Southampton v Millwall
This match will be of particular importance to the clubs’ respective managers, Gordon Strachan and Mark McGhee.
They will both want to get the better of their close friend: Strachan was best man at McGhee’s wedding. Southampton thumped fellow premiership club Tottenham Hotspur 4-0 in the last round on their home turf, but they do have some problems.
They lost their unbeaten home record last week when they went down 1-0 to Liverpool, and the week before threw away a two goal lead to only draw at Middlesborough. Worse than that, two of their star players could be out.
Full-back Wayne Bridge is certain to miss his first game for over two years with a calf injury, while in form marksman James Beattie is doubtful with a groin injury. Delap will come in for Bridge and Delgado waits in the wings. Fabrice Fernandes is being targeted by Liverpool.
Millwall’s confidence is high. They come into this game on the back of three straight wins – they came from behind to beat Cambridge in a third round replay in the middle of that sequence – and are not far off the first division play-off zone. But the Lions are struggling with injuries.
They miss first choice players in Nethercott, Harris, Dolan and Phillips. They do have the likes of Dennis Wise who will bring experience and aggression, and Stephen Reid who can add youthful energy to proceedings.
Probable teams:
: Niemi; Telfer, Williams, M Svensson, Delap; Fernandes, A Svensson, Oakley, Marsden; Tessem, Beattie/Delgado
Milwall: Warner; Lawrence, Livermore, Ryan, Ward; Ifill, Reid, Wise, Braniff; Claridge, Robinson.
Farnborough v Arsenal
Spokesmen claim the switch was made for safety and security reasons but the suspicion remains the decision was motivated by greed. Public resentment has grown with the knowledge that Farnborough have been spending exorbitantly on training facilities over the past two weeks in preparation for the game. Which all adds up to a juicy tie against the current best club in the land.
Expect Arsenal to rest many of their regulars, giving their less experienced youngsters a chance to stake a claim for a first team place.
Henry, Bergkamp, Seaman and Giberto may be rested, in which case Jeffers, Kanu, Taylor and Parlour will all start. Viera should come back into the side after injury but Ljungberg is not fit.
Arsenal are top of the pile in the Premiership, playing well and scoring goals for fun. It’s a big ask for the non-leaguers to stage an upset, but anything can happen in this competition…and usually does.
Arsenal (from): Seaman, Taylor, Holloway, Lauren, Luzhny, van Bronckhorst, Cygan, Keown, Campbell, Stepanovs, Vieira, Edu, Gilberto Silva, Parlour, Pires, Wiltord, Svard, Toure, Henry, Bergkamp, Kanu, Jeffers, Bentley
Shrewsbury Town v Chelsea
The hosts did for a premiership club in the last round, beating the odds by defeating Everton. Manager Kevin Ratcliffe will have had mixed feelings about conquering his old club.
No ambivalence where Chelsea is concerned, though, and he should have an almost full strength squad to pick from.
Midfielder Ian Woan is back from suspension and he will link up with former NottsForest team mate Nigel Jemson.
Promising midfielder Jamie Tolley is the only worry, though he is recovering from illness. Chelsea captain Marcel Desailly is missing through suspension, which means John Terry will take his place and captain’s armband.
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink – the Barcelona speculation seemingly now over – should be itching to play but must undergo a fitness test on his ankle after injuring it against Man Utd last week.
Croatian Mario Stanic is back in training after a knee injury and may feature.
Chelsea (from): Cudicini, de Goey, Melchiot, Ferrer, Gallas, Terry, Babayaro, Le Saux, Petit, Lampard, Morris, de Lucas, Zenden, Gronkjaer, Stanic, Hasselbaink, Gudjohnsen, Zola, Cole