By David Parsons
Cardiff City’s reward for beating Sheffield United is another away trip for the fourth round of the FA Cup – to Stoke City.
The Bluebirds – the only Welsh club left in the tournament after Swansea City lost 3-0 at Southampton – overcame Championship high-fliers Sheffield United last Thursday night and then had to wait until Sunday evening to learn of their opponents in the next round.
They were the final tie out of the hat and given another tricky tie at Stoke, who won at Sunderland to provide a first victory for new Potters boss Mark Robins.
Cardiff drew 2-2 at Stoke back in December, having led 2-1 until they conceded a goal in the 90th minute.
Omer Riza’s side will visit the Bet 365 Stadium on the weekend of Saturday, February 8.
Holders Manchester United will host Leicester City, while Aston Villa will play Tottenham in the fourth round.
United progressed from the third round following a dramatic penalty shoot-out win over Arsenal, despite playing almost half of the tie with 10 players after Diogo Dalot was sent off.
The draw for the #EmiratesFACup fourth round is complete
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) January 12, 2025
Ruud van Nistelrooy, who won this competition as a player in 2004 and was United interim manager until Ruben Amorim’s appointment in November, guided Leicester to a 6-2 victory over QPR on Saturday.
Tottenham also needed extra-time in their third-round tie before seeing off non-League Tamworth 3-0, while Aston Villa came from a goal behind to defeat West Ham 2-1 on Friday.
Championship strugglers Plymouth’s reward for knocking out Brentford is a home tie against Premier League leaders Liverpool.
There are two other all-Premier League ties, with eight-time winners Chelsea taking on Brighton at the Amex Stadium, and Everton facing Bournemouth at Goodison Park.
Exeter, in the fourth round for the first time since 1981, were handed a tough home tie against Nottingham Forest and Newcastle will play at League One leaders Birmingham.
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Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City face an away trip to either Leyton Orient or Derby.
Championship pace-setters Leeds face Millwall or Dagenham & Redbridge at Elland Road and Frank Lampard’s Coventry, semi-finalists last season, will play top-flight Ipswich.
Premier League sides Wolves, Crystal Palace and Fulham have away ties at Blackburn, Mansfield or Wigan and Doncaster, respectively, while League One promotion hopefuls Wycombe will face Preston or Charlton away.
Burnley have been drawn at Premier League strugglers Southampton, who eased past Swansea on Sunday evening, while Stoke will entertain Cardiff in that all-Championship tie.
The fourth-round ties will be played around the weekend of February 8-9, with the Football Association to confirm the full schedule in due course.
FA Cup fourth-round draw in full
Ties to be played around the weekend of February 8/9
Manchester United vs Leicester City
Leeds United vs Millwall or Dagenham and Redbridge
Brighton vs Chelsea
Preston North End vs Wycombe Wanderers
Exeter City vs Nottingham Forest
Coventry City vs Ipswich Town
Blackburn Rovers vs Wolves
Mansfield Town or Wigan vs Fulham
Birmingham City vs Newcastle United
Plymouth Argyle vs Liverpool
Everton vs Bournemouth
Aston Villa vs Tottenham
Southampton vs Burnley
Leyton Orient or Derby County vs Manchester City
Doncaster Rovers vs Crystal Palace
Stoke City vs Cardiff City
