Blades Drawn at Home in FA Cup

Last updated : 26 January 2004 By @blades_mad1889

FA Cup: Can the Blades reach the final this year?
The Blades who are rated at 40/1 to win the Cup got through to the next round by beating Nottingham Forest 3-0 at the City Ground. Michael Tonge was brought down in the penalty area and former Forest striker Jack Lester hammered home the spot-kick.

Jurgen Bopp almost brought an equaliser in second half but his thunderbolt of a shot was equally saved by Paddy Kenny, Gareth Taylor also flashed a header wide before Chris Morgan's acrobatics gave the visitors a slender 2-0 lead. Wayne Allison headed home a 3rd in 90th minute.

United have met Coventry City twice this season already, the first meeting at Bramall Lane ended in a 2-1 victory. Michael Brown was successful with his spot-kick before Patrick Suffo drew level but Jack Lester pounced to score a last minute winner. He then went on to score a penalty at Highfield Road to land a 1-0 away win.

The draw wasn't nerve-wracking but just hoped that we didn't land a tricky tie against the big Premiership side. In a tester Liverpool were drawn at home to Manchester United but in reality landed with Portsmouth to set up a all Premier League tie, one that Patrick Berger will look forward to.

Manchester United can look forward to a dream tie as they could host a Manchester Derby, but City need to get past Tottenham Hotspur in the replay.

Swansea, who has been at the Vetch Field since round 1 will have to travel this time, they were drawn against Tranmere Rovers in a tie which probably puts the Swans as favourites to reach the Quarter-Finals.

The big guns of Arsenal, who have won the Cup two years in a row will surly make them unstoppable if they can get past Chelsea in the game which were sure BBC and BSkyB will be fighting for television rights.

With Sheffield Wednesday being at home to Hartleppol United in Division Two it means that the Blades FA Cup tie will be played on Sunday 15 January whomever the opponents are.

FA Cup Round 5 Draw In Full:

Manchester United v Manchester City or Tottenham Hotspur
Tranmere Rovers v Swansea City
Telford United or Millwall v Burnley
Sunderland v Birmingham City
Sheffield United v Coventry City or Colchester United
Arsenal v Chelsea
Liverpool v Portsmouth
Everton or Fulham v West Ham United