Sky Bet Championship club Blackburn Rovers host high-flying League Two side Wrexham AFC in the FA Cup Fourth Round tonight, and both teams have already discovered their opponents should they progress from Ewood Park. The Welsh visitors, famously owned by actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, are again living the FA Cup dream run after last year’s success. The Red Dragons upset another second-tier side in Coventry City to reach the same stage during the 2022/23 term, before being knocked out by current Premier League strugglers Sheffield United in a 3-1 replay defeat. Victory for Wrexham in ..read more

On this week’s podcast Brendan McGilligan and Jack Stott discuss the Tyne and Wear Derby ahead of their FA Cup clash this weekend. We look at the history of both sides, major fan incidents and the bubble as the teams look to one up each other and gain their 54th win in the derby. The post Sport Greatest Rivals Podcast – The Tyne and Wear Derby appeared first on Mancunian Matters ..read more

Thousands are set to line Manchester’s streets today to commemorate the life of Sir Bobby Charlton CBE ahead of his funeral at Manchester Cathedral. Manchester United have invited fans of the legendary football player to pay their respects along the route to be taken by the funeral cortege, which will travel from Old Trafford to Manchester Cathedral, setting off after 1pm. Once at the cathedral around 2pm a private ceremony will be held – with around a thousand guests set to attend. The club have stated that the service will not be broadcast in any form. Mancunian Matters will provide compreh ..read more

Manchester United loanee Amad Diallo shone last night, but was unable to prevent Fulham knocking Sunderland out of the FA Cup. Harry Wilson put Fulham in front with a smart, low finish into the bottom corner after being teed up by Carlos Vinícius. Fulham dominated the opening 20 minutes and were good value for their lead. However, Sunderland came into the game as the half wore on and Diallo was involved in everything good Sunderland did. He had a low, swerving shot parried by Fulham keeper Rodak after 32 minutes. However, that was as much as Sunderland could muster and it was 1-0 at half-time ..read more

United’s poor start to the season is the reason Rangnick is at the club, but all is not lost. While the Red Devils have probably left themselves too much to do in terms of mounting a serious title challenge, Rangnick will believe the squad is more than capable of finishing in the top 4. United are still 4th favourites for the title according to experts like those at oddschecker, whose free bets can be used for United games. So by all accounts, the season is certainly salvageable. Fans are less confident than the bookmakers though, with teams like Arsenal and Tottenham showing signs of resurge ..read more

Bolton Wanderers boss Ian Evatt described his side’s FA Cup replay defeat to Stockport County, who sit two divisions below them, as the worst performance he’s seen since he took charge. It was an FA Cup upset for the ages as National League side County won 5-3 in extra-time at a sellout Edgeley Park to book their place in the second round of the cup. The game looked to be Bolton’s after they scored three first half goals, two coming from calamity errors from the home side. But the Hatters weren’t giving up, they kept pushing to create chances and scored three goals, with one coming from the p ..read more

The FA Cup has lost its magic of late, plenty linked to the higher echelons of English football argue. Tell that to the 8,500 Stockport fans who crammed into Edgeley Park for their first round replay last night.  A less than awe-inspiring second round draw away to Rotherham awaited the winner, but this mean’t so much more to the National League side with far loftier ambitions than their current place in the fifth-tier of the domestic game.  The BBC hit the jackpot with this first round tie for the ages after airing a tasty affair between two of the nine Greater Manchester teams in t ..read more

Stockport County boss Dave Challinor relished the opportunity for a “special night under the lights” as his side take on Bolton Wanderers in the first round of the FA Cup. After holding The Trotters to a 2-2 draw in front of a rapturous 5,000 travelling County fans, the return fixture is set to be aired on BBC 2 on Wednesday evening. The 46-year-old told Mancunian Matters that there was “no bigger opportunity” for his side to show their football league ambitions then to take the game to Bolton from the outset. He said: “The best way for us to go and win the game is for us to be on the front f ..read more

Manchester City are set to be on the hunt for fresh firepower this summer as Sergio Aguero heads for the Etihad exit. The Argentina striker sees his contract run out at the end of the season, and a new deal is looking more and more unlikely. The 32-year-old has more than 250 goals in all competitions for City over the last 10 years, but more injuries and less game time mean this campaign is likely to be his last in Manchester. Reports have suggested he has already held talks with both Barcelona and former club Atletico Madrid. Despite Aguero’s absence, Pep Guardiola’s side are in the driving ..read more

Manchester City are set to be on the hunt for fresh firepower this summer as Sergio Aguero heads for the Etihad exit. The Argentina striker sees his contract run out at the end of the season, and a new deal is looking more and more unlikely. The 32-year-old has more than 250 goals in all competitions for City over the last 10 years, but more injuries and less game time mean this campaign is likely to be his last in Manchester. Reports have suggested he has already held talks with both Barcelona and former club Atletico Madrid. Despite Aguero’s absence, Pep Guardiola’s side are in the driving ..read more