FA Cup Fifth Round Preview: another scalp for Oxford?

Will Boro’s nemesis strike again?

Here are The Football Lab’s predictions for the weekend’s FA Cup Fifth Round clashes. Two of the top three in-form sides in League One, Oxford and Millwall, each taken on a team in the bottom four of the Premier League form table, Middlesbrough and Leicester respectively.

Middlesbrough v Oxford

Oxford United are boosted by the news that Simon Eastwood has signed a new contract. Middlesbrough fans will not look forward to seeing the goalkeeper, who put in two man-of-the-match performances for Blackburn to deny them wins during the 14/15 campaign. Such fine margins denied them success that year, but both teams enjoyed automatic promotion on the final day the season after. Oxford’s progress over the last 18 months includes seven cup wins against higher league opposition, including Newcastle in the previous round of this competition. More success against north-east clubs could come with a clean sheet against low-scoring Boro, who average just 2.4 shots on target per game. Maybe Eastwood’s heroics won’t be needed, after all… 0-1

Millwall v Leicester City

These teams last met on New Years’ Day 2014. Millwall were unlucky to lose 3-1 to Leicester, who would go on to win the first of two titles in three years. That was Neil Harris’ last game in caretaker charge of the Lions, but he re-assumed control the following season and now looks to bring them back into the Championship. Their efforts to do so are helped by defensive improvement, which continued with a 2-0 victory over Port Vale and a sixth clean sheet in seven games. Leicester enjoyed encouraging cup wins over Everton and Derby, but those teams are the only ones to concede against them in 2017. Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez are out of form, even if we refuse to set last season as a benchmark of their capabilities. Despite the respective heights and depths these clubs have scaled in the three years since their last meeting, this could be a Championship fixture next term. 1-2