FA Cup fourth round: Championship teams go in search of Premier League scalps on Saturday
Saturday 24 January 2015 11:09, UK
A selection of Championship teams go in search of causing FA Cup upsets on Saturday as they take on Premier League opposition.
High-flying Middlesbrough, who sit second in the Sky Bet Championship, take on current Premier League champions Manchester City.
Manuel Pellegrini’s men have just returned from a week away at a warm weather training camp in Dubai and will be looking to get back to winning ways after last weekend’s disappointing 2-0 defeat at home to Arsenal.
Spare seats will be in short supply at St Andrews as West Bromwich Albion take on Birmingham City in what’s likely to be a tasty derby match.
Both sides have benefitted from changing managers this season with Gary Rowett winning eight of his 13 matches in charge since replacing Lee Clark while Tony Pulis is yet to suffer a defeat or even concede a goal in three games as West Brom boss.
Former Liverpool man Emile Heskey is likely to receive a warm reception from the Anfield faithful when he turns out for Bolton in the evening kick-off while Sunderland will be very wary of an upset when they host in-form Fulham, who have been revitalised since Kit Symons took over earlier this season.
Bradford will be flying the flag for Sky Bet League One at Premier League leaders Chelsea, who have won the FA Cup four times in the last eight years.
Sheffield United, who face Tottenham in the semi-finals of the Capital One Cup on Wednesday, take their incredible cup record to Preston and fellow League One play-off hopefuls Chesterfield take on Derby at Pride Park.
There are two all-Premier League clashes to enjoy as high-flying Southampton face a former employee in Alan Pardew, who has started life at Crystal Palace with a bang, and Tottenham host Leicester City.
In the remaining Saturday ties, Blackburn host Swansea and Reading travel to Cardiff.
