Emirates FA Cup fifth round previews: Opta stats

The Emirates FA Cup returns this weekend with eight tantalising encounters.

The action gets under way at Loftus Road on Friday night as QPR, appearing in their first fifth round tie since 1997, entertain Watford.

League Two Newport County will welcome Pep Guardiola’s star-studded Manchester City squad to Rodney Parade on Saturday evening.

And it culminates with holders Chelsea taking on a resurgent Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on Monday night.

And here are some key facts from each tie ahead of this weekend’s ties:

Friday 15 February

QPR v Watford  

• This will be just the second FA Cup meeting between QPR and Watford, with the Hornets winning the previous encounter 2-1 at Loftus Road in January 1980.
• This will be QPR’s first FA Cup fifth round tie since 1996-97 (2-1 defeat by Wimbledon), with the Hoops last making the quarter finals in 1994-95.
  Watford have progressed to the quarter final on three of the last four occasions they’ve reached this stage of The FA Cup, most recently in the 2015-16 campaign.
• Watford have won seven of their last eight FA Cup ties against sides from a lower division, losing only against Millwall in the fourth round in 2016-17.
• QPR’s Nahki Wells has scored or assisted a goal in each of his last four starts in The FA Cup (3 goals, 1 assist), netting in both of his games for the Loftus Road outfit this season.

Expand

Saturday 16 February

Brighton & Hove Albion v Derby County  

• This is just the third time Derby and Brighton have been drawn against each other in The FA Cup – the Rams won 10-1 over two legs in the fifth round in February 1946, before the Seagulls won 3-1 in round three in January 1961.
• Brighton have only reached The FA Cup quarter finals on three previous occasions, doing so in 1982-83, 1985-86 and 2017-18.
• Derby are looking to reach The FA Cup quarter finals for the first time since 1998-99, losing at this stage four times since.
• All five of Derby’s FA Cup goals this season have come in the second half of games, with the last three coming in the final 15 minutes.
• Over the last two seasons, Brighton’s Glenn Murray has scored four goals in five FA Cup appearances, despite starting none of these games and playing a total of just 67 minutes.

AFC Wimbledon v Millwall

• The only previous FA Cup encounter between Millwall and AFC Wimbledon was the first-ever meeting between the sides; Millwall winning 4-1 in the first round in 2009-10 while the Dons were a non-League side.
• This is the furthest AFC Wimbledon have ever made it in The FA Cup. They’ve already eliminated two London sides in the competition this season (Haringey Borough in round one and West Ham in round four).
• Millwall have reached The FA Cup quarter finals in two of their last six seasons (2012-13 and 2016-17). However, they have been eliminated from four of their last six ties against lower-league opposition.
• Millwall’s last three victories in the Emirates FA Cup have seen them concede the first goal, including both matches so far this season.
• AFC Wimbledon’s Kwesi Appiah has had a hand in six goals in his last six Emirates FA Cup appearances (4 goals, 2 assists), both scoring and assisting in each of the last two rounds.

Expand

Swansea City v Brentford

• The only previous FA Cup meeting between Swansea and Brentford was in the first round in 1971-72, the Swans winning 3-2 after a replay.
• Swansea are looking to reach The FA Cup quarter finals in consecutive seasons for the first time since the 1925-26/1926-27 campaigns.
• This will be Brentford’s first FA Cup fifth round tie since the 2005-06 campaign (3-1 defeat by Charlton Athletic), with the Bees last reaching the quarter final in 1988-89.
• Swansea have won both of their FA Cup ties by a three-goal margin this season. The last side to win three in a row by a 3+ goal margin were West Bromwich Albion en route to the semi-finals in 2007-08.
• Neal Maupay has netted in all three of Brentford’s FA Cup ties so far this season.

