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Extra FA Cup games for Sunderland's rivals in relegation battle - what difference will it make?
January 28, 2018 at 12:00:00 AM GMT+1
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Two of Sunderland’s relegation rivals face further FA Cup games in February after Saturday’s fourth round.

Hull City and Birmingham City both went into Monday’s fifth round draw, although only the former know for sure they will be playing at that stage.

The Tigers’ Yorkshire derby against another side in the relegation battle, Barnsley, has been postponed. The sides were due to meet in East Yorkshire on February 17, but the hosts will now be otherwise engaged.

Hull, who are level on points with Sunderland but above them on goal difference, already had five games scheduled for February.

The Black Cats are at Birmingham on Tuesday, a game rearranged because they sides were due to meet on Saturday, when the Blues instead played Premier League Huddersfield Town in the Cup.

That game ended in a 1-1 draw, meaning a replay at St Andrew’s which has been scheduled for February 6, subject to the wiles of the broadcasters. Whatever the day, it will be sandwiched between away games at promotion-chasers Sheffield Wednesday and Aston Villa.

Birmingham go into Tuesday’s match a point behind Sunderland.

Manager Steve Cotteril made seven changes from their 1-1 draw at Preston North End the previous Saturday to the Huddersfield line-up. Substitutes Jonathan Grounds and Jeremie Boga also started at Deepdale. Sunderland have had a 10-day break though unlike some Championship sides, they have not taken the opportunity to go warm-weather training – finances dictate that is not a sensible option. They have not been putting their feet up, though, with manager Chris Coleman working his players hard at the Academy of Light.

Two under-23 games have allowed Jonny Williams and Lamine Kone to get much-needed minutes under their belt after injury, each starting one of the matches.

Hull also made widespread changes for the Cup, with only Michael Hector, Ola Aina and Jarrod Bowen facing Sunderland and Nottingham Forest on consecutive Saturdays.

Joel Asoro, David Meyler and Michael Dawson (Image: Sunderland AFC)

The Championship is arguably one of the most physically-demanding professional leagues in European football, and for some time clubs in all divisions have been using the cup competition as an excuse to rest players and make full use of their squads.

Wigan Athletic were famously relegated from the Premier League days after winning the 2013 FA Cup, but reaching this year’s fifth round has not stopped them setting the pace in League One.

Huddersfield reached the fifth round in 2017, where they were taken to a replay by Manchester City, but it did not stop them winning the Championship play-offs. Quarter-finalists Millwall came out on top in the League One competition.

However, Blackburn Rovers were relegated from the second tier after getting to round five. Over the course of their run they picked up five points from six matches, but after being knocked out by Manchester United they were unbeaten in their next seven matches, drawing five.

Wolverhampton Wanderers sent Liverpool out of the competition at the fourth round. The feel-good factor carried over into their midweek game at Barnsley, but they lost their next six games, including the fifth-round visit of eventual runners-up Chelsea.

Fulham’s run, which saw them knock out then-Premier League Hull before losing to Tottenham Hotspur in round five did not seem to have much effect on their league form. They reached the play-offs, but were knocked out by Reading in the semi-finals.

There is, then, no clear answer as to whether an FA Cup run will be a good thing or a bad thing for Hull and Birmingham – a draining distraction or a morale-boost for sides for whom winning is unusual.

What Sunderland know is that from now until May is all about Championship survival and if they can do their job properly, the rest ought to look after itself.

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