There are not normally too many clubs from the Football League often remaining in the FA Cup in the fifth round. Those who have made it to this stage of the competition will know that they are on the verge of the quarter-finals, a feat that many would snatch their hands at if given the chance before the tournament started.
The FA Cup may have lost its prestige for many football fans in the UK, but the narrative of the competition and its format still ensures it is enjoyed by many others. Sports bettors have been particularly fond of the Cup, as they know that there can often be a lot of value available to them.
Upsets can often be experienced due to the way the draw is made, which can provide some interesting betting propositions for fans, especially when they combine their sports betting activities with promotions like the bet365 bonus code NZ players are able to obtain.
Unfortunately, those who were looking for an upset in the FA Cup fifth round in regard to Football League Clubs will have been left disappointed. There was one game that went the way of a Championship side against a Premier League opponent, while there were some close instances whereby this may have happened, though.
Here are the results featuring teams from the EFL:
- Coventry 5-0 Maidstone
- Bournemouth 0-1 Leicester City – Leicester won in extra time
- Blackburn Rovers 1-1 Newcastle United – Newcastle won 4-3 on penalties
- Chelsea 3-2 Leeds United
- Liverpool 3-0 Southampton
Leicester and Coventry remain as FA Cup quarter-finalists
Leicester City’s win against AFC Bournemouth in the fifth round is hard to consider a shock, given that the Foxes were a Premier League team last season and look set to return to the top flight at the first instance. Enzo Maresca’s side has been pretty dominant throughout the season, and they took that form to the Vitality Stadium.
It was an entertaining game, with both teams having more than 20 shots each but it was Abdul Fatawu’s 105th-minute strike from outside the penalty box that had Mark Travers beat from distance. Leicester’s reward for progressing will be an away trip to Chelsea, the side they beat in the 2021 FA Cup final 1-0 courtesy of a Youri Tielemans goal.
Coventry City were the only other Football League side to advance to the FA Cup quarter-finals, and while it was not a shock, they had to ensure they were not on the receiving end of one. Non-league Maidstone United’s fairytale cup run had gripped much of the football nation, and many had wanted to see them go as far as possible after claiming several scalps – including that of Ipswich Town and Stevenage.
However, Mark Robins’ side made light work of their tricky opponents, winning 5-0. The tie was over by half-time, as Ellis Simms had hit a hat-trick by the time the game had entered the break. A late brace from Fabio Tavares just rubbed salt into the wound but ensured their place in the next round. They will now head northwest and play Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux for a place in the FA Cup semi-final.
All FA Cup Quarter-final ties:
- Manchester City vs Newcastle United
- Chelsea vs Leicester City
- Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Coventry City
- Manchester United vs Liverpool
