Aston Villa v Manchester Utd
Today 5.15pm, BBC One
After a run of five matches without a win, Aston Villa have secured successive
2-1 victories and have also scored in 15 matches in a row. Manchester United
have had four wins in their past five outings, experiencing their only blip
in the 2-1 defeat by West Ham United at Upton Park last Saturday. Wayne
Rooney is likely to return for them after recovering from a virus.
Barnsley v Blackpool
Today 3pm
Barnsley will be without Lewin Nyatanga and Jon Macken, who have returned to
Derby County now that their loan spells have finished. Diego Leon, the new
signing, is added to the squad and Michael Coulson, the striker, is handed a
rare start. Keigan Parker, set to be transferred next week, is omitted for
Blackpool while Shaun Barker, the defender, is suspended.
Blackburn v Coventry
Today 3pm
The loss of Roque Santa Cruz and Matt Derbyshire to injury will force Mark
Hughes, the Blackburn Rovers manager, to hand Maceo Rigters, the Holland
forward, his second senior start while Keith Treacy will make his full
debut. Iain Dowie, the Coventry City manager, has problems at right back,
with David McNamee, Isaac Osbourne and Marcus Hall unavailable.
Bolton v Sheffield Utd
Today 3pm
These clubs have won the FA Cup four times each, yet Gary Megson, the Bolton
Wanderers manager, and Bryan Robson, the Sheffield United manager, have more
pressing issues than this competition to contend with. Premier League
survival is the aim for Bolton, while Robson needs to win over the fans who
have started to doubt his leadership.
Brighton v Mansfield
Today 3pm
Brighton could be without Dean Hammond, the captain, who has a knee problem,
while Michel Kuipers, the goalkeeper, will need a test on a similar problem.
Tommy Fraser and Joel Lynch have recovered from the illness that forced them
to miss Tuesday’s game against Bournemouth. Mansfield have lost Michael
Boulding, their leading goalscorer, to a damaged hamstring.
Bristol City v Middlesbrough
Today 3pm
Both teams are without key players for a repeat of last season’s fourth-round
tie, which ended in a 2-2 draw. Bristol City miss Louis Carey (Achilles) and
Michael McIndoe (dizziness and a sore neck). For Middlesbrough, George
Boateng is not included, Gary O’Neil is suspended, while Jérémie Aliadière
(hamstring), Mido (groin) and Andrew Taylor (foot) are unfit.
Charlton v West Brom
Today 3pm
Alan Pardew, the Charlton Athletic manager, has promised changes. Darren
Randolph replaces Nicky Weaver in goal, while Kelly Youga could make his
debut in defence. Darren Ambrose is fit again, but Sam Sodje is suspended.
Tony Mowbray, the West Bromwich Albion manager, has Chris Brunt and Filipe
Teixeira ready to return after injury and illness respectively.
Chasetown v Cardiff
Today 1pm
Chasetown rested ten players for their most recent league match, but all are
expected to return today. They may name the team who beat Port Vale in the
FA Cup second round. Stephen McPhail, the Cardiff City midfield player, is
suspended, so Aaron Ramsey, 17, could make his debut. Steve MacLean will
start in attack if Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink is on the bench.
Chelsea v QPR
Today 3pm While Queens Park Rangers could field seven new signings in their
first West London derby for 11 years, Chelsea can barely raise a team, with
Michael Essien suspended and Andriy Shevchenko joining John Terry, Frank
Lampard and Petr Cech on the long-term injury list. Rangers have not won a
third-round tie for seven years, though, so a shock seems unlikely.
Colchester v Peterborough
Today 3pm
Karl Duguid hopes to have recovered from illness for Colchester and Kevin
Lisbie should be fit to play up front, but Kevin Watson, the midfield
player, and Aidan Davison are out with calf and shoulder injuries
respectively. Peterborough will have to make changes because Tom Williams,
Adam Smith and Liam Hatch are cup-tied and Jamie Day is suspended.
Everton v Oldham
Today 3pm
John Sheridan, the Oldham Athletic manager, has a selection headache, with
half his team unavailable. Ryan Bertrand and Neil Kilkenny have returned to
their clubs after loan spells; Neal Trotman is suspended; while Mark
Crossley, John Thompson, Chris Taylor and Lee Hughes are in doubt. Injury
has ruled out Tim Cahill, Leon Osman and Joseph Yobo for Everton.
