Boreham Wood, Marine and Stockport are hoping for romance but a shadow of uncertainty is hanging over the competition
Chorley’s home tie against Derby always looked ripe for an upset and still does, albeit with the Championship side now in the role of underdogs against hosts from four divisions below. An outbreak of Covid-19 means Wayne Rooney and his senior Derby players will be watching from home as a team of youngsters deputise in order to fulfil a fixture that doesn’t so much scream ‘romance’ as ‘desperation’. While Chorley’s chances of advancing have been hugely increased, their manager Jamie Vermiglio has been left deflated by the fixture’s reduction in status to little more than a box-ticking exercise, but unlike Southampton’s game against Shrewsbury, at least it’s going ahead. At a time when the virus looks likely to wreak havoc on fixture lists in all four divisions, there is little wriggle-room even without these added headaches. Whether or not Chorley’s game against Derby should be played this weekend is open to serious question, much like the wisdom of even attempting to carry on with this season’s FA Cup. BG
Chorley v Derby, Saturday 12.15pm (all times GMT)
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Blackpool v West Brom, Saturday 3pm
Newport County v Brighton, Sunday 7.45pm
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Stockport v West Ham, Monday 8pm
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