Arsenal/Cardiff, 7.45pm, Setanta Sports 1, Free Bets, Best Odds

The bizarre decision to play this fourth round replay after all the fifth round matches have taken place just to please the TV companies caused so much confusion that The Guardian somehow forgot that Burnley even existed. Both teams start tonight on lengthy unbeaten runs so cliche dictates that something has to give. Our friends at chickendinner aren’t convinced though and have compiled five reasons why Cardiff won’t be beaten in ninety minutes:

1. Cardiff are unbeaten in thirteen games in all competitions, a run that dates back to mid-November.

2. The Bluebirds have kept three straight clean sheets and have lost less away games than any other team in the Championship.

3. Playing away from home didn’t hinder Cardiff’s cup progress last year either with three of their four wins prior to the semi-finals coming on the road, including a 2-0 win at Middlesbrough.

Indifferent sides can get fourth round out of the way quickly

The FA Cup is set to lose a little bit more of its magic tomorrow as Manchester Utd and Tottenham have both conspired to put out weakened sides for Saturday’s tea time clash.

Both managers have made it clear their priorities lay elsewhere: Fergie wants to concentrate on the league and Champions League, ‘Arry wants to try and make his palyers look like they give a shit. It’s clear that a replay in the event of a draw would be most unwelcome.

Fortnately, referee Graham Poll has come to both side’s rescue by discovering a little-known replay-avoiding loophole:

Having studied the rulebook yesterday, I learned that it is within the regulations of the FA Cup that extra-time can be played in the first tie if clubs have mutually agreed to play the extra 30 minutes should it be necessary.

Permission is not required from the FA, just confirmation of the clubs’ agreement in writing. Then they just need to inform the referee of the agreement.

We can’t think of an instance in which this rule has been invoked (correct us if we’re wrong), but it seems like a good idea in this circumstance.

Southend/Chelsea, 8.10pm, ITV1, Free Bets, Best Odds

Rather than boring you with obvious reasons why Chelsea stand a decent chance of beating League One opposition, our friends at chickendinner chose to go against the grain and argue what others might consider a lost cause. Southend are available at 15/1 on Betfair to win at home to Luiz Felipe Scolari’s out-of-form side and here are six reasons why they stand a decent chance:

1. Southend masterminded a win over a Manchester United team including Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney in the Carling Cup two seasons ago and were robbed by an offside Jermain Defoe extra-time goal against Spurs in the next round.

2. Chelsea have won just one of their last six games and were knocked out the League Cup by Burnley in November.

3. The Blues aren’t used to playing away in the FA Cup and have won just two of their six games on the road in the competition, losing three.