Huddersfield v Birmingham
Today 3pm
Huddersfield could give a debut to Shane Killock, 18. Nathan Clarke is
suspended, while Jon Worthington is likely to be ruled out with a hamstring
injury. Danny Cadamarteri is still unavailable because of tendinitis.
Birmimgham City have called up Jordan Mutch, 16, but Mehdi Nafti (virus) and
Damien Johnson (skull fracture) are sidelined.
Ipswich v Portsmouth
Today 3pm
Ipswich have not lost at Portman Road since last March and have won 11 and
drawn two of their 13 home matches this season, but Portsmouth are in better
form on the road than at home. For the visiting team, Pedro Mendes is
struggling with flu and Sean Davis has a foot problem. Jason de Vos, the
Ipswich captain, and Alex Bruce, his teammate, should be fit.
Norwich v Bury
Today 3pm
Norwich are without Ched Evans, the forward, who has returned to Manchester
City after a loan spell, but they have extended the loan of Mo Camara, the
defender, from Derby County. Bury could be without Paul Scott (knee) and
Paul Morgan (thigh) in defence, while Simon Yeo, a loan signing, is
cup-tied. Dave Challinor and Andrew Mangan are fit again.
Plymouth v Hull
Today 3pm
Krisztian Timar, the Plymouth Argyle defender, is struggling to overcome a
hamstring problem while Paul Sturrock, the manager, may decide to rest
Romain Larrieu, their first-choice goalkeeper. Hull City will rest several
players, including Ian Ashbee, Wayne Brown and Sam Ricketts. Fraizer
Campbell, the forward, is ruled out with a hamstring injury.
Preston v Scunthorpe
Today 3pm
Sean St Ledger, the Preston defender, is suspended, but Youl Mawene, the
centre back, returns to the squad. Billy Jones, the full back, has had a
hernia operation and is unavailable. Marcus Williams can play for Scunthorpe
after his red card against West Bromwich Albion last Saturday was rescinded,
but Kelly Youga has returned to Charlton Athletic after a loan spell.
Southampton v Leicester
Today 3pm
Alan Bennett, who is on loan from Reading, will miss out for Southampton after
being refused permission to play by the Premier League club. Wayne Thomas
should replace him in defence. Leicester will be without Stephen Clemence
through suspension and is replaced in midfield by James Wesolowski. Steve
Howard and Barry Hayles, the forwards, are set to play.
Southend v Dagenham & Red
Today 3pm
Steven Hammell will be available for Southend after recovering from a
hamstring strain. Dean Morgan, the forward on loan from Luton Town, has been
granted permission to play by his parent club, but Mark Gower, the midfield
player, is a doubt with a back injury. Dagenham & Redbridge are likely
to field the team who lost to Brentford on New Year’s Day.
Sunderland v Wigan
Today 3pm
Roy Keane has no desire to disrespect Sunderland supporters by naming a
weakened team. Kenwyne Jones, the forward, and Danny Higginbotham, the
defender, are injured but Jonny Evans, on loan from Manchester United, will
play in defence. Steve Bruce, the Wigan Athletic manager, views the tie as
“the ideal opportunity for me to see a few new faces”.
Swansea v Havant & W
Today 3pm
Swansea are without Ferrie Bodde, the midfield player, and Angel Rangel, the
defender, through suspension, and Owain Tudur-Jones, the midfield player,
with an ankle problem. Havant & Waterlooville are without Neil Sharp,
the defender, and Nathaniel Peprah-Annan, the midfield player, through
injury, while Mo Harkin, the midfield player, is doubtful with a foot
injury.
Swindon v Barnet
Today 3pm
Swindon Town are without Barry Corr, the forward, who starts a three-match
suspension, and Simon Cox, who has returned to Reading after a four-month
spell on loan. As a result, Billy Paynter will start, with the other place
up front going to one of Blair Sturrock, Jon-Paul McGovern, Christian
Roberts or Lee Peacock. Barnet have no fresh injury concerns.
Tottenham v Reading
Today 3pm
Marcus Hahnemann can be sure that he will not concede six goals at White Hart
Lane, as he did a week ago – he is being replaced in goal by Adam Federici
for Reading. Liam Rosenior, Michael Duberry, André Bikey, Ulises de la Cruz,
Emerse Faé, Leroy Lita and Shane Long also get rare starts. Ledley King is
fit for Tottenham, but Younes Kaboul and Darren Bent are doubts.
