FA Cup 5th Round TV matches announced

January 31, 2012   ·   0 Comments

The Football Association has confirmed the two FA Cup 5^th Round ties to be broadcast live on ITV1 and ESPN.

ITV1 will broadcast two matches with the first at 5.15pm on Saturday 18 February featuring the winners of Middlesbrough v Sunderland against Arsenal.

Arsene Wenger’s side fought back from a 2-0 half-time deficit against Aston Villa in the 4th Round to secure a trip to the North-East.  Two Robin Van Persie penalties sandwiched between a Theo Walcott strike gave the Gunners a 3-2 win at the Emirates.

Arsenal’s north London rivals, Tottenham feature in the second live tie on Sunday 19 February when they travel to League One Stevenage at 2pm.

It will be Tottenham’s third match against Football League opposition in The FA Cup this season having already disposed of League Two Cheltenham Town and Watford of the Championship. Stevenage are no strangers to a Premier League giant-killing having beaten Newcastle United 3-1 in last season’s competition.

ESPN will broadcast three live matches from the 5^th Round, starting on Saturday 18 February at 12.30pm with Chelsea entertaining Birmingham City at Stamford Bridge. Juan Mata’s penalty was enough for Andre Villas-Boas’ side to edge past QPR at Loftus Road in the 4^th Round while Birmingham powered their way past Sheffield United with a convincing 4-0 win against the League One promotion hopefuls.

ESPN will broadcast two further live ties on Sunday 19 February with the first featuring last season’s FA Cup runners-up, Stoke City, who travel to League Two Crawley Town in a 12noon kick off. Crawley Town made national headlines last season when they were narrowly beaten 1-0 by Manchester Unitedat Old Trafford in the Fifth Round.

Stoke sealed their passage to this year’s Fifth Round stage with a comfortable 2-0 win over Derby County at Pride Park .

The final TV game of 5^th Round weekend sees Liverpool host Brighton & Hove Albion at 4.30pm. Kenny Dalglish’s side dug out a last minute 2-1 win over Manchester United in the 4^th Round thanks to a Dirk Kuyt goal while Mike Williamson deflected a Will Buckley shot into his own net as the Seagulls beat Newcastle United 1-0 at the Amex Stadium.

FA Cup 5^th Round Broadcast Schedule (kick off times indicated)

Chelsea v Birmingham City
12.30pm, Saturday 18 February 2012
Live on ESPN

Sunderland v Arsenal
5.15pm, Saturday 18 February
Live on ITV1

Crawley Town v Stoke City
12noon, Sunday 19 February 2012
Live on ESPN

Stevenage v Tottenham Hotspur
2pm, Sunday 19 February
Live on ITV1

Liverpool v Brighton & Hove Albion
4.30pm, Sunday 19 February 2012
Live on ESPN

Tags: Arsenal, Arsene Wenger, ITV1, Middlesbrough, Stevenage, Sunderland, Tottenham