FA Cup preview

Chelsea host Stoke; Tottenham travel to Fulham

Last updated: 6th March 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

FA Cup preview

Hodgson: Intriguing tie

Click below for individual match stats and previews:
Saturday
Portsmouth v Birmingham
Fulham v Tottenham
Sunday
Reading v Aston Villa
Chelsea v Stoke

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The FA Cup quarter-finals arrive this weekend as eight teams bid to move a step closer to winning the competition.

With traditional Big Four members Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United having already been eliminated, hopes are high among the remaining sides.

Holders Chelsea are the only side left of the supposed Premier League heavyweights, while top-flight Tottenham, Aston Villa, Birmingham, Fulham, Stoke and Portsmouth are also still standing.

Championship outfit Reading are the only team still flying the flag for the Football League after causing a number of upsets on their journey to the quarter-finals.

Crisis-club Portsmouth, who defeated rivals Southampton in the fifth round, welcome Birmingham to Fratton Park on Saturday lunchtime to kick-off proceedings and the South Coast club will want some more welcome relief.

Pompey, tournament winners in 2008, have been immersed in misery this season as they prop up the Premier League and they have entered administration, while Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs is still knocking at the door.

In contrast, Birmingham have enjoyed an excellent campaign and Alex McLeish's men are still in contention for a Europa League spot at the same time as pursuing a place in the semi-finals.

London rivals Fulham and Tottenham meet at Craven Cottage on Saturday evening for possibly the most intriguing contest of the round.

Roy Hodgson's Cottagers are desperate for a first FA Cup in their history, but they will have their work cut out against Harry Redknapp's UEFA Champions League hopefuls.

Reading have claimed the title of this season's shock specialists as Brian McDermott's second-tier strugglers have scalped Liverpool, Burnley and West Brom to leave them relatively undaunted by the arrival of Aston Villa.

Martin O'Neill's Villa, though, will be in a determined mood after last weekend's Carling Cup final defeat to Manchester United.

Premier League leaders Chelsea's clash with Stoke, conquerors of mega-rich Manchester City in the last round, at Stamford Bridge completes the round as the Potters bid to end the Blues' defence of the cup.