Summary

  • First quarter-final goes to replay

  • Both teams in Monday's semi-final draw

  • Aston Villa v West Brom (17:30 GMT)

  • Watch Final Score via 'live coverage'

  1. Party pooperspublished at 10:20 Greenwich Mean Time 7 March 2015

    There may be plenty of people backing Bradford City to continue their fairytale FA Cup run today, but Reading are determined to spoil the party.

    The Royals have certainly been impressive themselves en route to the quarter-finals, having secured away wins at Championship rivals Huddersfield, Cardiff and Derby.

    "What Bradford have achieved in the competition is fantastic, but it's up to us to be the spoilers of the party," says Reading boss Steve Clarke. "We've done well in the cup as well. We've had three difficult games, away ties at fellow Championship clubs. We deserve to be in the quarters."

  2. Postpublished at 10:18 Greenwich Mean Time 7 March 2015

    Dan Walker
    BBC Sport

    Dan WalkerImage source, Dan Walker

    "I appear to be in a helicopter over Aston Villa with the FA Cup."

  3. On the radiopublished at 10:18 Greenwich Mean Time 7 March 2015

    BBC Radio 5 live

    It's a busy day of football on BBC Radio 5 live today, kicking off with FA Cup build-up from 12:00 to 12:45 GMT with Mark Chapman.

    That's quickly followed by the day's first FA Cup game of Bradford v Reading, with John Murray and Chris Waddle from 12:45 to 15:00 GMT at Valley Parade.

    It's over to the Premier League from 15:00 to 17:00 GMT as Conor McNamara and Steve Claridge bring you live coverage of QPR v Tottenham from Loftus Road, followed by Sports Report at 17:00 GMT.

    Then back to the FA Cup action for Aston Villa v West Brom from 17:30 to 19:25 GMT with Ian Brown and Kevin Phillips at Villa Park. You can have your say on all of today's action on 606 from 19:25 to 21:00 GMT.

    Click on the Live Coverage tab at the top of this page to listen to all the action.

  4. What to watch and whenpublished at 10:13 Greenwich Mean Time 7 March 2015

    Football Focus BBC Sport
    Football Focus

    TV coverage kicks off with Football Focus on BBC One, from 12:10 to 13:00 GMT, with Dan Walker, Dion Dublin and John Hartson addressing the issues of the week.

    Final Score with Jason Mohammad, Kevin Kilbane and Stuart Pearce follows on the Red Button and online from 14:30 GMT and the programme is also live on BBC One from 16:30 to 17:00 GMT - except in Scotland where viewers can watch Sportscene.

    Match of the Day Live's coverage of the Aston Villa v West Brom FA Cup clash begins at 17.20 GMT on BBC One and the Red Button, with host Gary Lineker joined by Alan Shearer and Jermaine Jenas.

    The coverage continues with Match of the Day on BBC One from 22:45 to 23:15 GMT, while viewers in Scotland relive the day's Scottish Cup Highlights on Sportscene, followed by MOTD from 23:30 to 00:00 GMT.

    And you can round off your day with MOTD: FA Cup Highlights on BBC One from 23:15 to 23:55 GMT (00:00-00:40, BBC One Scotland). You can also follow the action by clicking the Live Coverage tab at the top of this page.

  5. Evans and Cisse bannedpublished at 10:12 Greenwich Mean Time 7 March 2015

    Jonny Evans, 27, had denied the charge which related to an incident with Papiss Cisse in Manchester United's 1-0 win over Newcastle on Wednesday.

    "Mr Evans denied the charge but it was found proven," said an FA statement.

    Cisse, 29, accepted the charge and has been suspended for an extra game as he has already received a ban this season.

  6. BREAKING NEWSpublished at 10:03 Greenwich Mean Time 7 March 2015

    Jonny Evans will serve a six-match suspension and Papiss Cisse a seven-game ban after their spitting incident.

  7. FA Cup final or getting married?published at 10:02 Greenwich Mean Time 7 March 2015

    WeddingImage source, Getty Images

    Few would have thought that come March Bradford City would still be in the competition, not least Bradford City forward Billy Clarke, who already has plans for FA Cup final weekend in May. He is due to get married the day after the final.

    What a conundrum. Would not like to be in his shoes...

    You can hear more about Bradford City, including a look at the psychological requirements to kill giants on BBC World Service right now.

  8. Do they dare to dream?published at 09:55 Greenwich Mean Time 7 March 2015

    Bradford CityImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Bradford City players line up to receive the FA Cup after beating Newcastle in the 1911 final

    Bradford City have undoubtedly been the story of the latter rounds of the FA Cup, having dumped out Chelsea and Sunderland on their way to the quarter-final.

    Such exploits puts the League One side in the slightly unusual position of being considered favourites for today's quarter-final against Reading, who play in the division above the Bantams.

    Victory for Bradford will not only seal a return to Wembley for the first time since their League Cup final defeat by Swansea in 2013, but also a first appearance in the FA Cup semi-finals since 1911.

    They went on to win the FA Cup that year, too. Could they...?

  9. Join the debate at #bbcfootballpublished at 09:53 Greenwich Mean Time 7 March 2015

    Manchester CityImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Did former Manchester City striker Jo once buy some jeans off a stranger to get into a club? Matt N says so...

    Ciaran Fitzgerald:, external Papa Boupa Diop asked me to carry his posh coat while he went up to sing a song in Corinthian bar in Glasgow

    Matt N:, external Jo once bought my mates jeans so he could get into a nightclub in Leeds with Robinho as he had tracksuit bottoms on.

