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      Fulham 2 Leeds 0: Palhinha and Solomon wondergoals prove too much for Whites as Cottagers reach FA Cup quarter-finals

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      TAKE a bow Fulham’s recruitment team. Two of the club’s summer arrivals, Joao Palhinha and Manor Solomon, produced the sauciest of goals to fire the Cottagers into the FA Cup quarter-finals for the first time in 13-years. 
      Fulham celebrate Joao Palhinha’s openerCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
      Manor Solomon adds a saucy secondCredit: Getty
      Both have played a key role in the club going against the grain in the Prem with an unlikely charge towards Europe – but now they are within just 90 minutes of Wembley. 
      The club have reached the FA Cup Final only once, losing 2-0 to West Ham in 1975, and never gone beyond the quarter-finals of the League Cup.
      Last night was yet another reminder that Fulham outfoxed the likes of Manchester United to pay just £17.2million for tackle king Palhinha from Sporting Lisbon. 
      It was fitting that Palhinha actually assisted HIMSELF for the 21st minute opener by tackling Roca before curling in a mouth-watering 30-yard strike. 
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      In the Premier League, Palhinha has made at least 17 more tackles (101) than any other player in the division this season.
      Meanwhile red-hot Solomon has now scored in Fulham’s last four games across all competitions. 
      It was only Solomon’s first start since arriving on loan from Shakhtar after he suspended his contract with the club when war broke out in Ukraine. 
      He has overcome injury hell since arriving in West London and a warzone with his previous club Shakhtar. 
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      It was a shame that a third of Craven Cottage weren’t there to see the glittering night due to the club hiking the cost of tickets up to a minimum of £40 per adult to punters who have already shelled out for season tickets. 
      Leeds fans made up for it though with a bustling away end serenading their side throughout the agonising first half which saw two disallowed goals for them.
      The first began with Marc Roca curling a corner onto McKennie’s noggin which Rodak pushed out – but only as far as Georginio Rutter who lashed home from close range. 
      Cue mayhem in the away end, before party pooper referee Christopher Kavanagh ruled it out for a McKennie foul on Harry Wilson. 
      It looked soft and was a kick in the guts for Leeds, while only igniting the fire in Fulham’s belly. 
      Portuguese midfielder Palhinha smelt blood and pounced on a pass meant for Roca, took one touch and lashed the dreamiest of strikes into the corner. 
      Joao Palhinha opens the scoringCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
      Solomon celebrates his super strikeCredit: Alamy
      Rivals Brentford will be thanking their lucky stars that Palhinha is serving a two match suspension for their meeting with Fulham on Monday after picking up ten yellow cards in the league. 
      Leeds hit back strongly though and had the ball in the net AGAIN before it was chalked off. 
      But there was not a whiff of any controversy in this one. 
      Rasmus Kristensen’s shot was pushed straight to Wilfred Gnonto and he tapped in the rebound, but was absolutely miles offside during Kristensen’s attempt.
      There was then a cacophony of boos from home fans when Kavanagh and VAR were having none of Aleksandar Mitrovic’s furious shouts for a penalty after a tussle with Robin Koch.  
      Koch looked as though he had his arm round the Serb’s neck, who was giving it back by grabbing the German defender’s shirt. 
      But Leeds once again were a whisker away from an equaliser. 
      Wilfred Gnonto chipped a ball from the left side of the penalty area and Georginio Rutter arched a header at goal. 
      It looped over Marek Rodak but bounced back off the inside of the post before Tim Ream desperately cleared.
      After the break Solomon did what Solomon does best with another rocket strike to steal the show. 
      The Israeli midfielder linked up with Mitro before curling a delicious shot beyond Illan Meslier from 20-yards on 56 minutes. 
      It seems Fulham don’t do s*** goals this season. 
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      And it was almost the perfect night for Fulham as talisman Mitro found the net with a vintage header only to be ruled off for offside. 
      There was a late flurry from Leeds, with Brenden Aaronson, McKennie and Tyler Adams all having a go.  More

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      Bristol City 0 Man City 3: Phil Foden brace sees Pep Guardiola’s men keep treble dream alive with FA Cup cruise

