goal lead.

Half Time Brighton & Hove Albion 2 Coventry City 0

The hosts changed keepers at half time, with Tim Krul making way for Niki Maenpaa, and the sub keepers first action came just before the hour mark when he claimed a catch from a Coventry free kick as the visitors looked to grab a lifeline in this contest.  Moments before that McNulty had fired a first time effort over the Seagulls goal.

But any thoughts of a comeback were extinguished just past the hour mark when the hosts made it three as skipper Bruno produced a cross for Leonardo Ulloa to glance a header into the top corner, and pretty much seal this cup tie with just under half an hour to play.

This pleased the majority of the 26,966 in attendance with the 4,335 from Coventry not having much to cheer so far in this tie, although that nearly changed when Clarke-Harris found the woodwork again, and then they almost saw their side fall further behind when March fired a ball to the back post and Goldson headed an effort over the bar.

With thirteen minutes left though the Sky Blues gave themselves a glimmer of hope when they managed to find a goal to reduce the deficit as Clarke-Harris fired home from inside the box, but it was only a glimmer, however the only notible moments in the remainder of the contest saw Sam Baldock rattle the visitors woodwork in stoppage time, whilst a Clarke-Harris effort down the other end deflected off a defender but into the arms of keeper Maenpaa.

So it's the Premier League side who progress through to face Manchester United at Old Trafford on Saturday 17th March in the Quarter Finals.  Congratulations to the Sky Blues as well for making it to the Last 16 of the competition too.

Full Time Brighton & Hove Albion 3 Coventry City 1

Here are some photos courtesy of Brighton & Hove Albion FC:-

Right lets see what happened in the remainder of the round, with a look at the results from the Fifth Round Proper:-
Friday 16th February
Leicester City 1 Sheffield United 0
Chelsea 4 Hull City 0

Saturday 17th February
Sheffield Wednesday 0 Swansea City 0
West Bromwich Albion 1 Southampton 2
Brighton & Hove Albion 3 Coventry City 1
Huddersfield Town 0 Manchester United 2

Sunday 18th February
Rochdale 2 Tottenham Hotspur 2

Monday 19th February
Wigan Athletic 1 Manchester City 0

Replays
Tuesday 27th February
Swansea City 2 Sheffield Wednesday 0

Wednesday 28th February
Tottenham Hotspur 6 Rochdale 1

No doubt about what the shock of the round was, as League One Wigan Athletic dumped Manchester City out of the competition in the Monday night game at the DW Stadium.  In a re-run of the 2013 final, Will Grigg netted with thirteen minutes remaining to send the underdogs into the Quarter Finals.  Rochdale of League One took Premier League Spurs to a replay, with the North London side netting six at Wembley in the replay to progress, whilst the only other tie that needed a replay was the Sheffield Wednesday against Swansea City contest, which the Premier League side won after a goalless draw in the original tie at Hillsborough.  And with Leicester, Chelsea, Southampton, Brighton and Man United also progressing it means seven of the eight sides in the Quarter Finals are Premier League sides.

Here is the Quarter Final matchups:-
Saturday 17th March
Swansea City vs Tottenham Hotspur (12:15pm)
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion (7:45pm)

Sunday 18th March
Wigan Athletic vs Southampton (1:30pm)
Leicester City vs Chelsea (4:30pm)

Four decent Quarter Finals to look forward to then, and my featured tie comes from the Theatre of Dreams, Old Trafford, Manchester, as Manchester United host Brighton & Hove Albion.  United are favourites of course but The Seagulls are on a good run of form and will go to the North West full of confidence.