Here is our 2018-19 FA Cup 4th round preview where the competition steps up a gear from our lengthy 3rd Round thoughts.
Some teams still don’t take it as seriously as we do, but a day out at Wembley is not far away, so it will get slightly more interesting with each completed round.
This year the FA Cup 4th round fixtures sees a good mix of lower leagues teams pitched against EPL teams, and a smattering of all Non EPL ties, ensuring some paupers will kick on in the cup.
Once again Australia doesn’t get to see any of it. Arseholes, anyone involved in that decision.
We have the full 2018-19 FA Cup 4th round Preview with fixtures, barely interesting stats, and a bold prediction for all of the games. Not just those involving Premier League sides like other inferior efforts.
So enjoy our 2018-19 FA Cup 4th round Preview.
2018-19 FA Cup 4th Round Preview – Barely Interesting Draw Facts
- There is still one Non League teams in the fourth round – former League Two escape artists Barnet in National League Premier who saw off Sheffield United in an upset that went a little unnoticed given the Blades are within touching distance of the Premier League.
- There are 7 matches that don’t feature an EPL side, meaning at least 7 teams from the lower leagues will get a chance in the fifth round. A healthy 43% of the last 16 teams.
- There are four all EPL ties. Opening up more non EPL places.
- At least one League One or League Two side will progress out of Doncaster and Oldham.
- The biggest difference in overall leagues position are the matches featuring:
- Barnet-Brentford 71
- AFC Wimbledon-West Ham 58
- Middlesbrough-Newport 56
- The matches with the smallest difference in overall league position are:
- Newcastle United-Watford 10
- Arsenal-Manchester United 1
- The average distance between the sides for all games is 29 places.
- Recent clashes
- 3 Matches are replays of a clash within the last month.
- Top Goals scored on average – this season
- Manchester City 2.7
- Tottenham 2.1
- Arsenal 2.1
- West Bromwich Albion 2.0
- Manchester United 2.0
- Top 3 Fewest Goals Conceded per game – this season
- Middlesbrough 0.7
- Manchester City 0.8
- Chelsea 0.8
- Top 3 Most Goals Conceded per game – this season
- Newport 1.7
- Gillingham 1.7
- Burnley 1.9
2018-19 FA Cup 4th round Preview – Upset Selection
Here’s our favourite potential upsets for the FA Cup 4th Round preview. Read more in the match by match preview below.
Doncaster 1 Oldham 2
Middlesbrough 0 Newport 1
Portsmouth 2 QPR 0
Brighton 0 West Brom 2
2018-19 FA Cup 4th round Preview – Match by Match
FRIDAY- Kick Off 7:45pm UK
BRISTOL CITY (7th Champ) v BOLTON WANDERERS (23rd Champ)
H2H All: Bristol C 27 Bolton 18 Draw 17
H2H FA Cup: Bristol C 2 Bolton 0
Last Meeting: Jan 12 2019 – Bristol C 2 Bolton 1 (Champ)
Last Round: Bolton 5 Walsall 2 – Bristol 1 Huddersfield 0
Preview: In form Bristol City will be looking to replicate their progress of last year’s League Cup, where they made the semi finals and were competitive against Man City. Bristol City are currently seventh in the Championship, just two points from a promotion place. Something Bristol won’t want to replicate is the Cup ruining their league form, like what happened last years where they fell out of the top six after the League Cup exit. Bolton are in much worse shape, any team sitting behind Ipswich Town in the last six form is struggling, And there’s doubt about whether players are getting paid. Tough gig to win this one.
Barely Interesting Fact: Bolton have lost their last three away games to Bristol by a combined 10-1.