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      PEP GUARDIOLA brought his champagne squad to ciderland. But it was Phil Foden, who still doesn’t look old enough to drink, who made sure Manchester City will get another round.
      Phil Foden opened the scoring in the seventh minuteCredit: Reuters
      Foden also scored Man City’s secondCredit: AP
      Kevin de Bruyne killed the tie with a thirdCredit: Reuters
      A goal in each half, one a clinical finish and the other heavily diverted beyond the Bristol City keeper by one of his own players, was enough to get them through a difficult night.
      And while boss Pep Guardiola can breathe a sigh of relief, Foden will look back in assurance that he is once again becoming the heartbeat of a team chasing three trophies at the business end of the season.
      Sure, captain Kevin de Bruyne added a spectacular third in the 81st minute. 
      However, the Belgian had missed several good chances prior to that and only once Foden had provided the two goal cushion did he feel confident enough to bend one in in such style from 25 yards.
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      Rejuvenated Foden was subbed as soon as the ball hit the back of the net but the travelling fans paused celebrations to toast the impact of their little Englishman.
      City made things a lot tougher for themselves than anything Championship Bristol City could conjure up.
      With a matchday squad packed full of star-studded internationals it should have been a romp but only Foden consistently drove his team on from his first moment to last with nine minutes to go.
      And his frustrations came to the boil when he briefly lost his rag to pick a fight and find himself booked.
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      It’s his first since mid-September so even that could be taken as a symbol that he is back in business and making a nuisance of himself.
      Foden has started only seven out of 17 games since club football resumed after the World Cup.
      But this was his third in a row and arguably his best despite the lowly opposition.
      With a packed and pumped up stadium the 26,000 sell out crowd at Ashton Gate and those watching at home were primed for a blistering start by the Championship club.
      After all, this was arguably the biggest occasion at revamped Ashton Gate since its redevelopment.
      To his credit, Guardiola rocked up with a full A-list team and star studded bench.
      So when Foden fired the visitors ahead after only seven minutes, it killed the party atmosphere a little and ruined the script.
      Although the goal is worth watching again for its clinical execution and display of mastery on the ball that the punters down these parts don’t witness too often.
      Lurking on the edge of the Bristol City box, Kevin de Bruyne threaded a pass along the right channel for Mahrez to chase.
      The winger’s low probing cross seared across the six yard box and Foden was hanging around just waiting to thump the ball home from close range.
      It gave City the perfect opening to quieten the home fans and players although it did pour a little cold water on the night.
      With the second tier hosts chasing the game and the artistes from the Premier League relaxed with a one goal cushion it got considerably harder for red City while blue City strutted around in full control of the game.
      But what won’t have gone unnoticed by Guardiola is that his team should have been well out of sight by half time but were still only one goal in front.
      What he will also have clocked is the continued upward curve of Foden. 
      The last two performances have shone for City and it’s hard to see the England winger being left out now.
      His goal was calmly executed and was much needed while City made things much harder for themselves than last weekend in a 4-1 romp  against loftier opposition at Premier League Bournemouth on Saturday.
      And Foden’s irritation was best underlined in the 65th minute when tired of taking a battering as reward for his skills, lost it.
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      Scythed down on the touchline by Bristol skipper Matty James, a rush of blood saw him go looking for swift justice – only to pick the wrong man and charge into Sam Bell.
      That was borne out of his sheer determination to carry his team through and he got just reward with the clincher in the 74th minute, rounding off a move involving de Bruyne, Nathan Ake and Julian Alvarez with a low, diagonal shot which crashed off the body of City defender Zak Vyner and over the line.
      Tuesday’s match stats More

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      Leicester 1 Blackburn 2: Dolan and Szmodics stun Foxes as Rovers cling on to reach FA Cup quarter-finals

