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Key events
The joys of social media
There are no replays in the fifth round of the FA Cup. But games can go to extra-time and penalties if necessary.
Blackburn v Newcastle The kick-off has been delayed by 15 minutes due to crowd congestion, so that match will also began at 8pm.
Blackburn v Newcastle
“G’day Rob,” writes Chris Paraskevas. “Some housekeeping before I bombard you with updates from The Zurab Khizanishvili Derby…
a) I’ve only had one major argument with a neighbour since we last spoke (it was bigger and better than the last one…)
b) A single mosqito infiltrated my bedroom and kept me awake all night. Couldn’t outsmart him.
c) Eddie Howe is definitely/possibly in save-your-season/job territory tonight. What a difference 12 months makes in football, eh?”
Innit. The Carabao Cup final was a year ago yesterday.
The ills of social media
“Am I the only one very annoyed by Luton’s team announcement tweet!?” says Brendan Large. “It’s bad enough when clubs tweet teams in the order of their squad numbers (instead of position), but doing so without even including the numbers is a new low in my eyes… for shame Luton.”
At least they’ve put them in order of position though. Every cloud?
Peep peep! Bournemouth v Leicester is under way, and Leicester are already threatening.
Luton v Man City team news
Both managers have picked very strong sides, with only two outfield changes apiece. Jack Grealish gets a chance to impress Pep Guardiola.
Your City squad tonight! 🩵
XI | Ortega Moreno, Walker (C), Stones, Akanji, Ake, Kovacic, Nunes, De Bruyne, Bernardo, Grealish, Haaland
SUBS | Ederson, Dias, Doku, Rodrigo, Alvarez, Gomez, Foden, Bobb, Lewis#ManCity | @etihad pic.twitter.com/mvGnBiwJya
— Manchester City (@ManCity) February 27, 2024
Pre-match reading
Blackburn v Newcastle team news
John Eustace and Eddie Howe have picked pretty strong sides. Howe makes five changes from the defeat at the Emirates but it feels the majority are based on merit rather than a desire to rotate.
🔢 Team news!
2⃣ changes.
✅ Ben Chrisene & Andrew Moran start.
🤕 Sondre Tronstad (ankle) & Ryan Hedges (groin) miss out.
🌹 Our youngest-ever appearance maker Rory Finneran makes the bench.#ROVvNEW | #Rovers 🔵⚪️ pic.twitter.com/w9uCO6DjZr— Blackburn Rovers (@Rovers) February 27, 2024
Bournemouth v Leicester team news
Five changes for Bournemouth, nine for Leicester. Hashtag priorities.
Preamble
Good day, good evening, good morning and welcome to our latest FA Cup clockwatch. Three games tonight, all kicking off at different times for maximum inconvience, and all intriguing in different ways.
With three of the Premier League’s top five already out of the competition, there is a decent chance for an outsider to go all most of the way this season, maybe as far as the semi-finals.
Bournemouth, Leicester, Luton and Blackburn all fall into that category, though promotion/relegation-avoidance may take priority. The team news will reveal all. Newcastle should satill aspire to win the competition, though for now they just want to avoid a shock defeat that would increase the slightly unfair pressure on Eddie Howe.
I won’t insult your intelligence by elaborating on Manchester City’s chances of winning a trophy.
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