Tranmere v Hereford
Today 3pm
Ronnie Moore, the Tranmere Rovers manager, has doubts over Jennison
Myrie-Williams (calf) and Chris Greenacre (hamstring), the forwards. Steve
Guinan, the Hereford United forward, is a doubt because of a calf injury, so
Trevor Benjamin, who has recovered from a car accident this week, is on
standby. Clint Easton, the midfield player, is also a doubt (ankle).
Walsall v Millwall
Today 2pm
Tommy Mooney, the Walsall captain, has been ruled out with a hamstring injury,
with Troy Deeney likely to deputise. Anthony Gerrard, the centre half, is
suspended. Millwall include Adrian Forbes, the utility player signed on
Thursday from Blackpool, in their squad, with Dave Brammer, the midfield
player, and Neil Harris, the forward, suspended.
Watford v Crystal Palace
Today 3pm
Attention will be on whether Adrian Boothroyd, the Watford manager, will allow
Marlon King, the forward who is wanted by a number of Premier League clubs,
to become cup-tied. Gareth Williams could be in the squad for the first time
this season after a knee injury. Crystal Palace will pick a young team with
Sean Scannell, Lee Hills, Ryan Hall and John Bostock, 15, poised to play.
West Ham v Manchester City
Today 3pm
Manchester City were an unknown quantity when these teams met on the opening
day of the season and the same can be said for West Ham. City are eyeing a
Champions League qualifying place and Sven-Göran Eriksson, their manager,
wants a good run in this competition. Nery Castillo, the forward signed from
Shakhtar Donetsk, may make his debut from the bench.
Wolves v Cambridge Utd
Today 2pm
Karl Henry and Seyi Olofinjana are suspended for Wolves, paving the way for
Darren Potter to start in midfield. The tie has come too soon for Jody
Craddock, the former Cambridge United defender, who has a calf injury. The
Blue Square Premier club have resigned Paul Carden, the midfield player, on
loan until the end of the season from Accrington Stanley, of League Two.
Burnley v Arsenal
Tomorrow 2pm, BBC One
Stanislav Varga, the Slovakia defender, could make his debut after joining
Burnley on loan from Sunderland yesterday. Arsène Wenger, the Arsenal
manager, will field an experienced team as he rests some of his youngsters
for the Carling Cup semi-final, first leg against Tottenham Hotspur on
Wednesday. Jens Lehmann could make a rare appearance in goal.
Derby v Sheffield Wednesday
Tomorrow 2pm
Paul Jewell will hope that the FA Cup brings better fortune for Derby County
than the Barclays Premier League has this season. Danny Mills, signed on
loan from Manchester City, could start for Derby, but Stephen Bywater, Jay
McEveley, Dean Leacock, Andy Todd, David Jones, Rob Earnshaw, Stephen
Pearson, Andy Griffin and Marc Edworthy are out.
Fulham v Bristol Rovers
Tomorrow 2pm
Roy Hodgson won two Swedish Cups during his time with Malmö, but would settle
for making it through to the fourth round in his second match in charge at
Craven Cottage. Fulham are still without Aaron Hughes, Jimmy Bullard, Brian
McBride and Lee Cook as they seek a first victory in ten matches against a
Bristol Rovers team who have won their past two matches.
Luton v Liverpool
Tomorrow 4pm, Sky Sports 1
Steven Gerrard, the Liverpool captain, Álvaro Arbeloa and Fabio Aurélio are
injured, while Sami Hyypia and Daniel Agger remain doubts. The match is
likely to be the last at Kenilworth Road for a number of Luton players, with
Brendan Guilfoyle, the administrator, saying that Dave Edwards, David Bell,
Matthew Spring and Chris Coyne are likely to be sold.
Stoke v Newcastle
Tomorrow 6pm, BBC One
Michael Owen will be asked to ease the pressure on Sam Allardyce, Newcastle
United’s underfire manager, with his first appearance for the club in the FA
Cup. Stoke City, who are pushing for promotion to the top flight, will offer
a rugged challenge to a dispirited team, for whom Obafemi Martins is
unavailable having joined Nigeria’s African Cup of Nations squad.
