FIXTURE congestion is one of the modern manager’s biggest bugbears and the FA Cup has had to make some sacrifices to ease English football’s packed schedule.
Teams at the top end of the pyramid in England are worried that their stars are playing too many games – and replays have been scrapped from the fifth round as a result.
Man City are looking to defend the FA Cup they won against Watford in MayCredit: PA:Press Association
Why are FA Cup 5th round ties in midweek?
You may have noticed that the fifth round games won’t be played over a traditional weekend.
The FA have made the controversial decision to scrap replays from this stage onwards – and also hold each match in midweek.
It’s simply to alleviate fixture congestion and facilitate the Premier League’s winter break.
Every team was given two weeks off between the weekends of February 1 and February 22.
Fifth round matches
Monday, March 2
Portsmouth vs Arsenal (8pm)
Tuesday, March 3
Chelsea vs Liverpool (7.45pm)
Reading vs Sheffield United (8pm)
West Brom vs Newcastle (8pm)
Wednesday, March 4
Leicester vs Birmingham (7.45pm)
Sheffield Wednesday vs Man City (7.45pm)
Tottenham vs Norwich (7.45pm)
Thursday, March 5
Derby vs Man Utd (7.45pm)
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
