LONDON: FA Cup giant-killers Plymouth Argyle will travel to Premier League champions Manchester City in the fifth round as the Championship strugglers landed a dream draw on Monday to follow their stunning win against Liverpool.
Plymouth caused one of the great upsets of the FA Cup on Sunday when they beat a second-string Liverpool as Ryan Hardie’s second half penalty sealed a memorable 1-0 win at Home Park, ending the Premier League leaders’ hopes of a quartet of trophies this season.
Miron Muslic’s side are bottom of the second tier, with only one league win in three months. But they have eliminated Liverpool and Brentford to earn a shot at Pep Guardiola’s spluttering Premier League champions, who reached the fifth round with a 2-1 win at third tier Leyton Orient on Saturday after going behind early on.
Holders Manchester United will face Fulham at Old Trafford in one of at least three all-Premier League clashes, after beating Leicester 2-1 on Friday thanks to Harry Maguire’s controversial last-gasp winner.
League Cup finalists Newcastle United are at home to top tier rivals Brighton & Hove Albion, who knocked out Chelsea on Saturday, while Bournemouth will host Wolverhampton Wanderers in another all top flight encounter.
There will be a fourth all-Premier League clash if Nottingham Forest avoid trouble at League One (third tier) Exeter City, with Ipswich Town awaiting the winners.
Aston Villa, who ended Tottenham Hotspur’s hopes on Sunday, host second tier Cardiff City.
Crystal Palace, 2-0 winners at fourth tier Doncaster Rovers on Monday, will be at home to south London rivals Millwall.
There will also be an all-Championship tie with Preston North End hosting Lancashire rivals Burnley.
There was no VAR in operation during the fourth round ties, but the technology will come into play from the next round onwards.
The fifth round matches will be played on the weekend of March 1 and 2.
Last 16 draw: Preston North End v Burnley, Aston Villa v Cardiff City, Crystal Palace v Millwall. Manchester United v Fulham, Newcastle United v Brighton & Hove Albion, Bournemouth v Wolverhampton Wanderers, Manchester City v Plymouth Argyle, Exeter City or Nottingham Forest v Ipswich Town.
Published in Dawn, February 12th, 2025