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      BATTLING Blackburn held their nerve to withstand a late Leicester onslaught to reach the FA Cup quarter-final for the first time since 2015.A goal in each half from Tyrhys Dolan and Sammie Szmodics saw Rovers roar into a two-goal lead as Jon Dahl Tomasson’s heroes dominated for more than an hour.
      Sammie Szmodics is mobbed by team-mates after doubling Blackburn’s leadCredit: Reuters
      Szmodics squirmed through the Leicester defence to make it 2-0Credit: Getty
      Brendan Rodgers then sent an SOS to his FA Cup specialist Kelechi Iheanacho who came off the bench to hand the Foxes a late lifeline.
      However it was too little too late as the Championship promotion hopefuls proved they were more than a match for their Premier League rivals.
      They survived a late battering to take a bow in front of their ecstatic fans, while Leicester were booed off, two years after lifting the trophy.
      Rovers made them look like the relegation candidates they are, leaving Rodgers’ men with a dogfight for survival for the rest of their season.
      This may have been a contest between a Prem powerhouse who lifted the FA Cup just two years ago and Championship opponents.
      But in reality there were only 10 places between 14th-placed Leicester and a Rovers side currently purring along nicely fourth in the division below.
      It soon became evident it was Tomasson’s boys who were brimming with confidence, on the back of a nine-match unbeaten run which included three straight wins on the spin.
      While JDT’s side looked up for the cup and up for a scrap on a filthy night for football, their Premier opponents looked riddled with nerves and uncertainty.
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      Rodgers’ back four were their own worst enemies as they tried to play out from the back with chaotic consequences.
      With captain Jamie Vardy leading the line Leicester started on the front foot and returning defender Ricardo Pereira had the first shot of the night within five minutes with a 20-yarder which sped just wide.
      Minutes later Vardy and Praet combined to set up Brazilian winger Tete whose shot was beaten out by Aynsley Pears.
      Praet followed up but his shot from the rebound was fired straight at the ‘keeper who saved for the second time.
      Tete then skipped by three defenders and hit the side netting from close range, before Vardy stung the palms of the hard-working Rovers goalie with an angled shot.
      At that point it all seemed pretty routine for Leicester, although Luke Thomas collected an early booking for pulling down Joe Rankin-Costello.
      But then it all started to unravel as Blackburn grew in confidence and the Premier side fell into almost every trap Rovers set for them.
      Sam Gallagher tested Iversen for the first time with a low shot on the turn which the Foxes second-choice goalie smothered.
      Then Sammie Szmodics drilled in a low shot which Iversen deflected wide with his left foot.
      The confidence was beginning to surge through Rovers and it took a stunning save from Iversen to deny Tyrhys Dolan from point-blank range after Szmodics set him up six yards from goal.
      The ball broke to Ryan Hedges who slipped as he tried to put away the rebound.
      Leicester’s Danish keeper had never conceded a goal in four previous top team appearances.
      But he couldn’t prevent Blackburn spoiling his clean sheet record as they seized the lead after 33 minutes.
      Tyrhys Dolan reacts sharply to fire Rovers in front on 33 minutesCredit: Getty
      Kelechi Iheanacho gives Leicester hope but Blackburn held on to reach the sixth roundCredit: Rex
      Iheanacho’s goal celebrations are muted as the Foxes still trailed and failed to turn last-half hour pressure into an equaliserCredit: Rex
      The home side only had themselves to blame for some suicidal defending as they tried to play out from the back.
      Daniel Amartey gifted the ball to Dolan who drove towards the gaping gap between the Foxes’ exposed centre-halves before sweeping a right-foot shot beyond Iversen from 20 yards.
      It was the Academy product’s sixth goal of the season and the first Leicester had conceded in the cup this season.
      Suddenly Rovers smelled blood and they came out for the second half determined to kill off the tie.
      Clearly Leicester hadn’t learned their lessons as Boubacar Soumare was caught in possession by Tyler Morton who fed Hedges.
      But with the goal at his mercy the Blackburn man fired wide with Iversen helpless.
      Incredibly Leicester continued with their kamikaze defending as Rovers doubled their advantage after 52 minutes.
      Sam Gallagher fed Szmodics who broke through two feeble challenges from Pereira and Amartey before side footing the ball beyond Iversen.
      Only a desperate save from Iversen prevented Hedges adding a third as Leicester fell apart to the fury of their fans.
      Rodgers sent on FA Cup specialist Kelechi Iheanacho just before the hour and it paid off within 10 minutes as the striker grabbed his side a lifeline they didn’t really deserve.
      Harvey Barnes took a long diagonal and sprinted behind the Rovers defence before squaring for 
      Iheanacho to tap home from three yards.
      Suddenly the Foxes were back on the front foot.
      But Blackburn remained menacing on the break and Szmodics had the ball in the net with 20 minutes left, only to be flagged for straying a yard offside.
      As both sides turned to their bench Iheanacho thought he had saved his side’s skin when he fired in a curling 25 yarder with beat Pears, only to fly narrowly wide.
      The Nigerian came even closer with another piledriver which Pears beat away for a corner before Papys Mendy sent in a screamer which curled just wide, as Rodgers raised his arms to celebrate what he thought was an equaliser. 
      The last thing Blackburn needed was six minutes of stoppage time but Tomasson appeared to have nerves of steel, sending on 17-year-old centre half Ash Phillips to see out the game.
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      Daniel Amartey thought he had scored only for his header to bounce off the post following a corner. 
      But Rovers held their nerve to deservedly reach the quarter-finals. More

