Are Cup Draws Favouring Manchester City?

Manchester City have been drawn away to Oxford United for the second successive season as they continue to defend their trophy. The blues have won the competition in two successive seasons, and beat Oxford on their way last season, winning 3-0, and the draw has left some supporters, mainly those who support the red half of Liverpool, questioning the validity of the draw.

Despite Premier League teams United, Liverpool, Everton, Leicester and Aston Villa remaining in the draw, the blues drew the League One outfit, while neighbours United are at home to Colchester. Liverpool will face Villa at Villa Park while Everton host Leicester in the other tie.

It is true that City have been fortunate in cup draws over recent seasons, and this year, we have faced Preston away and Southampton at home, just four days after they were trounced 9-0 at home to Leicester. Last year they faced Oxford United, Fulham, and Burton Albion in the competition, while the season before, City were away at West Brom, and home to Wolves and Bristol City before they won the trophy. And in the FA Cup last season, City were drawn at home to Rotherham and Burnley and had trips to Newport and Swansea, before facing Brighton in the semi-final and Watford in the final.

But it also needs noting that, in the past City have been drawn at Wigan (both home and away and lost both), Middlesbrough and Oldham Athletic, none of which were world beaters (no disrespect) and got beaten.

But those facts haven’t stopped opposing fans from claiming the draw is fixed, even asking for the results of competition draws to be investigated. Maybe they’ll start a petition.

The thing is, you can only play the teams you are drawn against, and for us, it’s Oxford United, who are no pushovers themselves, so it’s a bit disrespectful to claim City have an easy draw.

The next round of fixtures will be week commencing 16^th December.