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Who can derail Red Devils?

Author: Sir David Smith
Date: 06/03/2009

The question on most people's lips ahead of this weekend's sixth round fixtures is can anybody realistically stop Manchester United from winning this season's FA Cup? Online betting experts don't think so.

The 11-time winners have been paired with Fulham in Saturday evening's quarter-final, but it's hard to envisage anything other than the Old Trafford club taking a giant stride towards another final with a straightforward victory at Craven Cottage.

Sir Alex Ferguson's quintuple-chasing side are overwhelming favourites as last month's 3-0 victory over Fulham was an embarrassingly one-sided Premier League encounter.

Roy Hodgson's side went to Old Trafford intent on keeping it tight and not conceding, only to find themselves a goal down after 12 minutes and barely able to muster a chance of any note throughout a much-criticised 90 minute performance.

United have won all eight of their last encounters against Fulham, while the Cottagers have been on the winning side on just one occasion since the 1960s.

It all points towards a place in the last four for the Red Devils as they close in on a domestic cup double.

United have already won the Carling Cup and Club World Cup this season and remain on course to successfully defend both the Premier League and Champions League.

Perhaps Fulham's only hope is of catching United on a rare off day as the fixture comes hard on the heels of 120 minutes of sapping Carling Cup action - having been taken to extra-time by Tottenham Hotspur last weekend - while a Champions League last 16 second leg meeting with Internazionale is looming on the horizon.

Elsewhere, Chelsea are strong favourites to overcome Coventry City despite the Championship side having accounted from Premier League Blackburn Rovers in a fifth round replay last week.

Chris Coleman's side have home advantage but an improving Chelsea are expected to sweep them aside following the improvement in fortunes they've enjoyed under new manager Guus Hiddink.

Everton and Middlesbrough will go head-to-head at Goodison Park in the only guaranteed all-Premier League tie.

Arsenal will play Hull City should they overcome Burnley in Sunday's delayed fifth round meeting at the Emirates Stadium, but for the time being there is only one all top-flight tie in the last eight.

The Toffees overcame Merseyside rivals Liverpool in a replay to book the place in the quarter-finals for the first time in seven seasons and perhaps have the edge over Boro side struggling to retain their top-flight status.

The Teessiders were 2-0 winners over West Ham United in a fifth round replay so can't be taken lightly, but Everton have taken ten points from the last four league meetings between the sides and are currently in the midst of a rich vein of form.

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