FA Cup Quarter Final Draw and Betting Odds

The draw for the Sixth Round of the FA Cup has thrown together two of the remaining favourites. Manchester City, if they can overcome Stoke in their Fifth Round Replay, will have to travel to Stamford Bridge in the Quarter Finals to take on favourites Chelsea. This will no doubt have extra spice in the media, as it could bring together John Terry and former team mate Wayne Bridge, who are at the centre of all the media circus. Only one of the four Quarter Final ties are actually known, as there are four replays waiting to come.

With Portsmouth’s late goal show against rivals Southampton seeing them into the Quarter Finals, which was a nice bit of relief from all of the terrible troubles they are in financially, they have earned themselves an all Premier League tie against Birmingham. Alex McLeish’s Birmingham battled to a 2-1 win over Derby to earn their Quarter Final place. Bolton and Tottenham will have to go at it again, after an entertaining game ended in 1-1 tie at the Reebok. The high flying Spurs had to come from behind to keep their FA Cup dream alive, and England striker Jermain Defoe duly shot his team to a replay. Spurs had a big chance to win it, with Tom Huddlestone having a penalty saved by Bolton keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen.

Crystal Palace were devastated when Aston Villa snuck a late equaliser, after wrongly being awarded a corner. Palace boss Neil Warnock, not known for his diplomacy was absolutely fuming at the linesman who awarded the erroneous corner Villa. The Premier League side were really on the ropes and looking to be about to make an exit in a fantastically high paced cup tie, but were handed a lifeline in the dying moments. The replay won’t be too bad a thing for Palace, as they have their financial worries after going into administration. If they can get past Villa, then a tie against a fellow Championship side will await them.

The all Championship tie between West Brom and giant-killers Reading ended in a two all draw, while Premier League side Fulham routed League Two side Notts County 4-0. But the big match of the Quarter Finals will be Chelsea v Manchester City if that happens. City, who were favourites to beat Stoke, will need to raise their game though. Despite starting brightly at home, they simply drifted out of the game, which again highlights the fact that boss Roberto Mancini still has a lot of work to do in order to make the side competitive on a regular basis. The draw for Stoke was fully deserved as Ricardo Fuller popped up to head the equaliser. The glamour tie against Chelsea awaits the winner of the replay.

FA CUP QUARTER FINAL DRAW
Chelsea v Manchester City/Stoke
Fulham v Bolton or Spurs
Reading or West Brom v Crystal Palace or Aston Villa
Portsmouth v Birmingham

FA Cup Outright Odds
Chelsea – 11/8 at Victor Chandler
Aston Villa – 6/1 at Ladbrokes
Tottenham – 13/1 at SkyBet
Man City – 10/1 at Blue Square
Birmingham – 12/1 at Blue Square
Fulham – 14/1 at Ladbrokes