Expand

Newport County v Manchester City

• This will be the first-ever FA Cup meeting between Newport County and Manchester City, and the first meeting of any kind since a League Cup tie in October 1962 (Newport 1-2 Man City).
• This is only Newport County’s second appearance in the FA Cup fifth round – they lost their previous such match back in February 1949 (3-2 defeat by Portsmouth).
• Manchester City have won their two Emirates FA Cup ties this season by an aggregate score of 12-0. However, they have won just one of their last six FA Cup away ties against sides from a lower division (D4 L1), losing their last such game against Wigan Athletic.
• Newport’s Padraig Amond has scored five goals in his last eight Emirates FA Cup appearances, netting in the first, second, third and fourth rounds this season.
• Despite playing just two games, no side has had more different goalscorers in the Emirates FA Cup this season than Manchester City (9, level with AFC Wimbledon).
• Newport stand to make at least £1,047,750 from this season’s competition, which has been accrued through The FA’s prize fund, broadcast and commercial fees.
• Having made it to the fourth round in 2017-18 and at least the fifth round in 2018-19, Newport County have made a total of £1.4m from the Emirates FA Cup over the last two seasons.
• As the last club standing from EFL League Two, Newport County will receive a further £250,000 from the Divisional Progress Prize. Following an agreement between The FA and the EFL, the prize is granted to the club(s) who progress the furthest in the competition from each of the three EFL divisions.
• 6,705 fans watched Newport’s third round tie against Leicester City at Rodney Parade – their highest home attendance of the season.

Expand

Bristol City v Wolverhampton Wanderers

• Wolves won their only previous FA Cup encounter with Bristol City, winning 1-0 in the fourth round in 1972-73.
• Bristol City are looking to reach the FA Cup quarter finals for the first time since 1973-74, being knocked out of the competition at this stage five times since then.
• Wolves will attempt to reach the FA Cup quarter finals for the first time since 2002-03. They have lost twice at this stage of the competition since, each time to the eventual losing Finalists (Cardiff City in 2007-08 and Chelsea in 2016-17).
• Bristol City have already eliminated Premier League opposition from the Emirates FA Cup this season, beating Huddersfield Town in round three. They last knocked out two top-flight opponents in a single edition of the competition in 1919-20 (Arsenal and Bradford City).
• Matt Doherty has been directly involved in each of Wolves’ last four goals in the Emirates FA Cup this season, scoring three and assisting the other.

Doncaster Rovers v Crystal Palace

• This will be the first-ever FA Cup meeting between Doncaster Rovers and Crystal Palace, and the first of any kind since the 2011-12 Championship season.
• This is Doncaster’s first appearance in the fifth round of The FA Cup since 1955-56 – they have never reached the quarter finals before.
• Crystal Palace have only reached The FA Cup quarter finals once in the last 23 seasons, in 2015-16 when they went all the way to the final.
• Doncaster haven’t beaten top-flight opposition in The FA Cup since January 1985 (1-0 win over QPR), drawing two and losing five since.
• Crystal Palace have won five of their last seven away ties in The FA Cup (D1 L1), more than they had in their previous 23 on the road in the competition (W4 D5 L14).

Monday 18 February

Chelsea v Manchester United

• This will be the 14th FA Cup tie between Chelsea and Manchester United – the Blues have triumphed in each of the last four, including the Final last season.
• Manchester United have lost three of their five FA Cup ties against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, winning 5-3 in 1997-98 and 2-0 in 1998-99.
• Chelsea could become the first team to eliminate Manchester United in five consecutive FA Cup meetings.
• Manchester United have eliminated the FA Cup holders 10 times, more than any other side in the competition’s history. They last did so in 2011-12 against Manchester City.
• Chelsea are looking to reach The FA Cup quarter finals for the fourth consecutive season, reaching the Final in each of the last two.
• Manchester United will aim to reach The FA Cup quarter finals for the fifth consecutive season. They last did so in as many between 1961-62 and 1965-66.
• The last side to eliminate both Arsenal and Chelsea in the same FA Cup campaign was Manchester United in 1998-99, while the last side to do in away games was Millwall in 1994-95.
• Olivier Giroud has had a hand in 23 goals in 28 appearances in The FA Cup (15 goals, 8 assists), averaging a goal or assist every 73 minutes in the competition.
• Manchester United’s Alexis Sanchez has been involved in 19 goals in 20 FA Cup ties (10 goals, 9 assists) – more than any other player since his first appearance in the competition.