Friday, 5 November 2021

FA CUP FIRST ROUND PREVIEW 2021-22

Bradford City versus Exeter City

Exeter City will cross swords with former Plymouth Argyle manager Derek Adams when they travel to Bradford City in the first round of the FA Cup. 

Both sides have some recent pedigree in the competition, the Bantams famously knocked Chelsea out the cup in the 2013-14 season and the Grecians took Liverpool to a replay in the 2016-17 campaign. 

Matt Taylor's side head into the tie having lost only once in 15 games and are also eight league places higher than Bradford (Exeter are 4th in League Two, the Bantams are 12th) and confidence will be high amongst the Grecians' camp.

Sheffield Wednesday versus Plymouth Argyle

For the second time this season Plymouth Argyle manager Ryan Lowe will face one of his former clubs as the Pilgrims travel to South Yorkshire to face Sheffield Wednesday - for a fixture that will be broadcast live on ITV1 on Sunday.  

Lowe spent the 2011-12 season at Hillsborough and helped Wednesday to win promotion from League One under his fellow Scouser Dave Jones. 

The two sides faced each other last September at Home Park, and Argyle came away as 3-0 victors. However, the Owls, who are managed by former Torquay United defender Darren Moore, will be going into the tie in confident mood following a 3-0 win over Sunderland in midweek.

Yate Town versus Yeovil Town

After beating local rivals Weymouth in the fourth qualifying round, Yeovil Town will be looking avoid becoming the latest cup scalp to be claimed by Southern Premier League South side Yate Town. 

The Bluebells will be competing at the first round stage for the first time since 2012 and have already defeated National League opposition in the form of Dover Athletic in the cup this season.  

Nevertheless, the Glovers, who faced Manchester United in the competition in the 2014-15 and 2017-18 seasons respectively, will be doing everything they can to avoid falling to an upset.