Big guns kept apart as Spurs held by Stevenage
A HIGH-PROFILE FA Cup final line-up moved a step closer yesterday when the competition’s biggest hitters were kept apart and handed home ties in the quarter-final draw.
Chelsea, who were held at home by Birmingham on Saturday, will host more Championship opposition in Leicester City, who beat Norwich at the weekend, if they win their replay next week.
Tottenham must also navigate a second meeting with League One Stevenage, flowing their goalless draw yesterday, but will do so knowing they would be at home to Bolton in the last eight.
Liverpool, who thrashed Brighton 6-1 yesterday at Anfield, will entertain last year’s losing finalists Stoke, while Merseyside neighbours Everton are set to host Arsenal’s conquerors Sunderland.
With Manchester City, last year’s winners, and Manchester United, who join them in the Premier League’s top two, already out, the field looks wide open.
Should they make it past their respective replays, scheduled to be played in the middle of next week, both Chelsea and Tottenham will fancy their chances of bringing the trophy back to London.
For Spurs manager Harry Redknapp, who looks destined to leave the club for the England job at the end of the season, it could represent a fine parting gift. However, he admitted that yesterday’s decidedly humdrum display at League One opponents, in front of Football Association chairman David Bernstein, would have done little to advance his credentials.
“I bet he was impressed with the football I served up, yeah,” joked Redknapp. “He was probably thinking: ‘Who is this geezer?’”
While Tottenham laboured (left), Liverpool cruised into the last eight with the help of three Brighton own goals, including two from the same player, Liam Bridcutt.
Andy Carroll scored his sixth of the season and Luis Suarez missed a penalty before heading home as they and captain Steven Gerrard started a match for the very first time.
Stoke continued their march towards another Wembley date by winning 2-0 at League Two Crawley Town. Rory Delap’s controversial early red card could not prevent the Premier League side from progressing with goals from Jon Walters and Peter Crouch.
DRAW | FA CUP QUARTER-FINALS
Liverpool v Stoke
Chelsea or Birmingham v Leicester
Stevenage or Tottenham v Bolton
Everton v Sunderland
Ties to be played the weekend of 18 and 19 March