It’s the first FA Cup weekend involving Championship and Premier League teams and that usually means one thing: upsets could be on the cards. Let’s see if there are any over the horizon this weekend.
For the first time in seven years, we’re treated to a Tyne and Wear derby.
Full focus on #SUNNEW. 👊 pic.twitter.com/QbhXA7xJOU— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) January 4, 2024
Full focus on #SUNNEW. 👊 pic.twitter.com/QbhXA7xJOU
Sunderland’s drop into the Championship and then even League One has starved us of a famous English matchup, and this does also mean it has been 12 years since Newcastle last defeated Sunderland.
The Black Cats would win six in a row against the Magpies from 2013-2016 alongside a draw in 2012 and a draw in the last clash between these two back in 2016.
Such form in this fixture, Newcastle league struggles and their torrid luck with injuries will give Sunderland fans great hopes of making it nine unbeaten against their rivals.
Although Manchester United will be massive favourites, the 12-time FA Cup winners are in the worst bout of form ever witnessed in the Premier League era.
Wigan Athletic will be fully aware of this and the fact the giants of world football are already weakened after yet another loss in the Premier League to Nottingham Forest last time out.
A non-league team takes on a League One promotion hopeful with Maidstone United 89 spots below Stevenage in the English football pyramid.
Maidstone are having an excellent season after relegation into the National League South, sitting fourth and with only six losses from the 25 league fixtures.
Stevenage have dropped into seventh recently with only two victories in regular time throughout December.
Although it wouldn’t be the most shocking upset, Middlesbrough are massive underdogs against Aston Villa.
Unai Emery’s men are flying high in the Europa Conference League and even sitting second in the Premier League and well within the tense title race.
Emery will no doubt rest key players to ensure he keeps up their fight in the Premier League, and with Boro at home, this could play right into the hands of Michael Carrick’s side.
League Two takes on the Premier League in this one, and Gillingham will no doubt be confident in getting the win given the awful form of the last-placed team in the top flight.
The Blades have secured just two league wins so far, lost a shocking 15 games, scored only 15 times and let in a stunning 49 goals in 20 matches.
In fact, unless things change, this could well go down as one of the worst performances in Premier League history across a whole season.