LONDON -- The records suggest mismatches. But history has shown otherwise. Such is the charm of England's FA Cup, which is down this weekend to the 32-game stage -- historically where a few rich clubs are fleeced by the poor.
"This is the weekend where the big clubs come into play against the small ones with upsets very possible," said Ian Wassell, spokesman for bookmakers Ladbrokes. "We expect about ?10 million [$5.5 million] to be bet, which is as much as the FA final draws."
Saturday's match between Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur and third-division Hereford United is a classic David versus Goliath.
Tottenham is tied for third behind league-leader Newcastle and fresh off an impressive 4-1 thumping this week of Manchester United.
Hereford United's claim to fame is advancing for one season in the mid-1970s to the second division. The club is tied for 15th in the third division.
In over their heads? You bet. And manager Graham Turner and his players seem to like it that way.
The club, which turned down about ?100,000 to play at Tottenham's pitch, is preparing for the home match before a sellout of 9,000 by doing water aerobics and relaxing at a remote lodge.
"With an element of luck, a few individual inspired performances and a hope that Tottenham will be below their best gives us belief we can pull it off," Turner said. "Spurs won't fancy coming to a place of traditional giant killers."
In 1972, Hereford knocked Newcastle out of the FA Cup 2-1.
Other Premier League teams under pressure include Aston Villa at Gravesend, Bolton at Bradford, Manchester City at Leicester, Coventry at Plymouth, Queens Park Rangers at Tranmere, Sheffield Wednesday at Charlton and Middlesbrough at Notts County.
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Portuguese soccer clubs Sporting and Chaves will have to play the remaining two minutes of last Saturday's first division match which had to be abandoned with the score at 1-1 when the floodlights failed in the 88th minute.
The sport's council has ordered the clubs to complete the remaining time, at the Chaves stadium Jan. 11.
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Paul Gascoigne's controversial booking in Rangers' 7-0 win over Hibernian last Saturday has been upheld after referee Dougie Smith failed to see the funny side of the incident.
The England midfielder, 28, spotting that the referee had dropped his yellow card on the pitch, picked it up and "booked" himself for missing an easy goal chance shortly before half-time.
Fans of both clubs laughed as Gascoigne showed himself the card and waved it in the air as he returned it to Smith, who duly booked him for "ungentlemanly conduct." Friday, Gascoine was suspended for two games for having too many bookings.
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A Spanish team has discovered the reason why it finds it easier to score away than at home -- both crossbars at its ground are 20 centimeters too low.
The goalposts at the Castilia stadium used by third division Castellon are 2.24 meters high instead of the regulation 2.44 meters. The problem, which was probably caused by groundsmen filling in the holes left in the area by goalkeepers, was first noticed by Castellon coach Paco Martinez.
Castellon have scored 12 goals away this season, but have only managed eight at home. ()
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