The fifth round of the FA Cup hasn’t typically provided as many dramas as some of the earlier rounds of the competition. The reason is simple – clubs from the top flight don’t enter the competition until the third round and as a result, “giant-killers” are most likely to appear around then. As it was, several Premier League clubs fell in the third round this year, most notably Manchester United (knocked out by Swansea) and West Ham United who were thrashed 5-0 by Nottingham Forrest.
Reigning champions Wigan marching on
Nevertheless, most giant-killers are usually stopped well before the fifth round, but one lower division club is still marching on – the FA Cup’s reigning champions Wigan. Successfully predicted in our wonderful WGM Daily Tips last week, Wigan beat struggling Premier League side Cardiff City 2-1 to progress to the last eight as their remarkable title defence continues.
Despite their run, the most eye-catching matches of the fifth round were the two clashes of the titans, as the four clubs from the top end of the league went toe to toe. With the crucial game against Barcelona in the Champions League in mind, Manchester City produced a performance of remarkably high standard, beating Chelsea 2-0 at home to keep their quadruple dream alive. The difference between the two teams’ freshness might have been a reason behind the victory, as City’s league match against Sunderland last week was postponed due to strong winds.
Meanwhile, Arsenal took revenge on Liverpool who crushed them 5-1 at Anfield just a week ago by winning 2-1 at home. The Reds showed great confidence as they created two one-on-one chances in the opening minutes, but both were missed by Daniel Sturridge. Those misses proved crucial as the Gunners took more initiative with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Lukas Podolski scoring in each half for the home team to seal victory.
No penalty? A decision that cost the Reds dearly
However, one of the most eye-catching performers was referee Howard Webb. The 2010 World Cup Final ref missed a “blatant penalty” created by Luis Suárez, as furious Reds manager Brendan Rodgers put it. The decision might have come down to the timing of the controversial decision, as only minutes earlier Suárez had already won a penalty for his side which was converted by captain Steve Gerrard to get his side back into the contest. Webb’s performance this season has been open to debate, with some former referees suggesting he “take a rest” and “focus more on refereeing”. As he has been listed among the referees for the 2014 World Cup, that seems unlikely for the time being.