Prediction: Bristol City 2 Bolton 0
FRIDAY- Kick Off 7:55pm UK
ARSENAL (5th EPL) v MANCHESTER UTD (6th EPL)
H2H All: Arsenal 81 – Man Utd 96 – Draw 51
H2H FA Cup: Arsenal 6 – Man Utd 7 – Draw 2
Last Meeting: Dec 5 2018 – Draw 2-2 (EPL)
Last Round: Blackpool 0 Arsenal 3 – Man Utd 2 Reading 0
Preview: The biggest clash of the FA Cup 4th round for big names, and winners of the FA Cup too. Arsenal (13) and Manchester Utd (12) are the top two teams in terms of FA Cup wins. One team will be denied the chance to extend that after this weekend. Manchester Unite sit only behind Barcelona in the hottest streak in the top five leagues in Europe. Ole Gunnar Solskjær has really worked some magic with the same players who looked busted arse under Jose Mourinho. Arsenal’s recent form isn’t too bad – 10 points in 6 games – but it was their last start win over Chelsea that gives them hope of a win this weekend, and at the end of the season in the 4th place race.
Barely Interesting Fact: The last time these teams played each other at Arsenal’s home ground was when the EPL was called Division One, and the ground was Highbury. Back in 1988, and Arsenal won 2-1.
Prediction: Manchester United 2-1
SATURDAY – Kick Off 12:30pm UK
ACCRINGTON STANLEY (14th League 1) v DERBY COUNTY (6th Champ)
H2H All: Accrington 1 – Derby 1 – Draw 2
H2H FA Cup: NA
Last Meeting: 1957 – Draw 2-2 – (Div 3 N)
Last Round: Accrington 1 Ipswich 0 – Derby County 2-2 Nott’m Forest (Replay 2-2 – Derby on pens)
Preview: Accrington’s slide down the League One ladder from an unlikely promotion spot has been softened with a cup run, although they did beat perennial FA Cup third round lightweights Ipswich Town. Derby County – or to give them their current correct name – Frank Lampard presents Derby County – are going to be a lot tougher than Ipswich, after they took Southampton, of the EPL, to two draws and won on penalties in the FA Cup 3rd Round. They have a decent enough squad to go deep into the competition, but a successful run might hurt their chances of promotion, after their now traditional second half of the season slide down the ladder.
Barely Interesting Fact: This is the second time in three years that Accrington have made the FA Cup 4th Round. Last time they lost just 1-0 to Middelsbrough.
Prediction: Accrington Stanley 0 Derby County 3
SATURDAY – Kick Off 3pm UK
SHREWSBURY TOWN (17th League 1) v WOLVES (8th EPL)
H2H All: Shrewsbury 3 – Wolves 4 – Draw 3
H2H FA Cup: Wolves 1 – Draw 1
Last Meeting: 2014 – Draw 0-0 – (League 1)
Last Round: Shrewsbury 1 Stoke 1 (Replay Stoke 2 Shrewsbury 3)
Preview: It’s been a good season for Wolves thus far, sitting comfortably in the top half and knocked Liverpool out of the FA Cup last start. With their safety and prosperity in the EPL looking safe, they should really have a go at the FA Cup. And all of a sudden they are goal scoring kings. Ominous for their opponents. Shrewsbury’s FA Cup run is a little joy on an otherwise ordinary season, but possibly better than Stoke’s season, the team that the beat over 2 attempts last round. Their 17th position is a little flattering, they are just one point from the first of the relegation places.
Barely Interesting Fact: The last time these teams met in the FA Cup was in the lofty heights of the 6th round in 1978/79,
Prediction: Shrewsbury 0 Wolves 3
NEWCASTLE UTD (17th EPL) v WATFORD (7th EPL)
H2H All: Newcastle 15 – Watford 13 – Draw 15
H2H FA Cup: Newcastle 2 – Watford 2 – Draw 3
Last Meeting: 29 Dec 18 – Draw 1-1 (EPL)
Last Round: Newcastle 1 Blackburn 1 (Replay Blackburn 2 Newcastle 4)
Preview: Newcastle never seem like they want to progress in the FA Cup these days, so needing a replay with extra time to get past Blackburn last round wouldn’t have made them too happy. Their relegation fight probably is the bigger worry now, as they struggle again. The 3-0 win over Cardiff is a step in the right direction. Watford can’t complain about their season so far, and an FA Cup run would be a great way to achieve something other than the battle for seventh. The hornets have made it to the FA Cup fifth round on four occasions.