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      Incredible reason why Scott Brown shaved his head before EVERY game revealed as Celtic legend now looks like new man

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      SCOTT BROWN comes across as not being in the slightest bit scary.Which may surprise plenty of those he once seemed to enjoy terrorising.
      Ex-Celtic skipper Scott Brown shaved his head ahead of every game north of the border to help create a tough imageCredit: The Sun
      Scare today, gone tomorrow – Brown now wears a smile and a more normal haircut as his Fleetwood side face an historic FA Cup fifth-round tieCredit: Reuters
      He even makes the revelation that back up in Scotland would have plenty choking on their porridge, insisting: “I’m actually a people person.”
      This is the same Scott Brown who in his former life made himself a legend – but not just because he was captain of Celtic and won nine titles in a row.
      There were also a staggering career-long 202 yellow cards and nine reds shown to a midfield warlord who gave the impression he’d probably drink from the skulls of the opposition if he got the chance.
      As he says himself, he felt he needed to be “horrible” – which is why he shaved his head, hoping to intimidate opponents and present an aggressive image far removed from his real self.
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      Now he is head coach of Fleetwood Town for their first-ever FA Cup fifth-round tie, at runaway Championship leaders Burnley on Wednesday night.
      And life, now, is very different indeed.
      He has grown his hair, stylish and sleek, at the behest of his three kids, while the smile and the handshake are warm as they come.
      The figure of hate of north of the border outside of Parkhead has been replaced by an affable 37-year-old loving not just the new experience of his first job as a manager.
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      But also of being able to enjoy a meal or a pint with his close friend and No 2 Stephen Whittaker without having to look over his shoulder.
      The real Scott Brown is now finally able to stand up.
      The skinhead look, for instance, has gone.
      For it was just part of the plan to help him dominate games.
      “It was intimidation,” he declares, then adds with massive understatement: “And it worked quite well….”
      Even one of Brown’s first signings after he joined Fleetwood, goalkeeper Jay Lynch, admitted: “If you look at his on-field antics he was quite scary.
      “But he is very calm and knowledgeable.”
      Brown stresses: “I was always chilled off the park and in the dressing room I never saw it as me being the centre of attention, captain of Celtic or not.
      “I’ve always been a people person – but at the same time I was able to flick.
      “As soon as I walked over that white line I became somebody completely different and I would soldier, I would battle.
      “But when you become a manager you don’t really have to be that horrible person all the time.
      “Make no mistake, I can still flick that switch, but what I try to do is set standards.
      “When I started out at Hibs I believed I had to run harder, train harder, work better than anyone to make it through and that all helped me build endurance.
      It’s nice to be semi-anonymous, working with people I never knew, in a country where no one really knows me.Scott Brown
      “I set those standards for myself because I knew I had to and I’m pleased that these players here – they want to attain those high standards to.
      “They’ll need them against Burnley. I know that.
      “But the work and progress of the last weeks will give them a real chance.”
      Brown, who hung up his boots a year ago after a short spell as player coach at Aberdeen, now also has the chance to relax when he’s off duty.
      As the anti-hero of most of Scottish football he could rarely do so, explaining that even having a night out could be a walk on the wild side for him.
      He says: “Me and Whitts can go for a pint to watch the football no problem now, which is great, I’m not going to lie.
      “I can go shopping and I get peace, I get quiet, I can go for a meal and it’s not like, ’Aw, no, which one of us is going to get abused today?’
      “Nobody around here worries too much about what might have gone on when I was a player.
      “Back home it was difficult to just have some space and the thing is, I’m not great with my mouth sometimes.
      “So if someone gives me it, I’ll give them it back and the problem is that it becomes not OK for you to say what you want but it is OK for them to say whatever they want to say to you.
      “So it is nice to be, if you like, semi-anonymous, working with people I never knew, in a country where no one really knows me.
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      “Everybody knew me in Scotland and I knew them.
      “This is different. This is a fresh start, and I’m loving it.” More

