Friday, January 6, 2012

FA Cup Opta Facts - Round 3 (7-9 January)


Birmingham v Wolves

Wolves have eliminated Birmingham on three of the four occasions that they have met in the FA Cup, including in the third round in 2009.
Birmingham have made it to the quarter-finals in each of the last two seasons.
The Blues have won only four of their last 25 FA Cup meetings with top-flight sides.
Wolves have made it past the third round in each of the last nine seasons, only Chelsea and Arsenal can equal this.
Birmingham have only lost one of their last five meetings with Wolves in all competitions (W3 D1 L1).

Dagenham & Redbridge v Millwall

This is the Daggers' fifth appearance in the FA Cup third round, having been eliminated at this stage three times previously.
Dagenham and Redbridge have won only one of their last eight FA Cup games.
The Daggers are the only side to have won a penalty shoot-out in the FA Cup this season, beating Walsall 3-2 on spot-kicks after a 0-0 draw in the second round.
Both of Dagenham's FA Cup ties this season have gone to extra time in a replay.
Excluding replays, Millwall have not won an FA Cup third round tie since January 2004 (D4 L3).
The Lions have scored in all but one of their last 13 FA Cup games (26 goals in total).

Barnsley v Swansea

The only previous FA Cup meeting between the sides saw Swansea win 3-1 at Barnsley in the fourth round in 1927.
Barnsley have lost their last four FA Cup matches without scoring a goal.
The Tykes have lost only one of their last eight FA Cup matches at home.
Barnsley have only lost one of their last six FA Cup games at home to top-flight opponents (W4 D1 L1).
The last time they were in the top flight (1981-1983), Swansea lost both of their FA Cup matches.
The Swans have lost three of their last four FA Cup matches by a score of 1-2.

Brighton v Wrexham

This is the third time that Brighton and Wrexham have been drawn together in the FA Cup. In 1932, they drew 0-0 at Brighton before the Seagulls won 3-2 after extra time in a replay. In 1953 they played a replay and extra time before Wrexham won 3-1 at a neutral venue in a third game.
None of Brighton's last 15 FA Cup third round games have ended in a draw (seven wins, eight defeats).
Brighton have only lost one of their last 18 matches at home to lower-ranked opponents in the FA Cup.
Wrexham have only lost three of their last eight FA Cup matches away to higher-ranked opposition (W4 D1 L3).
None of Brighton's last 11 league games have ended in draws, with 10 of them seeing the winning side keeping a clean sheet.

Coventry v Southampton

This is the fourth time that Coventry and Southampton have been drawn together in the FA Cup: the Saints have won through on the last two occasions.
Since 1995, Coventry have played 17 FA Cup third round matches, making it to the fourth round on 14 occasions.
The Sky Blues have only failed to score in one of their last nine FA Cup games.
The Saints have won seven of their last nine FA Cup matches, scoring in each of these.
Southampton have only been eliminated at this stage in one of the last seven seasons (W6 L1).
Southampton have won seven of their last 10 FA Cup games on the road.
Southampton have already won 4-2 at Coventry this season in the Championship.

Crawley Town v Bristol City

This will be the first-ever meeting between the sides.
This is the third time Crawley have played at this stage of the competition: in 1992 they lost 0-5 at Brighton, but won 2-1 at home to Derby last season.
Crawley have won six of their last eight games in the FA Cup proper, losing only at Old Trafford in the fifth round last season (0-1).
Crawley have only failed to score in one of their nine games at home in the FA Cup proper.
City have been eliminated at the first hurdle in each of the last four seasons in the FA Cup.
The Robins have only scored one goal in their last five FA Cup games combined.

Derby v Crystal Palace

This will be the first FA Cup clash between Derby and Crystal Palace.
Derby are unbeaten in their last four meetings with the Eagles in all competitions (W1 D3).
County have only failed to score in one of their last 20 FA Cup games, but have only kept two clean sheets in the same period.
Crystal Palace have won only one of their last 10 FA Cup games on the road, keeping just one clean sheet in this run.
The Eagles have won only one of their last nine FA Cup matches against sides from the same division.

Doncaster v Notts County

Doncaster have won their last three FA Cup matches against Notts County.
Rovers have won only two of their last 11 FA Cup games.
Doncaster are unbeaten in their last six FA Cup matches at home to sides from lower divisions (W5 D1).
Notts County have made it to at least the fourth round in each of the last two seasons.
The Magpies have won five of their last eight away games in the competition.

Everton v Tamworth

This is Everton's first FA Cup game against a non-league side since beating Working 1-0 at home in January 1991.
Everton have won none of their last three FA Cup matches at Goodison Park (D1 L2).
It is over one hundred years since a non-league side won at Goodison Park in the FA Cup: Tottenham Hotspur in February 1904.
This is Tamworth's third appearance in the third round of the FA Cup, they have been eliminated here on the previous two occasions.
Tamworth have won five of their last eight matches in the FA Cup proper on the road.
Tamworth have scored exactly twice in seven of their last eight FA Cup matches away from home.

