Emirates FA Cup Quarter-Final Preview-Leeds United

Given the form that both Aston Villa and West Ham United were in before their meeting at Villa Park on March 22, it was slightly surprising that the Hammers lost 2-0. April starts with an all-Premier League quarter-final tie against Leeds United in the Emirates FA Cup this afternoon.

Nuno Espírito Santo’s side are back in the relegation zone following the reverse in Birmingham last time out and will have to wait until Friday to address those concerns with a huge encounter back here under the lights against rock bottom Wolverhampton Wanderers. Before then though, today’s hosts will be doing all they can to book a semi-final place for the first time since that memorable run to the final under Alan Pardew in the 2005/06 season and a first Wembley appearance since beating Blackpool in the Sky Bet Championship play-off final at the end of the 2011/12 campaign under Sam Allardyce.

Daniel Farke’s men go into this game off the back of a goalless home Premier League draw with Brentford fifteen days ago. Coincidently, it was the Bees who the Irons knocked out to set up this encounter.

Today’s opponents have already disposed of Derby County, Birmingham City and Norwich City in getting to this stage of this year’s competition. However, as this is the first time that they have progressed beyond this stage for a staggering twenty three years, the East Londoners will want to make sure that their best run for some considerable time ends here. Having said that though, they have gone unbeaten in their last six road trips.

One factor that could swing the game in favour of the home side is the fact that their Head-Coach has won all four of the quarter-finals that he has been a part of.

All three of West Ham’s ties this season have gone beyond ninety minutes and if this afternoon’s match goes the same way, they will play at least another thirty minutes with the possibility of a penalty shoot-out, as was the case in the last round against Keith Andrews’ men. VAR will once again be in operation for this tie.

Crysencio Summerville suffered an injury in the last round and he will learn on the day whether he is fit enough to face his former club, while it remains to be seen if Jean-Clair Todibo has recovered from the injury that prevented him from playing against the Villains. Adama Traoré is in contention for a start.

Alphonse Areola is set to take the gloves from Mads Hermansen with Finlay Herrick possibly being involved from the bench, meaning the Dane will get the afternoon off. Max Kilman could come into the defence, while Callum Wilson may come into the matchday squad.

The match is a 4:30pm kick-off and it is yet another televised game that Espírito Santo’s men will play in. Live coverage will be screened by TNT Sports and it gets underway from 3:30pm. The referee is Craig Pawson.