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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Stephen Killen

Why Man City’s FA Cup fifth round clash with Peterborough is in midweek

Manchester City will play Peterborough in the fifth round of the FA Cup but it will have a slightly different feel to it than previous rounds.

Despite Fabio Carvalho's surprising opener, the Blues fired back with four unanswered goals as Ilkay Gundogan, John Stones and Riyad Mahrez (2) to see off Fulham in a 4-1 win in the fourth round.

However, unlike the third round tie against Swindon Town or the fourth round meeting with Marco Silva's men, their clash with Peterborough will not be taking place on Sunday or even a traditional Saturday slot towards the end of this month or the start of next month.

All eight ties will be played midweek during the week commencing Monday February 28. Matches will likely be spread across Tuesday and Thursday nights once television picks are made by broadcasters BBC and ITV.

But this isn't a new addition from the Football Association as it will be the third season since it changed from the usual weekend format in favour of midweek fixtures for the fifth-round.

The Football Association, the Premier League and English Football League agreed to that schedule in June 2018, which believed to be an attempt to cut down on packed schedules.

Replays, which had become the fabric of the competition after teams originally couldn't be separated after 90 minutes in their first meeting, were scrapped in order to "alleviate the possibility of fixture congestion."

There has already been two shocks this weekend as City's rivals Manchester United were dumped out by Middlesbrough on penalties, whilst holders Leicester were stunned by Nottingham Forest.

Here's the fifth round draw in full:

Luton Town vs Chelsea

Crystal Palace vs Stoke City

Peterborough United vs Manchester City

Liverpool vs Norwich City

Southampton vs West Ham United

Middlesbrough vs Tottenham Hotspur

Nottingham Forest vs Huddersfield Town

Everton vs Bournemouth or Boreham Wood

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