Fleetwood Town v Blackpool

This is Fleetwood's first-ever appearance at this stage of the competition.
Blackpool played one of Fleetwood Town´s previous incarnations in the FA Cup in 1980, winning 4-0 at home.
The Seasiders have lost their last five FA Cup matches, being eliminated in the third round in each of the last four seasons.
Blackpool lost their last FA Cup match away to a non-league side, losing 0-1 at Torquay in January 2009.
The Tangerines have only lost two of their last 11 games, winning five and drawing four.

Fulham v Charlton

Fulham and Charlton have been drawn together five times in the FA Cup, with the Addicks progressing three times.
Charlton have won none of their last nine away games against Fulham, losing six, including a 0-3 defeat in the FA Cup in January 2003.
Fulham have won nine of their last 13 FA Cup games against sides from a lower division (W9 D4).
Charlton have scored just one goal in total in their last six FA Cup matches away to other sides from London.
The Addicks are without a win in their last five FA Cup games against top-flight sides (D1 L4).

Gillingham v Stoke

Gillingham have been eliminated at this stage on each of the last three occasions that they have reached the third round.
Stoke won the only previous FA Cup meeting between the sides 6-1 at home in the third round in 1928.
The Gills have lost only two of their last six FA Cup matches at home to top-flight opponents (W3 D1 L2), scoring each time.
Last season Stoke reached the FA Cup final for the first time in their history.
The Potters have lost just one of their last 14 FA Cup matches against sides from a lower division (0-2 vs Hartlepool in January 2009).

Hull v Ipswich

Hull have lost their last three FA Cup games.
The Tigers have been eliminated at the third round in 11 of the last 12 seasons that they have reached this stage.
Since 1989, Hull have only once made it past the third round in the FA Cup (2008/09).
The Tractor Boys have won only one of their last seven FA Cup away games (W1 D1 L5).
Three of the last four meetings between Hull and Ipswich have ended 1-0 (twice to Hull, once to Ipswich, with one 1-1 draw).

MK Dons v QPR

The two sides have never met in any competition since the formation of the MK Dons in 2004.
The Dons have never made it past the third round of the competition, losing all three of their third round ties.
They have lost all four FA Cup meetings with teams from a higher division.
QPR haven't made it past the third round of the Cup since 2001 when they eventually lost 6-0 to Arsenal in the fourth round.
Rangers have failed to win any of their last 15 FA cup matches, with their last victory coming all the way back in 2001 (2-1 v Luton Town).
Rangers haven't played a team from a lower division since 2003, when they were eliminated after losing a 1st round replay on penalties to non-league side Vauxhall Motors.
QPR's run of 15 games in the FA Cup proper without a run is the poorest of any current league side (Bristol City, 8).
Should they fail to win in this match, the Hoops will equal Leeds United's run of 16 games without a win in the FA Cup proper up to 1962, the poorest streak ever in the competition by a side from the Football League.

Macclesfield v Bolton

The two sides have only met on three occasions overall, with all three games coming in the League Cup, with Bolton winning two (including last season 2-1 at home) and losing one.
Macclesfield have lost just one of their last six FA Cup matches.
Against opposition from higher divisions, the Silkmen are without a win in their last 14 matches (including one replay after a draw), with their last win against a team from a higher division coming all the way back in 1993, against Hartlepool.
In their five meetings in the FA Cup with teams from the Premier League/First Division, Macclesfield have lost all five games (all in Round 3), conceding a total of 21 goals and netting just three.
The Trotters have made it past the third round in each of the last two seasons, making it all the way to the semi-finals last season where they lost to Stoke City, 5-0.
Bolton have won seven of their last eight FA Cup clashes with teams from a lower division, losing only to Sheffield United (in January 2008) in that period.

Middlesbrough v Shrewsbury

The two sides have met in the FA Cup in one previous season, 1961/62, when ‘Boro went through after a replay, winning the second game 5-1.
Middlesbrough are without a win in their last three FA Cup games, going out in the Third Round in each of the last two seasons as well as going out in the sixth round against Everton in 2008/09.
The Shrews haven't got beyond the Third Round of the competition since 2002/03 when they made it to the Fourth Round before going out against Chelsea.
Shrewsbury have lost each of their last five FA Cup meetings with teams from a higher division, and have won just one of their last 15 clashes with teams from superior divisions.
The two sides haven't met in any competition since the 1987/88 season when ‘Boro won both meetings in the old Division Two.
No team has managed to score more than two goals in any of Middlesbrough's last 18 FA Cup games.

