FA Cup 4th Round Predictions

FRIDAY:

HULL V CHELSEA

Hull are flying in the Championship with the Tigers currently sitting inside the play offs and six points outside the automatic promotion places after being widely tipped to go down at the start of the season.

Chelsea boss Liam Roesnior used to manage Hull and he returns to the KCOM for the first time since he was sacked nearly two years ago despite finishing 7th that very season.

He's made a strong start to life as Chelsea boss and he'll no doubt be looking to take his side far in this competition.

He will make changes for this game as he'll want to give the fringe players an opportunity. But his side should still have enough to reach the next round.

Hull will have a go as they're a side who like to play on the front foot, but the blues should have too much quality for them.

PREDICTION: 1-3

SATURDAY:

BURTON V WEST HAM

Burton are fighting relegation in League 1 and are in terrible form following just one win and six defeats from their last nine league games.

A win in this cup tie will no doubt give them a great deal of confidence to take with them into their League 1 relegation battle as big results in the cup can do that.

West Ham are also fighting relegation but are looking more like a Nuno Espirito Santo side after winning three of their last five league games since beating QPR in the last round.

That win against QPR definitely instilled some confidence in them as they have more belief that they can stay in the Premier League.

Winning this cup tie will give them even more confidence and I can see them doing that as they should have enough to avoid an upset.

I do think they'll make changes, but I think Nuno will field a strong enough team to help his side reach the next round.

PREDICTION: 0-3

BURNLEY V MANSFIELD

Burnley's win against Crystal Palace in midweek came from absolute nowhere as they looked set for another defeat during the opening stages only for them to score three times in five minutes to complete an unlikely comeback.

That result will no doubt give them and Scott Parker a lot of confidence which could be boosted further if they avoid an upset and win this cup tie.

The Clarets may look good as relegated in the Premier League, but a good run in the cup could give them the confidence they need to avoid going down with a whimper.

Mansfield boss Nigel Clough reached the semi finals of this competition back in 2014 with Sheffield United where he masterminded a few cup upsets along the way.

He would love to cause another one in this cup tie, but I don't see it happening as I think Burnley will have more than enough quality to see themselves through to the next round and build on their win against Palace.

PREDICTION: 2-0

MAN CITY V SALFORD

Man City hammered Salford 8-0 in this fixture last season and I think they're going to inflict a similar hammering on them in this one.

Pep always plays a strong team in the cup competitions no matter what team he;s facing and he's only going to do the same here because of how seriously he takes the cup competitions.

Salford are having a decent season in League 2 as they currently sit inside the play offs in 6th place and their co-owners would love it if they caused an upset set here. Especially as they involve members of Man United's Class of 92.

But I think City will be more than too strong for them what ever team they put out there.

PREDICTION: 7-0

ASTON VILLA V NEWCASTLE

Villa got a much needed win against Brighton in midweek which will hopefully get their season back on track following a slight dip in form.

Unai Emery's side are stretched in terms of their squad due to the injuries they have, but I still think they'll field a strong team here as he'll want to take this competition very seriously.

It's been nearly 30 years since Villa last won a trophy and this has to be the season where they break because of the squad and manager they have.

Newcastle were disappointing when the two sides last met a few weeks ago at St James' Park and their season as a whole has been somewhat of a disappointment considering the heights they've reached in recent seasons.

This competition could be their last chance to salvage something from this season as they're out of the Carabao Cup, unlikely to win the Champions League and unlikely to finish in the European places in the Premier League.

But I think their hopes will be squished here as I'm backing Villa to see themselves through to the next round and especially with the strong record they have at home.

PREDICTION: 2-0

LIVERPOOL V BRIGHTON

The FA Cup is Liverpool's last realistic chance of ending the season with a trophy as they're battling to finish in the top four of the Premier League, out of the Carabao Cup and unlikely to win the Champions League because of there being other teams who are better equipped than them to win that competition.

The reds put in a good all-round display against Sunderland in midweek and I'm hoping that they can build on that performance over the next few weeks because if there is one thing they've lacked all season, it's consistency.

Brighton could probably do with a cup run so they can get some much needed confidence on board due to the poor run of form they're in.

They haven't won since beating Man United in the last round which was the last time they played well as their performances since have been under par.

Both teams will look to take this competition seriously and because of this I can see them both play strong teams.

