"Chelsea do have some extremely good players, and I do think they can cause United some problems". Mark Lawrenson's FA Cup predictions

BBC Sport's football expert Mark Lawrenson has taken a look at this weekend's games and given his verdict on who will make it into round five.

Friday

QPR vs Watford

There are only seven Premier League teams left in the FA Cup and at least one more will go out this round because Chelsea play Manchester United.

For Championship teams such as QPR - and lower - getting to the quarter-finals is massive because of the amount of prize money and TV money they will get, as well as the kudos.

I don't see Steve McClaren's team making it to the last eight, though.

QPR are on a bad run in the league, and have lost their past five games, but I also think Watford will be able to deal with their physicality, as well as having more quality.

Lawro's prediction: 1:2


Saturday

Brighton v Derby County

Derby have just slipped out of the Championship play-off places but I don't think that matters too much at the moment.

They are not going to get automatic promotion now but they are still having a decent season and, as long as they are in touch with the top six going into late March, they will have every chance of making it.

The Rams have already beaten one Premier League team on the south coast, beating Southampton on penalties in round three.

But I just think Brighton will be lying in wait for them at the weekend, and I think we will see their manager Chris Hughton pick a strong line-up for this tie.

The Seagulls need a positive result to give them a lift after their poor form in the league, and I think they will get one.

Lawro's prediction: 2:1


Newport v Man City

Manchester City went out of the FA Cup to a League One team, Wigan, at this stage last season and City boss Pep Guardiola will be wary of another shock.

Guardiola can make a lot of changes to his team without seriously weakening it, but he has got to pick a side that can cope with Newport's approach.

You would think he will know what to expect - the Welsh side will be looking to get the ball in the box as much and as quickly as possible, and the pitch at Rodney Parade is not great either.

City have got to deal with it, and the fact there are no replays from this round onwards adds an extra edge to this tie, because it will be settled on the night - they cannot take the tie back to the Etihad Stadium like Tottenham did when they drew in the fourth round last season and won at Wembley.

I still think City will get the job done though. I cannot see him taking Newport too lightly.

Lawro's prediction: 0:2

Sunday

Bristol City v Wolves

Wolves had the better chances against Newcastle on Monday and probably should have won that game, but the great thing for them is that they came back to nick a point.

Their late equaliser was not exactly a typical Nuno Espirito Santo goal, but he won't care - his team got themselves a point out of it.

Nuno's side already showed they could scrap when they got past Shrewsbury in the last round. This is not going to be a culture shock for them, though, because Bristol City don't just lump it, they try to play through midfield.

Form-wise, City are absolutely flying too, with nine successive wins in all competitions, but I would still back Wolves to find a way of getting through.

Lawro's prediction: 0:1


Doncaster v Crystal Palace

Doncaster are in the fifth round for the first time in 63 years and they fully deserve to be. They battered my lot, Preston, in round three for starters.

Rovers will fancy their chances in this tie too - they are going well in League One, they are at home and there will be a great atmosphere.

There is a lot of prize money up for grabs too, which would make a huge difference to a club of their size.

Crystal Palace will be ready for all of the above, though. Defensively they are very well organised and I think attack-wise they have been playing well of late too.

Wilfried Zaha could be suspended if he loses his appeal against the red card he was shown against Southampton, but Michy Batshuayi is eligible and I think Palace will win in 90 minutes.

Lawro's prediction: 0:1


Monday

Chelsea v Man Utd

Chelsea's performance was pathetic in their 6-0 defeat by Manchester City last weekend.

Whatever the future holds for Blues boss Mauricio Sarri, he did not help himself with the way he used N'Golo Kante in that game.

Sarri went to the home of the champions, knowing how good they are, with a midfielder who is one of the best in the world at protecting his defence in his team - but played him out of position yet again.

It is as if the Chelsea boss thinks that if he does not play Jorginho at the base of his midfield, 'Sarri-ball' won't work.

Well, I am sorry - the first thing you do when you go to City is try to make sure you don't get beaten, and the best chance Chelsea had of doing that was by playing Kante in his best position.

This is actually a good fixture for Chelsea to bounce back, though. Whatever their players think of their manager and his tactics, they will not lack any motivation for a home game against Manchester United.

One of the reasons Paris St-Germain won at Old Trafford on Tuesday was that they were very effective at stopping United, and also very good at keeping the ball.

They were just too clever for United and were almost toying with them at the end.

It is going to be interesting to see how United's interim boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer responds to his first defeat, because he has had an outstanding run.

On the back of that result come two big games - this one and the home league match against Liverpool next weekend. Those games become huge for him, because they are so important for United's season.

Yes, I know people keep pointing at different games and saying that they are the true test for Solskjaer, but that kind of pressure goes with the job.

PSG in the Champions League, Chelsea in the FA Cup and Liverpool in the league are the type of games United managers are judged on, temporary or not. If he loses all three, then of course people will start questioning him.

Now, everyone is looking at him and asking if he and his players can forget the PSG game and go to Chelsea and win, which is never easy regardless of who is in charge at Stamford Bridge.

I am actually going to go with Chelsea to get through. That might sound bizarre after what I have just said about them, but that is just the way things are with them at the moment.

Let's not forget Chelsea do have some extremely good players, and I do think they can cause United some problems.

Lawro's prediction: 2:1

Source: BBC

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EPLmaster
44.2% WR-1.82% ROI
I'm waiting for big sensations
Chelsea vs United. I think United will win