Emirates FA Cup quarter final previews: Opta stats

The Emirates FA Cup quarter finals take place at the weekend with a spot at Wembley up for grabs.

Watford and Crystal Palace kick things off on Saturday before in-form Manchester City travel to Swansea City with their red rivals facing Wolves at Molineux in the evening.

Millwall entertain Brighton & Hove Albion in the weekend’s last quarter final tie on Sunday.

And here are some key facts from each tie ahead of a what promises to be a tense couple of days:

Saturday 16 March

Watford v Crystal Palace
12.15pm
BT Sport 2

• Watford and Crystal Palace have played each other seven times in the FA Cup, most recently in the semi-final in 2015-16, a 2-1 win for Palace.
• Crystal Palace have lost two matches against Watford already this season, both in the league – they haven’t lost three in a row in all competitions against the Hornets since March 1936.
• Watford have progressed from their last three FA Cup quarter final ties, winning in 2002-03, 2006-07 and 2015-16.
• All four teams to eliminate Watford in an FA Cup quarter final have gone on to reach the Final, with three winning the Cup – Newcastle in 1932, Liverpool in 1986 and Wimbledon in 1988; the other was Arsenal in 1980, who lost to West Ham.
• This is Crystal Palace’s eighth FA Cup quarter final, progressing from four of their previous seven; however, they’ve been eliminated from both quarter final ties against top-flight opposition, losing to Everton in 1906-07 and Leeds United in 1964-65.
• Neither Watford nor Crystal Palace have conceded a single goal in this season’s Emirates FA Cup, with Palace facing twice as many shots (42) as Watford (21).
• Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson has lost both of his FA Cup quarter finals as a manager, losing with Fulham in 2008-09 and 2009-10 against Manchester United and Spurs respectively.

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Swansea City v Manchester City
5.20pm
BT Sport 2  

• This is the first-ever FA Cup meeting between Swansea and Manchester City – the Swans are winless in their last 13 games against the Citizens in all competitions (W0 D2 L11).
• Manchester City have progressed from three of their last four FA Cup quarter finals (2010-11, 2012-13 and 2016-17), with their only defeat in this time coming against Championship opposition in 2013-14, when they lost 2-1 to Wigan Athletic.
• Swansea City have been eliminated in six of their last seven FA Cup ties against Premier League opponents, winning the other in January 2014 away at Manchester United.

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• Manchester City have scored at least four goals in each of their three FA Cup games this season – the last team to so in four in a row were also City, during the 1925-26 season.
• Swansea are looking to reach the FA Cup semi-final for just a third time, also doing so in 1925-26 and 1963-64.
  Manchester City could become just the second team to win two away FA Cup matches in Wales in a single season, having already won at Newport County – Norwich City beat Rhyl and Newport in the 1950-51 campaign.

Wolverhampton Wanderers v Manchester United
7.55pm
BBC One

• Wolves and Manchester United last met in the FA Cup in the fourth round in 2005-06, with the Red Devils winning 3-0 at Molineux.
• This is the 100th meeting between Wolves and Man Utd in all competitions. Their last encounter at Molineux came in March 2012 in the Premier League, a 5-0 victory for United.
• Wolves haven’t reached the semi-final of The FA Cup since 1997-98, when they beat Leeds United at Elland Road in that season’s quarter final.
• United are looking to reach The FA Cup semi-final in consecutive seasons for the first time since doing so in 2003-04 and 2004-05 under Sir Alex Ferguson.
  Wolves haven’t won three consecutive FA Cup ties since February 2003.
• United have won nine of their last 10 away FA Cup ties, losing the other in the 2016-17 quarter final against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
• Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has a 100 per cent away win record in The FA Cup, winning twice away from home with Cardiff City in 2013-14 and twice this season with United.
• Wolves defender Matt Doherty has been involved in more FA Cup goals than any other player among the teams left in the competition (5 – 3 goals, 2 assists).

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Millwall v Brighton & Hove Albion
2pm
BBC One

• Millwall and Brighton haven’t met in The FA Cup since the 1956-57 season in the first round, with the Lions winning a replay to progress.
• This is Millwall’s eleventh FA Cup quarter final – all as a non-top-flight team; only Southampton (13) have reached more FA Cup quarter finals while outside the top-flight.
• Brighton are participating in their fourth FA Cup quarter final; they’ve progressed from one of their previous three, doing so in 1982-83 when they reached the Final.
• Since the start of the 2016-17 campaign, Millwall have been won four FA Cup ties against Premier League opponents – more than any other non-Premier League side in that time.
• Millwall have won their last five home FA Cup ties against Premier League opponents, last losing in February 2012, against Bolton Wanderers.
• Brighton haven’t won three consecutive away FA Cup ties since December 1932.
• Anthony Knockaert has been involved in four goals in his last five Emirates FA Cup ties for Brighton (2 goals, 2 assists).