    Apex Sports:, external Scott Parker asked me if i had a spare pen, thankfully I did and after writing something down gave me his autograph.

    Has a footballer ever made a small request or asked for a favour from you or a friend? Let us know via #bbcfootball,, external text us on 81111 (UK only) or pop your anecdote down on the BBC Sport Facebook and Google+ pages.

  10. Run Mario, Runpublished at 09:47 Greenwich Mean Time 7 March 2015

    Daily MirrorImage source, Daily Mirror

    The Daily Mirror back page, external goes in on the agent of Mario Balotelli saying the striker has become a better player at Liverpool, despite the striker starting just one game in the last four months.

    "Right now, I think Mario makes a very interesting development for his career," says Mino Raiola. "He found a coach (Brendan Rodgers) who asks him things that had never requested of it until now. Including the fact of running without the ball."

    Bradford face Reading in the 12:45 GMT FA Cup quarter-final kick-off today and the Mirror also has a piece with sports psychologist John Muranka, external who has been working Bantams duo Billy Clarke and James Hanson.

    "It's all about being well prepared and that's not necessarily being too excited or keyed up for it," says Muranka. "That's not always the best state to be in. The players have to be calm, mentally focused and have the right attitude."

  11. Rodgers targets trophiespublished at 09:40 Greenwich Mean Time 7 March 2015

    Daily ExpressImage source, Daily Express

    There's a lot of Liverpool stories doing the rounds today, with the main one being Reds boss Brendan Rodgers saying he wants to stay at the club and, as the Daily Express puts it,, external "establish a trophy-laden dynasty at Anfield".

  12. The Silent Disasterpublished at 09:34 Greenwich Mean Time 7 March 2015

    IndependentImage source, Independent

    The Independent, external recalls the tragedy of the fire at Bradford City's stadium in 1985 through the accounts of two police officers and how a play about events nearly 30 years on "is reawakening the events" of "football's forgotten tragedy".

  13. Postpublished at 09:30 Greenwich Mean Time 7 March 2015

    We'll take a closer look at today's FA Cup games in a bit but time now for a gander at what stories are dominating the back pages of today's newspapers...

  14. Join the debate at #bbcfootballpublished at 09:27 Greenwich Mean Time 7 March 2015

    Cristiano RonaldoImage source, Getty Images

    Max Baggins-Craig:, external C.Ronaldo came to mine for tea & a fancy cake, I taught him everything he knows lol (except the tantrums & diving).

    I'm no psychologist Max, but something tells me you are telling porkies...

  15. Postpublished at 09:22 Greenwich Mean Time 7 March 2015

    There is not just the FA Cup today with a solitary Premier League fixture taking place as QPR host Tottenham.

    QPR have a huge incentive to pick up three points as it will move them out of the relegation zone. A win for Spurs, meanwhile, will see them climb into the top six.

    We'll have full live text commentary on that game, with build-up getting under way at 13:45 GMT.

  16. Join the debate at #bbcfootballpublished at 09:17 Greenwich Mean Time 7 March 2015

    BBC Radio 5 live

    Diego CostaImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Got any spare milk?

    As usual on a Saturday morning, we are linking up with the Danny Baker breakfast show on BBC Radio 5 live and today we are asking for you to tell us about a time a footballer has made small requests or asked for a favour from you or a friend.

    Has Diego Costa popped round to ask for splash of milk? Thierry Henry caught short with his bus fare and asked if you could lend him 10p?

    To kick things off, Bradford City striker Jon Stead once asked me to pass him a bag at a well-known Swedish furniture store on the outskirts of Huddersfield circa 2001. Starting big...

    I'm sure you can think of better so let us know via #bbcfootball,, external text us on 81111 (UK only) or pop your anecdote down on the BBC Sport Facebook, external and Google+, external pages.

  17. Coming up in the FA Cuppublished at 09:14 Greenwich Mean Time 7 March 2015

    We've got loads to get through this morning but first things first, here is what is coming up in the FA Cup this weekend.

    Saturday 7 March:

    Bradford City v Reading (12:45 GMT)

    Aston Villa v West Brom (17:30)

    Sunday 8 March:

    Liverpool v Blackburn (16:00)

    Monday 9 March:

    Man Utd v Arsenal (19:45)

  18. What a ride it has been....published at 09:10 Greenwich Mean Time 7 March 2015

    Blyth SpartansImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Blyth Spartans captured the imagination of football fans with their FA Cup giant-killing exploits in the early rounds of the FA Cup

    Good morning!

    It has been a memorable FA Cup so far this season, with upsets, thrilling fixtures and high-scoring results but seven months since it all began we are right at the business end of the competition.

    The quarter-finals kick-off today, with the victorious four teams securing a glamour semi-final tie at Wembley and moving to within one win of reaching the final.

    The stakes are high and with three of the last eight from outside the Premier League, could we be in for a one or two more shocks this weekend?

  19. From Staines to Wembley...published at 08:50 Greenwich Mean Time 7 March 2015

    Back in August, Staines Lammas overcame Bedfont Sports 3-2 in front of just 155 spectators. The significance? The Lammas were the first team to win in this year's FA Cup.

    Three-hundred-and-sixty-eight clubs kicked off the adventure but now just eight remain, each one hoping to secure a place in the semi-finals and with it, a trip to Wembley.

    But who will be successful?

    The most in-form team in the Premier League...

    LiverpoolImage source, Getty Images

    The reigning champions...

    ArsenalImage source, Getty Images

    Or the plucky underdogs...

    ArsenalImage source, Getty Images