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      When is FA Cup quarter-final draw? Date, start time, TV channel, stream FREE, ball numbers

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      BRACE yourselves football fans as the FA Cup quarter-final is fast approaching – and SunSport has all the information on the draw.Manchester United continue their quadruple hunt with a fifth-round encounter against London outfit West Ham.
      Clubs will be hoping they can clinch the FA Cup this seasonCredit: Getty
      Tottenham face a tough away test when they take on Championship side Sheffield United.
      And Premier League champions Manchester City set off on their travels to Bristol City.
      But when do the teams that progress find out who are they playing in the quarter-final?
      When is the FA Cup quarter-final draw?
      The draw for the FA Cup quarter-final will take place on Wednesday, March 1.
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      It is scheduled to start after the conclusion of Sheffield United’s mouth-watering tie against Tottenham.
      How can I watch the FA Cup quarter-final draw?
      The FA Cup quarter-final draw will be broadcast LIVE on BBC One in the UK.
      However, the official Emirates FA Cup social media channels are set to stream the entire action.
      Alternatively, fans can follow the draw through SunSport’s live blog.
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      Can I watch the draw for FREE?
      To put it simply, yes!
      Fans can watch the FA Cup quarter-final for FREE on BBC One in the UK as long they have a valid TV license.
      What teams can progress to the quarter-final?
      Below are the allocated ball numbers for each tie:
      1 Southampton or Grimsby Town2 Leicester City or Blackburn Rovers3 Stoke City or Brighton & Hove Albion4 Sheffield United or Tottenham Hotspur5 Fulham or Leeds United6 Bristol City or Manchester City7 Manchester United or West Ham United8 Burnley or Fleetwood Town
      And the quarter-final encounters will be played across the weekend of Saturday, March 18. More

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      Fulham to face Leeds in front of thousands of empty seats despite being 6th after taking fans for mugs with £40 tickets

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      FULHAM are sixth in the Premier League and tonight they could reach the quarter-finals of the FA Cup for the first time in 13 years when they face Leeds at home.And yet Craven Cottage, sold out for every league match this season, will have thousands of empty seats.
      Craven Cottage will have plenty of empty seats for the Leeds FA Cup clashCredit: Reuters
      With the match televised live on BBC, that is an embarrassment for the club and a hindrance to boss Marco Silva and his team, while several journalists will write misguided pieces about the Cup losing its pulling power.
      But when you charge a minimum £40 per adult to punters who have already shelled out for season tickets, that is what you’ll get.
      There is a cost-of-living crisis, even in ‘posh’ Fulham. 
      Clubs cannot take supporters for mugs and assume loyalty is limitless.
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      Silva has enjoyed a superb return to the Premier League – with a whopping tally of 39 points from 25 games.
      That sees the Cottagers above Liverpool as well as West London rivals Brentford and Chelsea as we approach the business end.
      But knowing he can take his side within 90 minutes of Wembley with victory over Leeds, the Portuguese boss is determined to make it through – even if the stadium is far from full.
      Silva said: “It’s really important for us, this competition, and we really want to play the quarter-final. That’s what we want.
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      “Of course, I know that Leeds wants the same as us, for sure.
      “They come here with the aim to go through in the competition, but we are playing at home and we really want to be in the next round.
      “Right now nothing will disturb our focus from the FA Cup match.
      “Our position in the table can probably give us more confidence.
      “It will be a proper cup tie, in my opinion, two good teams that want to go through. It will be a tough match.”
      Marco Silva is determined to see his Fulham side reach the quarter-finalsCredit: Rex More

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      Man Utd vs West Ham: Live stream, TV channel, team news and kick-off time for FA Cup fifth round clash

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      MANCHESTER UNITED take on West Ham United in FA Cup fifth round tie at Old Trafford. Erik Ten Hag’s side will be looking to build on their recent Carabao Cup Final triumph over Newcastle on Sunday.
      Man Utd lift the Carabao Cup trophy
      The Red Devil’s claimed the Carabao Cup trophy on Sunday thanks to a Casemiro header and a Sven Botman own goal.
      The Red’s sailed past 10-man Reading in the FA Cup forth round.
      Goals from midfield duo Fred and Casemiro helped United to a 3-1 win over the Royals.
      West Ham booked their spot in the fifth round after a 2-0 away win at League 1 side Derby County.

