This week: Oldham Athletic, under the guidance of caretaker manager Tony Philliskirk, will be trying to beat yet another Merseyside giant in Everton, having seen off Liverpool in the fourth round of the FA Cup. Meanwhile, Manchester City are looking to put their derailed hunt for a trophy back on track by overcoming the visiting Leeds at the Etihad.
Back on track: Carlos Tevez is set to return for Manchester City as they prepare to take on Leeds1 The FA Cup has a disjointed feel to it this weekend, another blow for the traditionalists.
The fifth round kicks off at 12.45 on Saturday with Luton Town hoping to cause another upset, this time against Millwall, but the following day there is a fourth round tie at Chelsea.
All eyes, and ears, will be on Millwall’s 1,500 fans at Kenilworth Road. The build-up has been more about sociology than football and all concerned will be delighted if the day passes off without incident. That is a comment in itself.
Glory: Scott Rendell celebrates his goal against Norwich in the fourth roundRaucous: Luton fans were in good voice against Norwich at Carrow Road, and are sure to be at home to Millwall
Eyes on the prize: Millwall's Danny Shittu (right) and Kenny Jackett pose with the FA Cup
2 Arsenal versus Blackburn Rovers has attracted rather less column inches. Blackburn have stabilised under Michael Appleton after the circus of a start to the season, but Rovers have a big Championship game at Hull on Tuesday night followed by Leeds and Leicester.
Rovers are six points off the play-offs and that will be their priority ahead of winning a first FA Cup since 1928.
Priority: Blackburn will be focused on reaching the play-offs rather than the FA CupEven Arsenal’s wait isn’t that long and supporters will take an omen from Arsenal’s last Cup win in2005: Blackburn were beaten 3-0 in the semi-final in Cardiff. Robert Pires opened the scoring.
Arsenal fans will be less impressed that Robin van Persie got the other two.
Blast from the past: Robert Pires (centre) and Co put Blackburn to the sword at the Millennium StadiumRemember me? Robin van Persie scored twice against Blackburn in the 2005 FA CUp semi-final
3 Luton Town v Millwall guarantees one non-Premier League club in the last eight, and MK Dons v Barnsley means another.
MK Dons’ match against AFC Wimbledon in the Third Round means they have already had a high-profile Cup, whereas Barnsley have slipped quietly past Burnley and Hull and have won their last four matches under new manager David Flitcroft.
MK Dons have lost three and drawn one in the league since they knocked four past QPR. Barnsley seem over-priced at 2/1.
Focused: MK Dons are hoping to navigate their way past Barnsley4 Saturday’s final Cup-tie, at 6 o’clock, sees Oldham Athletic, conquerors of Liverpool, take on Everton. Where will Paul Dickov be?
There will be a lot of focus on Oldham and Jose Baxter, a former Goodison Park prodigy, but this is actually an opportunity for Everton, last season’s beaten semi-finalists – by Liverpool.
Welcome back: Jose Baxter will be hoping to sink his former club Everton on SaturdayBouncing back: Everton need to recover from a 2-0 defeat at Old Trafford
5 Baxter scored the Oldham winner when they knocked out Nottingham Forest 3-2. That is the reason why Forest have a Championship game against Bolton on Saturday.
Forest are nine points off the play-offs and seven points off relegation, so their priority is obvious. And they have Billy Davies back.
Davies left the City Ground two years ago after consecutive play-off disappointments and Forest have been like a wayward soul ever since.
If Davies can re-focus them, they have a squad capable of making up the difference to the play-offs again.
In need: Nottingham Forest want a victory under new manager Billy Davies to get the season back on track6 In League One, Bournemouth’s spectacular rise under the returning Eddie Howe saw them go top in midweek and there will be Cherries’ confidence in their trip to Preston, who have just dismissed Graham Westley.
Lots of clubs in the Championship are beginning to fret about whether they will be there next season.
A few more wins and Bournemouth can start planning for trips to Loftus Road and the like.
Flying high: Lewis Grabban and Bournemouth have their eyes on promotion7 Bradford City’s big week begins with a trip to Wimbledon and ends at Wembley on Sunday week.
For all the glamour of the League Cup final, Bradford need points in League Two. Following their amazing home win over Aston Villa in the first leg of the semi-final, Bradford lost two and drew one of their next three league games, but they won at Wycombe on Tuesday night.
Phil Parkinson will have to balance injuries against points at Wimbledon.
First thing's first: Bradford City must take on AFC Wimbledon before their Capital One Cup final8 If Eddie Howe is one young manager to impress in League One this season, Mark Robins is another.
Coventry City were going nowhere when Robins took over in September. Now they are two places off the play-offs.
But Robins has gone, on Thursday agreeing to become Huddersfield Town’s fifth manager in five years.
Robins starts with a chance – a home Cup-tie with Wigan. Robins and Huddersfield, there’s something about this appointment that fits.
Big boys: Mark Robins' first task is to take on Premier League side Wigan (right) in the FA Cup9 Attendances at Elland Road this season have been the meat in many a Leeds United conversation.
There is a feeling of unexploited potential and when Leeds were drawn at Manchester City for Sunday’s Fifth Round, the 5,600 initial Leeds allocation was swallowed quickly.
Some 500 further tickets were then put on sale and went in five minutes.
Leeds’ fans attendance at the Etihad should guarantee an atmosphere, but with City failing in the league behind Manchester United, the FA Cup appears to be last-chance territory for Roberto Mancini this season.
Ready? Roberto Mancini faces a huge tie at the Etihad against Leeds UnitedDrills: City's Aleksandar Kolarov leads his team-mates in yesterday's training session
10 There is one, isolated Premier League game this weekend. It’s at Anfield, where Liverpool probably won’t want to be facing Swansea City.
While Swansea are preparing for next weekend’s League Cup final, Liverpool are back from St. Petersburg surely worrying about the state of their defending.
Romelu Lukaku exposed it on Monday night and Zenit were able to score two unchallenged goals on Thursday.
Swansea begin the game two places and one point above Liverpool in the Premier League. Liverpool are 12 points off fourth-place Tottenham.
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