Barely Interesting Fact: In 1988-89 it took 4 attempts to get a result between these sides. The games went 0-0, 2-2, 0-0, and finally 1-0 to Watford.
Prediction: Newcastle 0 Watford 2
DONCASTER ROVERS (7th League 1) v OLDHAM ATHLETIC (12th League 2)
H2H All: Doncaster 18 – Oldham 9 – Draw 18
H2H FA Cup: Doncaster 2 – Oldham 3 – Draw 1
Last Meeting: 2014 – Draw 0-0 – (League 1)
Last Round: Preston 1 Doncaster 3 – Fulham 1 Oldham 2
Preview: One for the fans of the small forgotten Football League teams, as this game guarantees that a team from outside the two divisions will make the fifth round. Both teams saw off higher league opposition last round, Oldham’s the most impressive as they saw of Premier League team Fulham, with some ease, away from home. If Fulham weren’t going so bad it may have received more fanfare. Oldham did knock Liverpool out of the FA Cup in this FA Cup 4th Round in 2013. Doncaster made the fifth round a few times in a row in the 1950’s, and this is their best chance in a while to repeat that.
Barely Interesting Fact: The home side has only won once in the last nine meetings between these sides.
Prediction: Doncaster 1 Oldham 2
MIDDLESBROUGH (5th Champ) v NEWPORT COUNTY (13th League 2)
H2H All: NA
H2H FA Cup: NA
Last Meeting: 2014 – NA
Last Round: Middlesbrough 5 Peterborough 0 – Newport 2 Leicester 1
Preview: Middlesbrough are going well enough this season – sitting 5th in the Championship – but a loss here to a team that caused the biggest shock of the 3rd round will not be popular. Tony Pulis is doing the job you’d expect at Middlesbrough, they do have one of the best defensive records in all divisions, but haven’t scored more goals than the bottom five sides. In saying that, they did score 5 goals last round against the usually free scoring League One side Peterborough. Newport County are doing another good job in the FA Cup, and are a realistic chance of an upset again here.Their away record isn’t great with just three wins in 14 games, but it is the FA Cup.
Barely Interesting Fact: This is the second consecutive year that fourth tier side Newport County has made the 4th round. Last season Spurs needed a replay to get past them.
Prediction: Middlesbrough 0 Newport 1
MANCHESTER CITY (2nd EPL) v BURNLEY (16th EPL)
H2H All: Man City 45 – Burnley 20 – Draw 25
H2H FA Cup: Man City 3 – Burnley 1
Last Meeting: Oct 2018 – Man City 5 Burnley 0 (EPL)
Last Round: Man City 7 Rotherham 0 – Burnley 1 Barnsley 0
Preview: One of four all EPL ties, and interestingly enough, four of the top five sides that remain in the FA Cup 4th Round play in all EPL clashes. Only Chelsea v Sheffield Wednesday bucks the trend. Man City play Burnley again in the FA Cup, after the two sides clashed last year, and Man City won 4-1. It’s a busy period for Man City who have come into this game on the back of a League Cup semi final, and then there’s a midweek game coming up after the FA Cup 4th round. Lucky they have the world’s best depth in midfielders. Burnley are on a decent run in the League, with three wins and a draw, but we can only see a big Man City win, even if Burnley don’t rest too many players.
Barely Interesting Fact: Manchester City have conceded just one goal in all Cup games this season, – in a 1-1 draw with Leicester who they beat on penalties. All told, Man City have scored 22-1 in their five cup games this year.
