Wolverhampton Wanderers will be bidding to end two prolonged streaks when they square off against Bournemouth in the FA Cup fifth round.
The two sides head into the fixture at the Vitality Stadium having contested the corresponding Premier League game last weekend, Wolves prevailing by a 1-0 scoreline on that occasion.
However, there is a 21-point gap in Bournemouth's favour in the top-flight table, the Cherries sitting in seventh position with Wolves down in 17th place.
Saturday's encounter gives both Vitor Pereira and Andoni Iraola a welcome break from the pressure that comes with trying to achieve their respective goals in the Premier League.
Nevertheless, both clubs will view the FA Cup as a realistic opportunity to to lift a trophy and secure European football for next season.
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What streaks are Wolves looking to end?
Wolves' victory on the South coast last weekend has provided them with a chance to end a streak that has lasted since the 2002-03 campaign.
Not since that term have Wolves won two away matches against the same opponent in the same season, two victories having been posted at Reading on that occasion with the clubs also squaring off in the First Division playoffs.
Meanwhile, Wolves are also bidding to reach the quarter-finals of the FA Cup in consecutive years for the first time since they did so in 1993-94 and 1994-95.
Then under Gary O'Neil's guidance, Wolves reached the last eight in 2023-24 before they conceded two stoppage-time goals to lose 3-2 at home to Coventry City.
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A rare FA Cup meeting
Bournemouth and Wolves will be meeting in the FA Cup for just the third time in their respective histories, the last occasion coming all the way back in 1956-57.
The two teams are locked on one win apiece. Up until 1985, those two ties represented their only competitive meetings ahead of their fixtures in Division Three.
In 10 Premier League encounters that have taken place since 2018, Wolves have won five and Bournemouth three, with those three triumphs all coming in the last five outings.
However, Bournemouth have not defeated Wolves in any of their five home Premier League fixtures, posting two draws and three defeats.
Darren Plant