Newcastle v Blackburn

These two sides have met in the FA Cup in seven previous seasons, with the Magpies progressing on five occasions.
The teams met in the 1952 semi-final, when Newcastle went through after a replay, ultimately beating Arsenal (1-0) in the final.
The two sides have already met twice this season, with Blackburn winning 4-3 at home in the Carling Cup and the Magpies winning 3-1 at home in the league, with Demba Ba netting a hat-trick in the league win.
Newcastle have made it past the Third Round only twice in the last five seasons.
Rovers have won just one of their last five FA Cup encounters with fellow Premier League teams.
The Magpies have lost each of their last four FA Cup ties with Premier League teams, though one did come after a replay.

Norwich v Burnley

The two sides have never met before in the FA Cup.
None of the last seven meetings between the two sides (all in the league) have ended in an away win.
The Canaries have failed to make it past the Third Round of the FA Cup in any of the last four seasons.
The Clarets have progressed past the Third Round in each of the last three seasons.
The Canaries have only won one of their last four FA Cup matches with teams from lower divisions (7-0 v Paulton in 09/10), losing two and drawing one.
Burnley have won just one of their last eight FA Cup games against teams from a higher division.

Nottingham Forest v Leicester

The two sides have only met once before in the FA Cup, way back in 1901 when the Foxes were known as Leicester Fosse. Forest won their home game 5-1.
Forest have won just one of their last six FA Cup matches (including replays).
Leicester have also won only one of their last six FA Cup games (including replays).
The Foxes have only progressed past the Third Round once in the past five seasons.
In the last six seasons, Forest have alternated between making it to the Fourth Round and failing to get that far. If the sequence is to continue, they will have to lose against Leicester.
The teams have already met once this season, in a 2-2 draw at the City Ground in the league. Leicester ‘keeper Kasper Schmeichel was sent off, Lewis McGugan scored from the penalty spot and George Boateng netted a last-gasp equaliser for Forest in an eventful game.
No player has scored more FA Cup proper goals than Jermaine Beckford since the start of the 2008/09 season (9).

Reading v Stevenage

The sides' only previous meeting came in the fourth round of last year's competition as Shane Long secured a 2-1 win for Reading.
The Royals have reached quarter-finals in the last two seasons, losing to Premier League opposition on each occasion.
Reading's last FA Cup defeat to lower league opposition came during the 2002 second round against York.
Stevenage avenged their fourth round replay defeat to Newcastle in 1998 13 years later by triumphing 3-1 against the Toon in last term's FA Cup third round.
Stevenage have kept four clean sheets in their last seven FA Cup ties.
Mathieu Manset was the joint-top scorer in the FA Cup last season (6).

Sheffield United v Salisbury

The sides have never met in any competition.
The Blades have reached six FA Cup finals, winning four of them.
Sheffield United have only lost one of their last 13 FA Cup games against non-league opponents, losing 0-3 in a replay at Altrincham in November 1981.
Salisbury are making their first appearance in the FA Cup third round.
Sheffield United have only lost one of their last eight FA Cup games at Bramall Lane.

Swindon v Wigan

Swindon have twice reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup, losing one step before the final in both 1910 and 1912.
The Robins have alreadu overcome higher ranked opposition twice (Huddersfield and Colchester) to reach the third round this season.
Wigan have only lost two of their last 12 FA Cup games against lower ranked sides, though one of them was an embarrassing 0-1 defeat to non-league Canvey Island.
Wigan have never won at the County Ground in five attempts, losing two and drawing three.
Five of the Latics' last seven goals against Swindon have occurred in the second half.

Tottenham v Cheltenham

Tottenham have never played Cheltenham.
Spurs have appeared in nine FA Cup finals, triumphing on eight occasions.
Tottenham have only suffered defeat to lower league opposition once in twenty matches - against Leicester (2-3) in 2006.
Spurs have lost once in their last 13 FA Cup ties at White Hart Lane.
Cheltenham progressed past the third round twice before, making it to the fifth round in 2002 and the fourth round in 2006.
Cheltenham have faced higher league opposition nine times in the last ten years, progressing on three occasions.
Cheltenham have already scored five goals in this year's competition, conceding two.

Watford v Bradford

The Bantams have failed to win at Vicarage Road in 11 attempts (in all competitions).
Bradford will hope to take the game to a replay secure in the knowledge they have beaten Watford seven consecutive times on home soil.
Watford's fourth round defeat to Brighton last season was their first to lower league opposition since Birmingham in 1999.
Watford have scored four or more goals in two of their last five FA Cup ties, although they have also shipped three or more in three of those five matches.
Bradford's most successful FA Cup run came in 1911 when they won the competition, beating Newcastle 1-0 in a replay.
The Bantams have tasted defeat in eight of their last 11 FA Cup matches away from home.
Bradford have met higher league opposition six times in the last 10 years, winning two and losing four.