Prediction: Man City 6-0
PORTSMOUTH (1st L1) v QPR (14th Champ)
H2H All: Portsmouth 10 – QPR 14 – Draw 10
H2H FA Cup: NA
Last Meeting: 2011 – QPR 2 Portsmouth 0 – (Champ)
Last Round: Norwich 0 Portsmouth 1 – QPR 2 Leeds 1
Preview: These two sides saw off the teams that were (and still are) first and second in the Championship. Portsmouth’s being the more impressive given their position in League One. Although they may well soon be back in the Championship, as they sit first in the table. However they have lost their past two games, but should stay on track for promotion. Unless a Cup run gets in the way. QPR got past Leeds Utd in an unexpected result last round, QPR are turning this season into a decent one, especially after losing their first four games. They sit 14th, but are in a gaggle of teams within one point of each other. Promotion places are still a minimum of seven points away, but a 5th round FA Cup place is just one win away.
Barely Interesting Fact: Five of the last seven games between these sides have ended in a draw.
Prediction: Portsmouth 2 QPR 0
SWANSEA CITY (9th Champ) v GILLINGHAM (18th Champ)
H2H All: Swansea 15 – Gillingham 13 – Draw 10
H2H FA Cup: Swansea 3 – Gillingham 0
Last Meeting: 2011 – QPR 2 Portsmouth 0 – (Champ)
Last Round: Aston Villa 0 Swansea 3 – Gillingham 1 Cardiff 0
Preview: Gillingham saw off Premier League opposition last start with a win over Cardiff, so are looking for a Welsh double here in the FA Cup 4th round. Gillingham are struggling in League One – just one point above relegation. Swansea are having a pretty inconsistent season, they are in the tight chasing pack of promotion hopefuls. They are also one of the rare teams to lose to Ipswich Town this season. Their last start win over Aston Villa was impressive enough, and should get the job done here.
Barely Interesting Fact: The last time Gillingham made the FA Cup 4th round was in 2003-04, where it was a run of five straight seasons making the fourth, fifth or sixth round.
Prediction: Swansea 2 Gillingham 0
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION (13th EPL) v WEST BROMWICH ALBION (3rd Champ)
H2H All: Brighton 5 – West Brom 9 – Draw 7
H2H FA Cup: NA
Last Meeting: Jan 2018 – West Brom 2 Brighton 0 (EPL)
Last Round: Bournemouth 1 Brighton 3 – West Brom 1 Wigan 0
Preview: Brighton did a good job last time out in the FA Cup 3rd round with a rare three goal haul and an away win, and luckily for them this games is at home. Brighton have only lost to Chelsea, Spurs and Liverpool at home this season, teams that have scored at 1.7 goals a game or better this season. So too have West Bromwich Albion, who currently average 2.04 goals per game. West Brom are one of the more free scoring teams in the four divisions this season, and that is keeping them in the promotion race in third, just three points from second. West Brom also have the second best away form in the Championship this season.
Barely Interesting Fact: Two West Brom strikers have scored 14 goals this season so far and a third has scored nine goals. Brighton have Glenn Murray on eight goals, then the next best is four.
Prediction: Brighton 0 West Brom 2
SATURDAY – Kick Off 5:30pm UK
MILLWALL (19th Champ) v EVERTON (11th EPL)
H2H All: Millwall 5 – Everton 4 – Draw 3
H2H FA Cup: Everton 2 – Millwall 1 – Draw 1
Last Meeting: 2006 Everton 1 Millwall 0 – (FA Cup)
Last Round: Everton 2 Lincoln City 1 – Millwall 2 Hull 1
Preview: It’s the Tim Cahill derby, two clubs where the Aussie hero did some of his best work, including helping Millwall to an FA Cup final whilst in the Championship. Both teams are having underwhelming seasons – Everton are 11th and whilst they are in no immediate danger of dropping into the relegation race, they have scored just eight points from their last ten games. In more relegation worries is Millwall who are 19th and six points clear of relegation. Luckily for them, none of the bottom three look likely to save themselves. Millwall’s win was the more impressive in the 3rd Round, they saw off an in form Hull, where as Everton weren’t overly convincing against fourth tier Lincoln City.
Barely Interesting Fact: Everton have never beaten Millwall at the first attempt in any Cup competition. When they have progressed past Millwall in a cup, it has need at least one replay.
Prediction: Millwall 1 Everton 1 – Everton win replay.
