FA Cup Betting

FA Cup holders Chelsea will face Aston Villa in the Semi-Finals after they saw off Stoke City 2-0 at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues ran out comfortable winners after strikes from Frank Lampard and John Terry and set up a Wembley date with Villa, who came from two goals down to defeat Reading 4-2.

In the other tie, debt-ridden Portsmouth will face either Tottenham or Fulham after they beat Birmingham 2-0 to continue their fairy-tale run in the competition. They will not know their opponents until Spurs and Fulham play out a replay at White Hart Lane as the sides drew 0-0 in their initial quarter-final tie.

Here is the Semi-Final draw in full:

(Ties to be played on Saturday 10^th April);

Aston Villa v Chelsea

Fulham/Tottenham v Portsmouth

Holders Chelsea cruised into the FA Cup 6^th Round after a comfortable 4-1 win over Cardiff City at Stamford Bridge.

Didier Drogba, Michael Ballack, Daniel Sturridge and Salomon Kalou got the goals as the Blues set up a home tie with either Manchester City or Stoke City on March 6.

The 5^th Round saw several ties needing a replay to decide who progresses, with Bolton and Tottenham (1-1), Crystal Palace and Aston Villa (2-2), Man City and Stoke (1-1) and Reading and West Brom (2-2) all requiring another match on February 24.

Other clubs definitely through are Fulham, who swept aside Notts County 4-0, Birmingham, who won 2-1 at Derby, and Portsmouth, who thrashed bitter rivals Southampton 4-1 at St Mary’s.

6th Round Draw:

Chelsea v Man City/Stoke

Fulham v Bolton/Tottenham

Portsmouth v Birmingham

Reading/West Brom v Crystal Palace/Aston Villa

A Jermain Defoe hat-trick sealed Tottenham’s place in the FA Cup 5^th Round after overcoming Leeds 3-1 at Elland Road.

Defoe grabbed all 3 goals as the Lilywhites picked up a deserved replay win, after Simon Grayson’s side had earned a 2-2 draw at White Hart Lane in the initial tie.

Luciano Becchio had given the hosts hope as he slid home a Leeds equaliser on 45 minutes but Defoe scored twice in the second half as the tiring League One side had no answer to the quality of the Premier League visitors.

Tottenham now travel to Bolton for their 5^th Round tie.

League Two Notts County produced one of the shocks of the season to knock Premier League Wigan out of the FA Cup in their 4^th Round replay.

Two goals in the final 15 minutes ensured a 2-0 win and place in the 5^th Round, when they will travel to Fulham. County are the lowest ranked side still remaining in the FA Cup this season and the win will have delighted the board of directors as more revenue is generated to try and remove some of the debt at Meadow Lane.

Wigan spurned several good chances during the game but goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel was in inspired form and left the DW Stadium with a well earned clean sheet.

Crystal Palace booked their place in the FA Cup 5^th Round after stunning Premier League Wolves 3-1 at Selhurst Park.

Danny Butterfield scored a six-minute hat-trick in the second half to settle the 4^th Round replay – and continue Palace’s cup run to ensure further much needed finances. Butterfield, normally a full-back by trade, was deployed further upfield due to the club’s personnel crisis and it paid dividends with his first goals for over a year.

The Eagles will host Aston Villa in the 5^th Round on 14^th February. With Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool already out of the competition, many Palace fans may now be dreaming of a first FA Cup final since 1990.

Holders Chelsea will play at home to Cardiff City in the FA Cup 5th Round.

The Blues overcame Preston North End 2-0 to set up the clash, with Carlo Ancelotti’s side avoiding the 10 remaining Premiership sides.

Manchester City will play at home to Stoke City in the pick of the remaining ties.

FA Cup 5th Round Draw (Ties to be played on February 13):

Bolton v Tottenham

Chelsea v Cardiff

Derby v Birmingham

Fulham v Notts County

Man City v Stoke

Reading v West Brom

Southampton v Portsmouth

Crystal Palace v Aston Villa