The FA Cup quarter-final is scheduled to be played over the Easter weekend and could cause some headaches for the likes of Southampton and Port Vale as they continue to battle for relegation.
Man City are one of the Premier League powerhouses who will advance to the last eight of the FA Cup.
The draw for the FA Cup quarter-finals is expected to feature a clash between Southampton and Port Vale, with the two non-Premier League teams having to find new spots for the rearranged fixtures.
The eight teams remaining in the tournament will face off in the quarterfinals on the weekend of April 4th, with league games scheduled for that weekend being postponed. Like every year, top-flight teams are used to traveling to the FA Cup.
However, clubs lower down the pyramid may find it difficult to source new dates. Port Vale shocked Sunderland at the weekend with a first-half goal from Ben Wayne. Meanwhile, in London, Southampton defeated Fulham after receiving a stoppage-time penalty.
The FA Cup quarter-finals will take place over the Easter weekend, with Port Vale set to face Cardiff in the Welsh capital on April 3, before facing Rotherham at Vale Park three days later. Southampton also have fixtures scheduled over the same two-day period, hosting Ipswich on Friday before traveling to Wrexham on Monday.
Due to the EFL’s unforgiving schedule, there is little room to find slots on the midweek to weekend fixture list. Port Vale only have one free moment in the middle of the week between the FA Cup quarter-finals and the final day of the season on May 2nd.
read more: Port Vale hero Ben Wayne can’t hide his true feelings after Sunderland FA Cup shockread more: Phil Parkinson gutted for ‘wrong’ VAR and referee decision in Wrexham FA Cup defeat to Chelsea
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They travel to Plymouth on April 25 and host Lincoln a week later, making midweek the only realistic free slot. Southampton have a bit more leeway as they have two one-week breaks between games.
Both Port Vale and Southampton could be forced to play one of the Easter weekend games in the days before or after the FA Cup quarter-final. The problem of finding slots for matches could become even more complicated if Port Vale or Southampton cause another shock by advancing to the semi-finals, scheduled for April 25.
Port Vale’s Ben Wayne celebrates after scoring against Sunderland (Image: Nick Potts/PA Wire)
The eight teams in the quarter-finals will be decided on Monday night when West Ham and Brentford take on each other. Arsenal, Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea remain in the hunt for his signature. Leeds are the only top team still dreaming of Wembley glory.
Arsenal avoided a cup shock by missing Mansfield on Saturday, while Chelsea also beat lower-league opponents despite a shaky early start, defeating Wrexham. City beat Newcastle at St James’ Park and Leeds eliminated Norwich.
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