David Moyes goes to Old Trafford seeking revenge against former club Man Utd; can Sheffield United show their Premier League credentials against Tottenham?; Fleetwood take on Burnley as they play in FA Cup fifth round for the first time
Wednesday 8 March 2023 08:43, UK
Our writers preview the midweek FA Cup fifth round ties, including Manchester United's tie with West Ham and Tottenham's visit to Sheffield United.
David Moyes was Sir Alex Ferguson's chosen one but now he'll be coming up against Manchester United's saviour.
Erik ten Hag is the club's fifth permanent manager since Ferguson retired in 2013 and has stopped the rot after ending their six-year trophy drought.
With one in the bag, Man Utd still have a chance of completing the quadruple after advancing in the Europa League and sitting third in the Premier League. The FA Cup represents the latest chance to progress in a competition against a West Ham side looking to end their own barren silverware run.
The Hammers last won a domestic trophy 42 years ago, the 1980 FA Cup, and it's been seven years since they appeared in the quarter-finals of this competition.
Man Utd have enjoyed six wins in the FA Cup over West Ham, whose last victory over Wednesday's opponents in this competition came 22 years ago when Paulo Di Canio controversially scored past Fabian Barthez as he appealed for offside.
Saturday's emphatic league victory over Nottingham Forest eased the pressure on Moyes as he now looks for revenge.
David Richardson
Sheffield United have bigger fish to fry, with the task of getting the golden ticket to the Premier League on their agendas.
But the promotion chasers can get a feel for whether they are actually ready for top-flight football as they take on Spurs.
Sheffield United are basically a Premier League team in waiting with the second-placed Blades sitting seven points clear of the play-off spots with a game in hand.
Paul Heckingbottom's side have an excellent spine in defender in Anel Ahmedhodzic, midfielder Sander Berge and forward Iliman Ndiaye, while there's a mix of attacking prowess and youthful exuberance off the bench through Billy Sharp, Tommy Doyle, James McAtee and Daniel Jebbison that could give Antonio Conte's Spurs plenty to worry about.
Sam Blitz
Fleetwood may be experiencing a mixed campaign in mid-table in League One, but under Scott Brown they have made club history by reaching the fifth round of the FA Cup for the first time.
Drawn against non-league opposition in the first two rounds, Fleetwood made it through before overcoming QPR in the third round and then fellow third-tier side Sheffield Wednesday thanks to a replay.
Next up, a Burnley side who are running away with the Championship, but still may have half an eye on securing promotion.
It presents a slim opportunity for Fleetwood to become the first side in more than 20 years to reach the fifth round for the first time, then go on to make the quarter-finals. The last team to do so was Wycombe in 2001.
Simeon Gholam
The lowest-ranked team left in this season's competition, Grimsby are in the lower reaches of League Two, but have a healthy gap over those in the relegation zone as they attempt to stay in the Football League having won promotion last season.
Can they take inspiration from Stevenage? Their fellow fourth-tier outfit who stunned Aston Villa in the third round.
With Southampton bottom of the Premier League and facing a crucial run of fixtures to try and stay up, this is perhaps a distraction they could do without. Grimsby have real hope of a scalp.
Simeon Gholam