      Jarrod Bowen and Michail Antonio sealed the victory for David Moyes’ side.
      When is Man Utd vs West Ham?

      Man Utd vs West Ham will take place on Wednesday, 1st March
      The match will kick off at 7:45pm
      Old Trafford will play host

      What channel is it and can it be live streamed?

      Man Utd’s FA Cup clash with West Ham will be shown live on ITV 1, with coverage starting from 7pm.
      You can stream the match through the ITVX app, which is available for download onto your mobile or tablet device.
      Commentary will be from Sam Matterface and Lee Dixson, with analysis from Roy Keane, Ian Wright and Joe Cole.

      Can I watch for FREE?
      Yes, you can watch the game for free by signing up to the ITVX website or mobile app, providing you have a valid TV license.
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      Team news
      Long-term absentees Christian Eriksen and Donny van de Beek will remain unavailable for David Moyes’ Old Trafford reunion.
      Erik Ten Hag will be hoping his side came through Sunday’s Carabao Cup final unscathed.
      The Hammers will be without Kurt Zouma and Maxwel Cornet as Moyes remains cautious over their return to the squad.
      Brazilian playmaker Lucas Paquetá returned to the starting line-up on the weekend after suffering a shoulder injury, so his minutes may be limited.
      Odds

      Man Utd – 8/13
      Draw – 3/1
      West Ham – 4/1

      *Odds courtesy of Betfair and correct at time of publication. More

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      ‘To be competing with top teams for the FA Cup at this stage is massive’, says Cardiff City’s Cori Williams.

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      CORI WILLIAMS is eyeing an FA Cup upset of Lewes for Cardiff City Ladies, who are the only tier four side left in the contest.And head coach Jamie Philip, 29, would love to see his players take on Chelsea if they pull off a shock result today. 
      Cori Williams is currently the third place for this term’s Women’s FA Cup Golden Ball Award
      Williams and her team-mates hope to stun Lewes and claim a place in the quarter-finals in March
      Cardiff are currently the lowest-ranked side in the contest this term having knocked out third tier outfit Burnley.
      And forward Williams, who was on the score sheet during that 4-1 trouncing, says victory today would be a massive boost for her side. 
      Williams, 33, said: “It’s unbelievable to be fair.  You enter the FA Cup just wanting to compete and get as far as you possibly can.
      “To get to this stage  is something we never expected. 
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      “To be where we are as a tier four team now competing with teams from tiers one and two is absolutely massive for us definitely.
      “We got relegated last year, that was very disappointing.
      “But the journey we’ve been on from the start of the season up until now has been good.”
      Like her team-mates Williams does not earn a wage from playing for Cardiff City.
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      All their players and backroom staff are volunteers.
      And for Williams, who has seven Wales international caps, her love for the club is the motivation for her competing for the side. 
      She adds: “Our coaches are volunteers, everyone behind the scenes are volunteers.
      “We’ve all got to have full time jobs to sustain our lifestyles.
      “It’s obviously tough when you’ve got a lot going on nine-to-five, five days a week and then you’ve got to turn up to training and be switched on. 
      “It definitely shows the love we have for the game. doing our jobs full-time and then obviously spending our spare time playing football.”
      Cardiff’s opponents Lewes are currently seventh in the Women’s Championship and have won two of their last six games across all competitions. 
      And like Lewes’ tier two rivals Durham, Cardiff are a financially independent side not reliant on income from a men’s football club. 
      Should the team progress to the quarter-finals they will earn £20,000 in prize or £5,000 if knocked out of the contest. 
      Head coach Phliip said: “A lot of the (lower league) clubs who went through the qualifying rounds could survive for a good couple of years on just the winnings or the loss from FA Cup money. 
      Lewes are aiming to pick up their first win across all competitions this monthCredit: Getty
      “For us, it means a huge amount because we’re in the middle where we think, do we go down the route of being semi-pro and trying to test ourselves against the top? 
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      “Or do we stick where we are and try to survive for the next few years? 
      “We want to use this money to invest into pushing ourselves up.  More