Sholing vs SE Dons - FA Cup

Season-defining implications hang over this FA Cup clash at the home ground, where Sholing host SE Dons on October 17, 2026 knowing the result could shape the run-in for both clubs. Manchester City face the K-League All-Stars in Seoul on Wednesday as part of their pre-season tour of Asia.

Both camps will view the FA Cup meeting at the home ground as an opportunity to put a marker down, regardless of where they currently stand. The hosts will be looking to find their rhythm and put a run of results together. The visitors will travel in the hope that a change of scene can spark a turnaround, whatever the form book says. The midfielder faces a significant period on the sidelines after being stretchered off during Uruguay's 1-0 defeat to Spain in the recent FIFA World Cup.

Tactically, the contest promises a fascinating contrast. Sholing will look to impose their style on home soil, while SE Dons are likely to have ideas of their own about how to gain the upper hand. But it was a dual role for Rayo because he was also among the top dozen players for blocking crosses and winning possession in the defensive third.

Game-changers are scattered across both line-ups, and the contest may well be decided by which side's match-winners deliver on the day. How each side deals with the other's danger men — and who takes their chances when they come — will be central to the outcome. Carlos Baleba looks to be staying with Brighton(Image: PA) Manchester United are unlikely to pursue Carlos Baleba any further this summer as a result of the Brighton midfielder picking up an ankle ligament injury.

The fixture has the feel of a coin-flip, and picking a winner with any conviction would require a braver pundit than most. The signals point towards a stalemate, with the two sides closely matched across form and standings. A 1-1 draw is easy to envisage. The result at the home ground could resonate well beyond matchday in the FA Cup picture. And Fonseca does not place too much weight on the decision of Roberto Martinez to omit him from the World Cup squad in favour of his Benfica team-mate Tomas Araujo.