Editor Dave Smith takes a look back at the FA Cup fixtures previewed by the GMF writers - and assesses the results they predicted; starting with his own 'spot on' verdict about events at Old Trafford.
DAVE SMITH
Manchester United 0 Arsenal 2
WHAT SMUDGER SAID: The loss of Giggs, as well as Veron, would be a big blow and whilst United will definitely be up for this one, I'm going for Arsenal to avenge the league defeat in December by coming out on top.
WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED: Even though Ryan Giggs was declared fit to start, and lasted more than 70 minutes, United had no answer to Arsenal's power, pace and aggression - although Sir Alex reckoned they had too much of it at times. He even accused the Gunners of putting pressure on the referee by surrounding him after certain incidents….interesting! Either way, Arsenal deserved their win and whilst the Edu opener was somewhat fortunate, Wiltord's second was sheer class.
BRIAN BEARD
Stoke 0 Chelsea 2
WHAT BEARDO SAID: The home side are very vulnerable at the back, as is illustrated by their plight in the bottom three of Division One. But in Chris Greenacre and Chris Iwelumo they have two strikers who work hard, and non-stop, and they could well cause a few problems for Chelsea's international defence. Not enough to prevent an away win though.
WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED: Pretty much as Brian said although Greenacre and Iwelumo didn't trouble John Terry and William Gallas as much as manager Tony Pulis would have liked. Chelsea's class was evident throughout, but there was no faulting the Stoke boys for effort and if a couple of attempts by James O'Connor had found the target things might have been different. But goals by Jimmy Hasselbaink and sub Jesper Gronkjaer gave the Blues a comfortable win in the end.
MARK SHAIL
Sunderland 0 Watford 1
WHAT SHAILY SAID: I wonder if Howard Wilkinson views this game as a minor distraction or welcome respite away from the club's priority that is Premiership survival. Either way I'm taking Sunderland, with not a great deal of confidence I might add, to seal a place in the quarter-finals at odds of 8/11.
WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED: Given their current Premiership plight, you have to feel a certain amount of sympathy for Sunderland who are completely down on their luck. Howard Wilkinson said he was 'bitterly disappointed' and felt 'cheated' by the twice taken Tommy Smith penalty which sealed Watford's passage to the last eight. Perhaps a draw would have been a fair result, but then Shaily would still have been wrong. Sorry pal.
Sheffield United 2 Walsall 0WHAT SHAILY SAID: Both teams go into this game on the back of a defeat, but last week's results aside all form points to a home win. At last the long suffering Blades' fans have had something to shout about this term and I take United to edge their way into their second quarter final of the season. However, you won't be getting rich on the 4/7 odds on offer.
WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED: Shaily was bang on with this one, although a degree in rocket science was never going to be required to predict a home win. Fair play to Neil Warnock's men though because they keep knocking out the results in the cup and on this occasion goals by on-loan Tommy Mooney and Peter Ndlovu were enough to see them take their place in the quarters. Little wonder Saints boss Gordon Strachan, for one, doesn't fancy being paired with the Blades in the last eight.
IAN CLARKSON
Wolves 3 Rochdale 1
WHAT CLARKY SAID: Wolves to make their undoubted class tell as the lure of a big gun in the quarter finals will prove irresistible to their own big hitters.
WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED: With Paul Ince showing all the tenacity and purpose of old, there was no way he was going to let Wolves lose this one. Clarky was correct with his prediction, in the end, but not before Rochdale had made a brave fightback and were on level terms with 11 minutes remaining after Gavin Melaugh had cancelled out George N'Dah's 32nd-minute opener. But two late strikes by Kenny Miller and Adam Proudlock ended the brave resistance of the Third Division side, meaning Ince is on the final trail again.
Southampton 2 Norwich 0
WHAT CLARKY SAID: The Saints to go marching on and, after a tense struggle, I take them to triumph by a solitary goal.
WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED: The Saints do indeed go marching on towards the Millennium Stadium as two goals in the space of three second-half minutes from Anders Svensson and Jo Tessem saw the Premiership side beat ten-man Norwich to take their place in the last eight. It's the first time in nine years Saints have got this far in the competition and providing they can avoid Sheffield United in the quarter final draw they might fancy their chances of going all the way.
* NOTE: Keep an eye out for the quarter final draw here on givemefootball at lunchtime.
