This post originally appeared back in December 2005, and now we have reached the quarter-final stage for the second season running I thought it worth re-posting to illustrate our record since 1981, and that back to back last eight appearances is certainly bucking the trend.
Although Scunthorpe United at home should not present too much of a challenge in the 3rd round of the FA Cup, there always seems to be some trepidation with City and cup matches due to some in-glorious cup exists over the years.
So, with help from MCFC stats I've traced back the last twenty-five years of FA Cup performances since the 1981 final to see how likely it may be that Sylvain Distin could be lifting the cup come next May.
1982 - 4th round. Coventry (h) 1-3
1983 - 4th round. Brighton (a) 0-4
1984 - 3rd round. Blackpool (a) 1-2
1985 - 3rd round. Coventry (a) 1-2
1986 - 4th round*. Watford (h) 1-3
1987 - 3rd round. United (a) 0-1
1988 - Q/Final. Liverpool (h) 0-4
1989 - 4th round. Brentford (a) 1-3
1990 - 3rd round*. Millwall (a) 1-3
1991 - 5th round. Notts County (a) 0-1
1992 - 3rd round. Middlesbrough (a) 1-2
1993 - Q/Final. Tottenham (h) 2-4
1994 - 4th round. Cardiff (a) 0-1
1995 - 5th round. Newcastle (a) 1-3
1996 - 5th round. United (a) 1-2
1997 - 5th round. Middlesbrough (a) 0-1
1998 - 4th round. West Ham (h) 1-2
1999 - 3rd round. Wimbledon (a) 0-1
2000 - 4th round. Leeds (h) 2-5
2001- 5th round. Liverpool (a) 2-4
2002 - 5th round. Newcastle (a) 0-1
2003 - 3rd round. Liverpool (h) 0-1
2004 - 5th round. United (a) 2-4
2005 - 3rd round. Oldham (a) 0-1
* denotes replay.
Looking back over history, it does seem that we should be safe with Scunthorpe at home bearing in mind when we have been dumped out of the 3rd round by a lower league side it has generally been away from home.
There has been the occasional foray into the quarter-finals which have resulted in a huge anti-climax, and a few 5th round appearances which began to get everyone a thinking of a decent run 'if we get the right draw'.
However, the majority of FA Cup exits appear to be at the 4th round stage with defeats both home and away and to both higher and lower league opposition.
Perhaps May 13th 2006 is a date which need not be kept free?
Although Scunthorpe United at home should not present too much of a challenge in the 3rd round of the FA Cup, there always seems to be some trepidation with City and cup matches due to some in-glorious cup exists over the years.
So, with help from MCFC stats I've traced back the last twenty-five years of FA Cup performances since the 1981 final to see how likely it may be that Sylvain Distin could be lifting the cup come next May.
1982 - 4th round. Coventry (h) 1-3
1983 - 4th round. Brighton (a) 0-4
1984 - 3rd round. Blackpool (a) 1-2
1985 - 3rd round. Coventry (a) 1-2
1986 - 4th round*. Watford (h) 1-3
1987 - 3rd round. United (a) 0-1
1988 - Q/Final. Liverpool (h) 0-4
1989 - 4th round. Brentford (a) 1-3
1990 - 3rd round*. Millwall (a) 1-3
1991 - 5th round. Notts County (a) 0-1
1992 - 3rd round. Middlesbrough (a) 1-2
1993 - Q/Final. Tottenham (h) 2-4
1994 - 4th round. Cardiff (a) 0-1
1995 - 5th round. Newcastle (a) 1-3
1996 - 5th round. United (a) 1-2
1997 - 5th round. Middlesbrough (a) 0-1
1998 - 4th round. West Ham (h) 1-2
1999 - 3rd round. Wimbledon (a) 0-1
2000 - 4th round. Leeds (h) 2-5
2001- 5th round. Liverpool (a) 2-4
2002 - 5th round. Newcastle (a) 0-1
2003 - 3rd round. Liverpool (h) 0-1
2004 - 5th round. United (a) 2-4
2005 - 3rd round. Oldham (a) 0-1
* denotes replay.
Looking back over history, it does seem that we should be safe with Scunthorpe at home bearing in mind when we have been dumped out of the 3rd round by a lower league side it has generally been away from home.
There has been the occasional foray into the quarter-finals which have resulted in a huge anti-climax, and a few 5th round appearances which began to get everyone a thinking of a decent run 'if we get the right draw'.
However, the majority of FA Cup exits appear to be at the 4th round stage with defeats both home and away and to both higher and lower league opposition.
Perhaps May 13th 2006 is a date which need not be kept free?