Premier League Teams Facing FA Cup Upsets
This weekend, the FA Cup’s fourth round is set to bring some exciting games. Some Premier League teams could be in trouble against lower league teams. Two matches, in particular, stand out.
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Birmingham City vs. Newcastle United
Birmingham City, the top team in League One, will take on Newcastle United on Sunday (4:45am AEDT). The gap between these teams is big, but Birmingham is feeling confident and hoping for an upset. They’ve had a strong season in League One and are eager to make some noise.
Michael Bridges, a former Newcastle player and pundit on Optus Sport, views this as a must-watch game. “This is the tie of the round for me,” he said. “Birmingham City are the richest in League One, while Newcastle lead the Premier League.” Birmingham has bounced back well after being relegated from the Championship. They’ve spent big on players, like the £15 million signing Jay Stansfield, who has scored 14 goals in 22 matches this year. He’ll be a key player to watch.
Newcastle just made it to the Carabao Cup final and want to add another trophy. But their FA Cup history hasn’t been great, with 70 years since their last win. Coach Eddie Howe has done well to turn the team around, but beating Birmingham won’t be easy. With Alexander Isak, who has 17 goals in 21 Premier League games, Newcastle will rely on him to score. For Birmingham, stopping Isak will be crucial if they want to pull off the upset.
Exeter City vs. Nottingham Forest
On Wednesday (7am AEDT), League One’s Exeter City will take on Nottingham Forest at St James Park. Exeter has had a rough time in the third division, but facing a Nottingham team focused on the Premier League might give them hope.
Former player Scott McDonald, who knows Exeter’s coach, Gary Caldwell, thinks they have a shot. He pointed out that Nottingham Forest has been switching up their lineup in recent games. “Forest have made many changes lately,” McDonald said. “With their eyes on the Premier League, they might not care as much about the FA Cup.” If Nottingham fields a weaker team, Exeter might have a chance to pull off a surprise win.
For Exeter, playing at home with their fans cheering them on makes this match a big deal. Even if they aren’t in the best shape, they could benefit from Nottingham’s lineup changes.
Other League One vs. Premier League Matches
The FA Cup fourth round will also feature some other interesting matchups. Leyton Orient will host Manchester City on Saturday (11:15pm AEDT), and Wigan Athletic will play against Fulham on Sunday (2am AEDT). Both lower league teams have tough opponents but could surprise everyone with the right performance.
