Daniel Farke subplot but form table warning as Leeds United get home tie in FA Cup fifth round draw
The draw for the FA Cup fifth round has been made.
Leeds United have discovered their opponents in the FA Cup fifth round draw with features a big Daniel Fake subplot against a very much in-form side.
Farke’s Whites booked their place in the competition’s last 16 by eventually coming through Sunday’s epic last 32 clash at Championship hosts Birmingham City which went all the way to penalties.
A dominant Birmingham side could have been well ahead by the half-time interval yet instead the Whites and Blues entered the break goalless and Lukas Nmecha then fired Leeds ahead with 49 minutes on the clock.
Despite a host of further Birmingham chances, Nmecha’s strike looked set to seal a 1-0 victory only for Patrick Roberts to net an 89th-minute equaliser which took the game to extra time and then penalties after a 1-1 draw.
Leeds were then perfect in their penalty taking, Joel Piroe, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Brenden Aaronson and Sean Longstaff all netting from 12 yards to seal a 4-2 success on spot kicks after Birmingham missed two of theirs, one of which was brilliantly saved by Lucas Perri.
Opponents have won seven of their last eight
Farke’s Whites consequently put themselves in the hat for the fifth round draw which took place on Monday evening ahead of non-league Macclesfield’s hosting of Brentford in the weekend’s final FA Cup game.
Leeds were ball no 16 in the draw and the Whites were given a home tie against Championship side Norwich City, formerly managed by Whites boss Farke who twice steered the club to promotion as Championship champions.
Now managed by former Rangers boss Philippe Clement, Norwich sit 17th in the Championship table, just seven points off the dropzone but in the midst of an impressive recent run.
The Canaries hammered Walsall 5-1 at Carrow Road in the third round before beating Championship visitors West Brom 3-1 in Saturday’s fourth round tie.
Norwich endured a terrible start to the season under former boss Liam Manning but Clement’s side have won seven of their last eight games in league and cup, their sole defeat in that run arriving through a 1-0 defeat at leaders Middlesbrough.
The Championship form table over the last eight games has Norwich second on 18 points, only behind Boro on goal difference.
Nevertheless, especially with home advantage, Leeds will be seen as huge favourites to make the most of a big chance and put themselves in the competition’s quarter-finals.
Ties in the fifth round will be played around the weekend of Saturday, March 7 and Sunday, March 8.