The FA Cup has proven to be a source of real optimism for West Bromwich Albion fans this season since the turn of the year in contrast to the form of the side in the Championship. However, with a 5th round tie against Newcastle on the horizon, the Baggies can’t rest on their laurels.
After dumping West Ham United out of the cup in the 4th round at the London Stadium, the Baggies have finally been given a home tie in the cup for the 5th round, and whilst it’s another Premier League side in Newcastle, this is certainly a winnable game.
Slaven Bilic will have one eye on the league fixtures around this clash, that much is for certain, but if he can avoid rotating too much and remain competitive in this clash then there’s no reason why the Baggies can’t get another famous win and bag themselves a spot in the FA Cup quarter-finals.
However, it won’t be at all easy, and Steve Bruce, the Newcastle manager, has recently made some comments ahead of the clash claiming that he has no intentions of using a weakened side in this one. It’s hard to blame him either, especially seeing as he’s the first Magpies’ boss since Glenn Roeder in 2006 to get this far in the FA Cup.
Bruce’s comments came via The Chronicle, and you can read what he had to say here:
‘When you look back and put your slippers on the FA Cup final is still a huge moment in this country.’
‘It was rekindled for me when I got there as manager of Hull City against Arsenal in 2014 and I vowed that I would never play weakened teams.’
How far can we go in the FA Cup?
Round 5/quarter finals
Semi finals
Runners-up
Winners
‘A club like Newcastle can win five games and get to Wembley.’
‘It was a hairy cup tie at Oxford, great for the neutral but awful for myself and the fans.’
‘It wouldn’t be Newcastle without a story and if that’s the story let’s go to West Bromwich Albion and carry it on.’