Manchester City next in Stoke sights after defeat of Gunners

STOKE CITY were rewarded for yesterday's FA Cup fourth-round win over Arsenal by being drawn against Barclays Premier League multi-millionaires Manchester City.

Tony Pulis's side pulled off the shock of the round by beating Arsene Wenger's side 3-1 at the Britannia Stadium yesterday afternoon.

They will next visit Carling Cup semi-finalists Manchester City, who beat Championship Scunthorpe yesterday, at Eastlands while the other big tie of the round sees Portsmouth travel to bitter south coast rivals Southampton.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini was delighted with his side's FA Cup progress but admitted they faced another tough test in the fifth round against Stoke.

He said: "The FA Cup is very difficult and we saw that with Arsenal and Stoke. Every game will be hard and the next game against Stoke will be a difficult game."

2008 winners Portsmouth who came from behind to beat Sunderland on Saturday, will have to beat their neighbours at

St Mary's if they are to make it through to the last eight of the competition.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Leeds United, who followed their triumph away to Premier League champions Manchester United with Saturday's draw at Tottenham Hotspur, will travel to face top-flight opposition again if they win their replay.

They were drawn against Bolton Wanderers at the Reebok Stadium, scene on their last visit of a defeat which confirmed their relegation from the Premier League.

Holders Chelsea will be confident of securing a place in the last eight after they were handed a home draw against Coca-Cola Championship side Cardiff.

Aston Villa will play Wolves at Molineux in a Midlands derby but only if Mick McCarthy's side can overcome Crystal Palace in a replay at Selhurst Park after the two sides drew 2-2 on Saturday.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

League Two Notts County – who led Premier League Wigan by two goals on Saturday only to be taken to a replay – will face Fulham if they can overcome the odds and beat Wigan away in their fourth-round replay.

Birmingham, who beat last season's runners-up Everton at Goodison Park on Saturday, will travel to Derby County, single-goal conquerors of Doncaster.

There will be at least one Championship side in the last eight of the competition after Reading were rewarded for their fine win over Burnley with a home tie against West Brom.

All fifth-round ties will be played over the weekend of February 13 and 14.

FA Cup 5th round

Wolves or Crystal Palace v Aston Villa

Man City v Stoke

Derby v Birmingham

Bolton v Tottenham or Leeds U

Chelsea v Cardiff

Fulham v Notts County or Wigan

Reading v West Brom

Southampton v Portsmouth

Ties to be played over weekend Feb 13-14.