Embarrassment of riches as FA Cup games fill weekend schedule

It's FA Cup overload this week with some great ties in prospect. Coventry v Charlton marks a welcome return of Gordon Strachan's Sky Blues albeit shorn of their two gifted Moroccans, and a first chance this season to see Alan Curbishley's First Division pace-setters.

There's a simultaneous live match on CABLE's channel 18, as Manchester United begin making up their lost league fixtures with a home game against struggling Middlesbrough. A United win would put the champions back on top of the table.

On Sunday it's back to the Cup with a vengeance and a double-header starting with the early match as Leeds visit Villa. Both these teams were seen in last week's live Premiership games (Villa in a bore draw with Chelsea, Leeds winning stylishly at Sunderland) and, frankly, if their form then is repeated here, Leeds should win by a mile. However, Villa beat Leeds in the league at Elland Road recently, and Paul Merson is starting to shine again.

That's followed by Chelsea v Cup specialists Leicester.

On Monday (Tuesday morning) it's Blackburn v Newcastle, which sees United strikers Alan Shearer and Kevin Gallacher take on their former club.

Then, for good measure, on Wednesday, it's more Manchester United league action as the champions visit Sheffield Wednesday, whose recent mini-revival should be sorely tested.