Competition - FA Cup, Round 5 Date - 17 February 2019 Kick off - 4pm Venue - Liberty Stadium Following their hard fought but ultimately deserved defeat in the Championship at the hands of new table-toppers Leeds United, next up for Graham Potter and his squad is a home FA Cup match against fellow Championship side Brentford. In their match Leeds v Swansea match at Elland Road, Leeds defender Pontus Jansson marked his 28th birthday with the opening goal, reacting first to Ezgjan Alioski's blocked shot to fire into the bottom corner from 12 yards. Alioski also provided Leeds' second goal for Jack Harrison, who nodded past Erwin Mulder at his near post a minute after the Swansea goalkeeper had kept out his powerful drive. Oli McBurnie's penalty gave Swansea late hope after Luke Ayling's clumsy foul on Joel Asoro, but Leeds held on to move a point clear of Norwich. Whilst the Swans were losing in Yorkshire, Brentford's top scorer Neal Maupay curled home a 91st-minute winner to spoil ex-Bees boss Dean Smith's first return to Griffin Park with Championship play-off hopefuls Aston Villa. Maupay shimmied into space in the visitors' box before steering home a stunning strike with his right instep. That lifted the Bees to 15th in the table, just 3 places and 4 points behind 12th-placed Swansea. The teams have been drawn against each other on only one occasion in the FA Cup and that was in the 1971/72 season when they met in the first round on 20 November 1971. The match ended in a 1-1 at the Vetch. In the reply just 2 days later the Swans ran out 3-2 at Griffin Park. Turning to Sunday, much will depend on the sides that will be selected. I’m expecting that both Managers will select their strongest available teams. The Bees, who initially struggled after Dean Smith left for Vila, are on the upturn under Thomas Frank, having lost just once in 12 games, last Saturday against Forest. Recognising that improvement, I think that Brentford will be good enough for a draw at the Liberty. I’m going 2-2
If there’s a boycott, home advantage may count for little. Indeed, if it is successful, the by-product is that it could end up being like a home match for Brentford. Whilst I can understand the reasoning, in my opinion, what should take precedence is that, even if there are concerns over the Ownership Regime, we should be supporting the team, coaching staff & the Manager!
If the boycott is anything like the march then it'll barely be noticeable. 1-0 Swansea against my better judgement as I seriously doubt in our ability to keep a clean sheet against anyone.
I think we can win this. We are taking the FA Cup seriously. Realistically, we are neither candidates for the play-offs or for relegation so the FA Cup can be given some priority and with so many Prem teams out already, including Liverpool, Spurs and Arsenal, if we could get to the quarters and avoid Man City/Man Utd or Chelsea then a semi-final is on the cards! It's a bit like England sneaking into the World Cup semi-final
We are still in with a chance of the playoffs Aswan but we dont really want that this season imo. We need to get rid of our debt and be able to compete in the transfer market again. The last 3 seasons have damaged the club immensely and has to be fixed before any thought of being strong enough to get back to the premiership and be able to compete.....The Club has said it is a 5 year plan but we are ahead of plan with a decent first season under Potter.....I think 2 or 3 seasons we will be in much better shape to be able to push for promotion.......Hope so anyway....
We need to keep chasing a play of place while possible, but it is not likely now. Stranger things have happened. Two Wembley finals in May...........what a dream.
Sorry Rhod but I’m going to trash your dreams. There ain’t going to be any Wembley finals this year. That’s a fact