Football story by Dominic Taylor, Tue, 10 Jan 2006 17:04:00 GMT


LONDON - Holders Arsenal have drawn Bolton in an away tie in the fourth round of the FA Cup and Bolton boss Sam Allardyce is relishing the prospect of a revenge on the Gunners, who had beaten them in the FA Cup quarter finals last season.

"I hope their players aren't relishing the fact they have got to come and play here and that they are thinking to themselves that it won't be easy," Allardyce said on the prospect of having the Gunners at the Reebok Stadium. "It's not so long ago we managed to beat them 2-0, comfortably. That might be on their minds and it will be fresh in our supporters' minds."

Arsenal lost 2-0 to Bolton in the Premier League last month and Arsene Wenger will have that in mind as his side prepare for their Bolton match. "Every draw is OK for us. We'll go there and have good memories of last season and we'll go there and do it again. I don't mind getting a Premier League team in the FA Cup. It is not more difficult than any other division," he said.

Elsewhere in the draw, Liverpool take on a rejuvenated Portsmouth, while Leicester, who beat Tottenham have drawn second division strugglers Southampton. The winners of the Nuneaton-Middlesbrough match will take on Coventry and Manchester United are slated to play Wolves provided they overcome Burton in the replay.

Leyton Orient, who overcame Fulham are drawn with Charlton and midfielder Craig Easton was of the opinion that it was a good draw for them, "We are happy with Charlton. We're going away from home again but we'll approach it the same as against Fulham. You never know what can happen. We'll give it our best shot." The matches are slated to be held on January 28/29.

FA Cup Fourth Round Draw
Stoke City/Tamworth v Barnsley/Walsall
Cheltenham Town/Chester City v Newcastle United
Coventry v Nuneaton Borough/Middlesbrough
West Brom/Reading v Torquay/Birmingham
Portsmouth v Liverpool
Leicester v Southampton
Bolton v Arsenal
Aston Villa v Port Vale
Brentford v Sunderland
Manchester City v Wigan/Leeds
Millwall/Everton v Chelsea
Preston v Crystal Palace
West Ham v Blackburn
Colchester v Derby
Charlton v Leyton Orient
Wolves v Burton/Manchester United

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