Bolton Wanderers v Crystal Palace (3pm)
Bolton have had a really bad few years, but seem to have steadied their slide in English football, and look reasonably well placed to get back into the Championship next season, where they could well face today's opposition Crystal Palace. This is a classic example of a lower league team in really good form vs a weakened Premier League outfit who are not. Could be classic FA Cup fare, depending on how seriously Big Sam takes the competition, and indeed whether or not Bolton decide to rest up. Plus, this one is personal for Palace's new boss, who started his Premier League career with Wanderers.Norwich City v Southampton (3pm)
Norwich have been in bad form recently in the Championship as defeats to fellow promotion chasers Huddersfield and Reading saw them hit a sticky patch, which they'll be hoping that they're over after battering Derby 3-0 last time out. The Saints meanwhile have had a dreadful Christmas period beset by injuries and suspensions and have lost their last three games as a result. Assuming that they send out a weaker team today with a cup semi-final vs Liverpool in midweek, Claude Puel's side could be ripe for the picking.
Wycombe vs Stourbridge (3pm)
The lowest ranked team in the competition have already knocked out League One Northampton, and now travel to League Two Wycombe. 9th place in the Northern Premier League Premier Division (no really), Stourbridge could pull off one of the biggest shocks in FA Cup history. Other non-leaguers include Barrow against in-form Rochdale, Eastleigh travelling to Brentford and Sutton vs Wimbledon. Anything can happen.
West Brom vs Derby County (3pm)
West Brom are probably the highest placed cup shock waiting to happen. 8th in the Premier League, they host dangerous Derby, who are 7th in the Championship and running well under Steve McClaren. 23 points from their last ten represents terrific form and if West Brom don't throw the big guns at this one then they could find themselves being turned over.
Middlesbrough v Sheffield Wednesday (3pm Sunday)
Sadly, this list isn't particularly interesting, and mostly mid-table or worse Premier League sides struggling against Championship or so opposition. This is another case, as Boro struggle to score goals and Wednesday are quite solid. Unbeaten in five games, eighteen points from their last nine games, Wednesday are well up for a shock in this one, and Boro will have to be very careful.
The Hard and Fast Section
- Murray v Djokovic. It's on again.
- Cycling doping getting very ugly as Froome speaks out.
- Real Madrid cruise vs Granada
- Newcastle stun Bath to blow Premiership wide open.
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