West Brom v Cardiff

West Brom have won the FA Cup five times, with their most recent win coming in 1968, beating Everton 1-0 after extra-time.
West Brom have exited the competition to lower league opposition twice in the last three years.
Cardiff are unbeaten in their previous three visits to the Hawthorns in all competitions, winning twice and netting a total of nine goals.
City midfielder Peter Whittingham has scored in consecutive games against the Baggies.
Cardiff have forced higher league opposition to a replay in six of their last eleven FA Cup matches against them

Bristol Rovers v Aston Villa

Aston Villa have faced Rovers three times in the FA Cup before (all in the third round), with the Villans progressing on all three occasions, although they needed a replay in 1961 and 1993.
Scott McGleish was the joint-top scorer in the FA Cup proper last season (6).
Rovers are the joint-top scorers in the FA Cup proper so far this season (nine goals in two games).
In each of the last four seasons which the Pirates have made it to the third round, they progressed to the fourth, twice putting out Premier League opposition.
Villa have scored 18 goals in total in their last six FA Cup games against lower-tier opponents.

Manchester City v Manchester United

This is will be the eighth FA Cup meeting between United and City, with the Red Devils winning four and the Citizens three so far, including the semi-final last season.
In their meeting earlier this season, Man City equalled their biggest-ever win over Man Utd: 6-1 at Old Trafford.
Five of the last seven clashes between City and United at the Citizens' ground have ended 1-0 (twice to City, three times to United, plus one 0-0 and one 2-1).
Edin Dzeko has already scored three goals against Manchester United this season.
City have won two of their last three meetings with United (in all competitions), although the Red Devils had a man sent off in both defeats.
Since 1984, United have only been eliminated at this stage once in 26 attempts in the FA Cup: in 2009/10 vs Leeds.
City have not conceded a goal in any of their last five FA Cup matches.
United have won their last five FA Cup games away from home.

Chelsea v Portsmouth

Frank Lampard has scored the most FA Cup goals since the start of the 2005/06 season (19, six more than second-placed Scott McGleish).
Chelsea have made it past the fourth round in each of the last 13 seasons in the FA Cup, only Arsenal are on a longer such run (15 games).
This will be the first meeting between the sides since Chelsea's 1-0 win in the FA Cup final in 2010.
The Pensioners have won their last six matches against Portsmouth in all competitions, conceding just one goal in the process.
Didier Drogba has scored in his last three appearances against Portsmouth.
Chelsea are unbeaten in their last 16 FA Cup games since the start of 2008/09 (not including penalty shoot-outs, winning 13 and drawing three.
Excluding penalty shoot-outs, Chelsea are unbeaten at home in the FA Cup since 2003 (W17 D3).
Portsmouth have scored in each of their last 12 FA Cup matches away from home.
Chelsea have lost only one of their last 46 FA Cup games against sides from a lower division (Barnsley 0-1 in 2008).

Sheffield Wednesday v West Ham

The Owls have been knocked out in the third round on seven of the last eight occasions that they have reached this stage.
Sheffield Wednesday have progressed on all three occasions that they have met the Hammers in the FA Cup.
The Owls have won their last three FA Cup matches at home.
West Ham have won their last 10 FA Cup games against sides from a lower division, firing in 29 goals in the process.
West Ham have made it to the fourth round on nine of the last 11 occasions that they have reached the FA Cup third round.

Peterborough v Sunderland

Sunderland won the only previous FA Cup meeting against Peterborough 7-1 at home, back in 1967.
Peterborough have played 26 FA Cup games against top-flight opponents, winning just one: 2-1 against Arsenal in 1965 (W1 D6 L19).
The Black Cats have been eliminated at this stage in three of the last five seasons.
Sunderland have lost their last five FA Cup matches away from home.
Sunderland have lost four of their last seven FA Cup games against sides from a lower division.
Three of the Posh's last five matches have ended 1-1, with the other two being 1-0 wins.

Arsenal v Leeds

Arsenal have made it past the third round in each of the last 15 seasons in the FA Cup, a longer run than any other side.
The Gunners last lost in the third round in 1996, drawing 1-1 at home to Sheffield United before losing 0-1 at Bramall Lane.
Arsenal have lost only one of their last 35 FA Cup games at home under Arsène Wenger: 0-1 against Leeds in February 1997 (W23 D10 L1).
Thierry Henry scored 11 goals in 11 games against Leeds in all competitions, including four in his last appearance against them at Highbury.
This will be the 15th meeting between the sides in the FA Cup: so far Arsenal have won six, drawn seven and lost two.
The two sides met at this stage last season, drawing 1-1 at the Emirates before the Gunners won 3-1 at Elland Road.
Arsenal have netted at least three goals in four of their last five matches against United (in all competitions).
The Whites have only won one of their last 13 FA Cup matches against top-flight opponents: 1-0 at Old Trafford in 2010.