SATURDAY – Kick Off 7:45pm UK
AFC WIMBLEDON (24th L1) v WEST HAM (10th EPL)
H2H All: West Ham 1 – AFC Wimbledon 0
H2H FA Cup: NA
Last Meeting: Aug 2018 – Wimbledon 1 West Ham 3 (League Cup)
Preview: A nice cross London rivalry to savour in the FA Cup 4th round. AFC Wimbledon have bigger things to worry about – like getting out of the bottom four – and avoiding relegation. West Ham are in prime position to take this competition seriously and attempt to win. We hope, as Wimbledon supporters that they can avoid relegation and gives us something to cheer for.
Barely Interesting Fact: Despite being dead last in the third division, AFC Wimbledon have conceded fewer goals per game than West Ham
Prediction: AFC Wimbledon 0 – West Ham 3
SUNDAY – Kick Off 4:00pm UK
CRYSTAL PALACE (14th EPL) v SPURS (3rd EPL)
H2H All: Crystal Palace 9 – Spurs 25 – Draw 13
H2H FA Cup: Crystal Palace 3 – Spurs 2 – Draw 1
Last Meeting: Nov 2018 – Crystal Palace 0 Spurs 1 (EPL)
Last Round: Crystal Palace 1 Grimsby Town 0 – Tranmere 0 Spurs 7
Preview: The last of the all EPL ties, and if only Crystal Palace could produce the same performances and goals at home. Palace have scored just 6 goals at home this season, their opponents Spurs are the best away team in the EPL and have scored 30 goals. But Spurs don’t have Harry Kane, and who knows who will line up for them with Son and Alli missing too. Although Harry Kane would have been unlikely to play in this game anyway, not having him on the bench to call up will be a test.
Barely Interesting Fact: Seven of the last eight matches between these teams has ended up 1-0. Spurs won 6, Crystal Palace 1
Prediction: Crystal Palace 1 Spurs 0
SUNDAY – Kick Off 6:00pm UK
CHELSEA (4th EPL) v SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY (16th Champ)
H2H All: Chelsea 37 – Sheff Wed 41 – Draw 45
H2H FA Cup: Chelsea 8 – Sheff Wed 2 – Draw 6
Last Meeting: 2000 – Sheff Wed 1 Chelsea 0 (EPL)
Last Round: Chelsea 2 Nottingham Forest 0 – Sheffield Wednesday 0 Luton Town 0
Preview: Chelsea’s manager Maurizio Sarri was very unhappy about Chelsea’s latest loss to Arsenal, a loss which has seen the fourth place battle open up again. Chelsea are down to 7th in the last 6 form in the EPL, but should easily account for Sheffield Wednesday. If only they had got a deal for Gonzalo Higuain done early in the transfer window, he could have warmed up with taking on Sheffield Wednesday. The Owls are down in 16th, and have changed one manager this season, but they should be safe given they are 12 points from relegation.
Barely Interesting Fact: Only Ipswich Town have conceded more goals in the Championship than Sheffield Wednesday. That’s a worry as Ipswich are terrible.
Prediction: Chelsea 3 Sheffield Wednesday 0
MONDAY – Kick Off 7:45pm UK
BARNET (16th National League) v BRENTFORD (17th Champ)
H2H All: Brentford 10 – Draw 4 – Barnet 0
H2H FA Cup: Brentford 1 – Barnet 0
Last Meeting: 2000 – Sheff Wed 1 Chelsea 0 (EPL)
Last Round:
Preview: Battle of the Bees from London, and the Bees from the north of London are looking for their first win between these sides. They should have no fear playing a Championship side, after knocking off automatic promotion hopefuls Sheffield United in the previous round. Brentford aren’t in great form away either, as they have just the loss win and seven draws from 14 matches. After spending several years dodging the drop from League Two, perhaps an FA Cup run will spark Barney into a promotion tilt from their lowly 16th place.
Barely Interesting Fact: Barnet have never beaten Brentford, and their home ground is the The Hive, after leaving Underhill their home ground of over a century.
Prediction: Barnet 1 Brentford 3