But I think Liverpool will have just enough quality to see themselves through to the next round.

PREDICTION: 2-1

SUNDAY:

BIRMINGHAM V LEEDS

Birmingham are having a good first season back in the Championship and are finally looking like a club who are going in the right direction after years of decline.

Chris Davies' side are just a point outside the play offs in the Championship and are a side who will look to play on the front foot and press high up the pitch.

Leeds' FA Cup record in recent seasons is pretty abysmal as they haven't made it past the 5th Round since reaching the Quarter Finals in 2003.

Daniel Farke will probably make a lot of changes for this game as he'll have an eye on Premier League survival and will probably prioritise that over a cup run.

I can see that happening and with Birmingham in good form and hoping to have a go at Leeds from the first whistle, I can see them causing an upset here.

PREDICTION: 2-0

GRIMSBY V WOLVES

Grimsby have already caused one giant killing this season when they knocked Man United out of the Carabao Cup back in August, which will give them confidence in causing another upset in this one.

It won't be as a big of a shock as their win over Man United, but it will still be a big giant killing because of the gap between the two sides.

A cup run is all Wolves have left to play for this season with their relegation all but confirmed and Rob Edwards will certainly see it that way.

Wolves have shown more fight and resilience since the turn of the year and although I see them make a number of changes here, I still think they'll have just enough to see themselves through to the next round.

PREDICTION: 1-2

OXFORD V SUNDERLAND

Oxford are having a tough season in the Championship this season as they're second from bottom and have won just once since Matt Bloomfield has taken over from Gary Rowett.

A win in this cup tie could be what they need to kickstart their season and boost their chances of survival as it has done for a number of teams over the years.

Sunderland have not been the same beast on the road as they have been at home this season, but they'll still be the favourites in this cup tie because of them being in a league higher than Oxford.

Regis Le Bris will probably makes changes for this one with it being a cup tie and him wanting to give opportunities to the fringe players.

But the Black Cats should have enough to see themselves to the next round as I think he'll field a strong enough team to win the game.

PREDICTION: 0-2

STOKE V FULHAM

Stoke started the season really well but have dropped off as the season has progressed as they now find themselves 14th in the Championship after being in and around the automatic promotion places during the early months of the season.

Manager Mark Robins famously led Coventry to the semi finals a couple of seasons ago and were very unlucky not to reach the final, only for their winning goal to be ruled out by VAR in stoppage time.

His side could do with a cup run because they haven't won since beating Coventry in the last round and it would instil some much needed confidence.

Fulham have never won the FA Cup and this season might be their best chance to do so as they have a more than good enough team to go far in this competition.

Marco Silva's contract is up at the end of the season and would love to go out on a high by winning the FA Cup, which could make him the Cottagers' greatest ever manager after what he's accomplished already.

Silva will probably make changes to his team for this one with it being a cup tie, but his side should still get the job done as I think he'll field a strong enough team to win this game.

PREDICTION: 0-2

ARSENAL V WIGAN

Arsenal were given a good game by Brentford last night as they were made to work for the point because of the chances Brentford had.

Mikel Arteta will probably make changes for this game and I don't see anything wrong about that as he's got a good squad to choose from because of the depth it has.

Wigan recently sacked manager Ryan Lowe and have been a club who have only gone backwards since their relegation from the Premier League and FA Cup win in 2013.

The Latics are 22nd in League 1 and on a poor run of form following no wins from their last eight league games.

Relegation could be what they need as it will give them the chance to properly start again as a football club after many years of decline.

Because of the strength in depth Arsenal have and Wigan not having a permanent manager in charge, I can only see this being a very comfortable win for the Gunners.

PREDICTION: 4-0

MONDAY:

MACCLESFIELD V BRENTFORD

Macclesfield were the talk of the third round when they knocked out Crystal Palace and they'll surely fancy themselves to cause another Premier League scalp in this one against Brentford.

Brentford will probably make changes for this game with it being a cup game, but I don't think they'll make too many as Keith Andrews will want to take his side far in this competition.

The Bees are in better form than Palace when Macclesfield faced them in the last round and because of this I think they'll avoid an upset and see themselves through to the next round.

Macclesfield will get men behind the ball like they did against Crystal Palace in the last round, but I think the Bees will still have enough to come out on top here.

PREDICTION: 0-2