(MENAFN- Arab Times) ROCHDALE United Kingdom Jan 27 (AFP): Stoke easily avoided joining the growing list of famous FA Cup casualties as fine goals from Bojan Krkic and Victor Moses inspired a 4-1 win at Rochdale in the fourth round on Monday. Mark Hughes' side travelled to Spotland hoping to ensure there was no repeat of the stunning scenes that saw third tier Bradford win at Premier League leaders Chelsea and Championship team Middlesbrough shock reigning English champions Manchester City on Saturday.
With Manchester United held by Cambridge and Liverpool unable to beat Bolton this year's fourth round had already thrown up a series of remarkable results but Stoke now the fifth highest-ranked team left in the Cup subdued their League One opponents to set up a fifth round tie at second tier Blackburn. Former Barcelona forward Bojan put Stoke ahead with an superb swerving volley in the fourth minute and even though he was forced off with an injury soon after there was never any sign of City losing their grip on the match. Bojan's replacement Stephen Ireland doubled Stoke's lead in the 52nd minute when he was left unmarked to steer in a cross from Moses. Just nine minutes later Nigerian winger Moses effectively ended the tie as he tricked his way past Rochdale's Joe Rafferty before curling a brilliant finish into the far corner. Rhys Bennett got one back for Rochdale sweeping home from inside the penalty area after Stoke failed twice to clear their lines in the 78th minute. But Jon Walters tapped in from close-range in stoppage-time to seal Stoke's progress to the last 16. Bradford will have the opportunity to spring another FA Cup surprise after the third tier giant killers were drawn against Sunderland or Fulham following their sensational fourth round win at Chelsea. Phil Parkinson's side caused one of the all-time great FA Cup upsets when they came from two goals down to win 4-2 at the Premier League leaders on Saturday. And top-flight side Sunderland and second tier outfit Fulham who replay next week after a goalless draw on Saturday will both be wary of suffering the same fate as Jose Mourinho's men following Monday's fifth round draw. League Cup finalists two years ago Bradford last faced Sunderland in a 3-0 defeat in December 2003 while they have to go back to 1994 to find their last meeting with Fulham which ended in a goalless draw. If Manchester United can get past fourth tier Cambridge in their replay they will travel to the winners of Preston and Sheffield United while holders Arsenal host Middlesbrough the Championship high-fliers who sprang a shock of their own with a 2-0 win at Manchester City on Saturday. Liverpool and Bolton will replay for the right to go to Crystal Palace while Leicester and Aston Villa meet in an all-Premier League affair. West Bromwich Albion face West Ham at home while Stoke 4-1 winners at Rochdale on Monday will travel to Blackburn who enjoyed a fine victory over Swansea in the last round. Derby play host to Reading in an all-Championship tie. Draw for the FA Cup fifth round made on Monday: Crystal Palace vs Liverpool/Bolton; Arsenal vs Middlesbrough; Aston Villa vs Leicester; West Brom vs West Ham; Bradford vs Sunderland/Fulham; Blackburn vs Stoke; Derby vs Reading; Preston/Sheffield United vs Cambridge/Manchester United; Ties to be played on the weekend of Feb 14/15. Robin van Persie admits he doesn't know if he will be offered a new contract when his current deal expires with Manchester United. Van Persie scored 30 goals and won the Premier League title in his first season with United following his move from Arsenal but last season he struggled for fitness and form. And this term he has found the net just eight times during another disappointing campaign. The 31-year-old's United contract expires in 2016 and asked on Monday if he would like to extend his stay at Old Trafford the Netherlands striker said: 'It is not up to me. For the moment I am staying here for 18 months. 'That is it really. I can't look into the future. I don't know what is going to happen after that. We shall have to wait and see.' Van Persie was candid about his own poor form and conceded that his team-mates are struggling as well. United's 0-0 FA Cup draw with fourth-tier Cambridge last week was littered with mistakes while in the Premier League Louis van Gaal's side have just three points more than they had under his much-maligned predecessor David Moyes at this stage last term. 'Obviously we are not scoring enough goals including me' van Persie said. 'Everyone feels responsible. I do definitely. This year I have played something like 20 games and I have scored eight goals. I am not happy with that. I want to score more.' He added: 'It makes so many people happy. Including me.' Although Van Persie's confidence may have taken a hit because of his poor start his faith in his manager has not wavered one bit. Van Gaal made Van Persie his captain with the national side and the move paid off as the unfancied Dutch team made it through to the World Cup semi-finals last year where they were defeated on penalties by Argentina. 'I have known him for over two years now I know how he works' van Persie added. 'We believe in him. We will still believe in him.' He added: 'We are confident it will change. Him and his coaching staff and we as players are trying everything we can to win games not only win games but win them in a nice way as well.' Van Persie admits United's draw at Cambridge last week was not good enough. But the forward who won the FA Cup with Arsenal has been encouraged to see the likes of Chelsea Manchester City and Tottenham exit the competition over the weekend. 'After the game against Cambridge everyone was a little bit down' van Persie said. 'But in a way on Saturday the whole mood changed. City were out Chelsea were out and suddenly we are in it with a home tie against Cambridge. 'We are the highest-ranked team left in the competition.'
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