WE ENTERED THE business end of the FA Cup this weekend as the Wembley arches begin to appear on the horizon.
There wasn’t the same level of upsets as the fourth round but there were no shortage of talking points from the seven ties that took place on Saturday and Sunday…
Mignolet the star as Liverpool end Selhurst hoodoo
Daniel Sturridge’s second goal on his return from a protracted spell on the sidelines may have grabbed the headlines but the performance of Simon Mignolet at Selhurst Park, as Liverpool booked their place in the last eight, was particularly striking.
The Belgian is enjoyed a renaissance of sorts since the start of the calendar year as he continues to show his worth between the sticks but the way he commanded his area against Palace hinted at a goalkeeper now full of confidence.
Being dropped at Old Trafford in December is naturally going to act as a confidence drainer but it seems his period on the bench has done Mignolet good as he’s returned a more deceive and composed ‘keeper.
Palace’s tactics to flood the box with crosses and diagonal balls may have paid dividends a few months ago but Mignolet was forceful in coming off his line and equally effective when punching.
More signifianctly, however, was his save to deny Dwight Gayle on the stroke of half-time to keep the score at 1-0 Palace before Liverpool mounted a second-half comeback. It was arguably the game’s defining moment.
After the midweek win over Tottenham, Liverpool are clicking just at the right time. Adam Lallana was once again hugely influential, Joe Allen showed his worth in the absence of Steve Gerrard while the introduction, and subsequent contribution, of Mario Balotelli proved to be telling.
The prospect of Gerrard lifting the FA Cup at Wembley in his last game in a red shirt, on his birthday, remains a distinct possibility.
Sherwood makes immediate impression
Having only been appointed as Paul Lambert’s successor yesterday, Tim Sherwood watched on from the stands as his new side faced Leicester on front of a buoyed Villa Park.
For the best part of an hour, it was a frustratingly similar story for Villa as they looked toothless in the final third with little or no creativity or spark coming from midfield.
However, Leandro Bacuna lifted the Holt End from its stupor and injected a semblance of confidence and life into the hosts. Suddenly, Villa Park was bouncing with Sherwood punching the air in delight in the director’s box.
On paper, Villa don’t have a bad side but things had gone stale under Lambert. There were still signs that it will take more than a managerial shake-up to reinvigorate the sleeping giant that Villa have become but it was a start.
If Sherwood’s passion and energy can rub off on his players than half the battle will be won. The main objective is, of course, to preserve the club’s top-flight status but the FA Cup is an opportunity for Sherwood to gain a bit of momentum and get the wind back in Villa’s sails.
Giant-slayers Bradford genuine threat in quarter-finals
Out of all the teams in tomorrow evening’s quarter-final draw, Bradford are certainly a side the big boys will want to avoid, particularly at Valley Parade.
The Bantams have developed a propensity to punch above their weight and upset the established order and they are now just one game away from a return to Wembley – two years after reaching the League Cup final.
The League One outfit outplayed and out-muscled Gus Poyet’s rudderless Sunderland in a typically frenetic and combative FA Cup tie at Valley Parade and while the condition of the pitch acted as a leveller, there was only ever one winner from the first whistle.
Having dumped Chelsea out in the last round, Bradford won’t fear any of the sides left in this year’s competition, particularly given the calibre of teams that have fallen at previous hurdles.
If truth be told, victory over the Black Cats wasn’t seen as a huge shock but the clinical and domineering nature of Bradford’s performance in dispatching top-flight opposition was hugely impressive.
In Jon Stead they have a striker infused with a renewed determination to prove those that doubted him – Sunderland included – wrong. An industrious engine room and resolute rearguard make the Bantams a tricky proposition for any side.
It it is the first time they’ve reached this stage of the competition since 1976.
The year of the underdogs
West Brom’s destruction of West Ham in the weekend’s early game can hardly be termed as an upset but the manner in which Sam Allardyce’s Hammers capitulated was unforeseen.
West Ham are enjoying an outstanding season but the visiting fans turned on their manager following yesterday’s rout at the Hawthorns.
With Andy Carroll now sidelined for the rest of the campaign and a relatively small squad to pick from anyway, a demanding year hitherto may just be taking its toll on West Ham.
Anyway who has seen them in action this year could hardly have predicted the ease at which West Brom picked holes in their defence but Allardyce will be hoping this isn’t the juncture at which their season begins to unravel.
Similarly, Stoke’s defeat at Blackburn left a lot to be desired. For a side who are in mid-table mediocrity as it stands, the FA Cup surely takes on an added significance with not much else to play for.
Yet, the Premier League side were embarrassed by their inferiorly ranked opponents as yet another top-flight club exited the competition. For Stoke, and indeed West Ham, it’s a case of what might have been.
Ozil’s return to form another boost for Gunners
In the build-up to Middlesbrough’s visit to the Emirates on Sunday, Aitor Karanka – the Boro manager – said he hoped Mesut Ozil had an off day as his side hoped to pull off another upset.
Unfortunately for the Championship leaders, Ozil – who is only just back from injury – continued his resurgence and inspired the Gunners to a convincing 2-0 victory.
On what was his 50th appearance for Arsenal, the German created seven chances for his team mates as Oliver Giroud’s double saw the holders comfortably book their place in Monday’s draw.
But, Ozil is showing why Arsene Wenger parted with upwards of £40 million for his services. After struggling to make an impression in North London at the start of the campaign, he’s returned to the side fitter, stronger and outwardly more committed to the cause.
Before Sunday’s game, he had scored three times in four games and having fallen down the pecking order of Arsenal’s multitude of attacking options, he’s now reinventing himself as a key component to Wenger’s formula.
Aside from the derby defeat to Tottenham last week, Arsenal are building up a considerable head of steam and just at the right time. While the priority is to finish in the top four, a Champions League tie against a beatable Monaco side awaits and they’ll fancy their chances of going all the way again in the FA Cup.
Gabriel Paulista’s debut was also hugely encouraging. While it was a relatively comfortable game to ease yourself into English football, he showed good awareness to snuff out any threat the visitors posed while forming an instant relationship with Laurent Koscielny.
The draw for the quarter-finals takes place tomorrow at 7.30pm before Manchester United’s visit to Deepdale to face League One side Preston North End.
