Preston North End v Middlesbrough FA Cup || Preston v Boro big match facts

PRESTON v MIDDLESBROUGH BIG MATCH FACTS

Boro are on a roll now after three consecutive wins against Coventry in the fourth round, Chelsea last Saturday and away at Stuttgart on Thursday. A fourth win today will see us make the quarter finals for the first time since 2002 and only the second time in nine years.

It would be nice to finish the job in one today as we have needed replays to get past non-league Nuneaton and Coventry City to make the last sixteen.

But victory is no foregone conclusion as Billy Davies' side are unbeaten in twenty-five matches having won twelve and drawn thirteen in all competitions since late September.

Boro have not been put out of the cup by a lower division side since Wrexham beat us 2-1 at the Racecourse Ground in the third round in December 1999. North End haven't eliminated a top flight club since beating Derby 3-0 at Deepdale in a third round tie on 16th January 1979. Alex Bruce scored twice and Francis Burns got the other.

The last time that we met Preston was in the third round of the FA Cup on 10th January 1987 at Ayresome Park. Preston won 1-0 that day with a goal from Ronnie Hildersley. It is the only time that Preston have beaten us in our last five meetings.

Boro and Preston have met five times in the FA Cup with Preston having won three and Boro two but North End have not appeared in the FA Cup quarter-finals since March 1966 when they took Manchester United to a replay before being knocked out.

Preston North End are celebrating their 125th anniversary this season and were the first club ever to win the league and FA Cup double in 1888/89 having spent that season unbeaten in all competitions.

Preston have made the FA Cup final seven times and won it twice but you have to go back to 1938 for the last time Preston lifted the trophy. Bill Shankly was in the side that beat Huddersfield through a penalty from George Mutch in the 119th minute.

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