Home sweet home

WHEN it comes to football - or any other competitive sport for that matter - there is probably no bigger advantage over an opponent than being able to face them in your home stadium.

The fans are often described as that all-important "12th man" on the pitch to roar the home team to victory, and which player does not want to put on a good show in front of their adoring supporters and give them something to cheer about?

This weekend, the English Premier League (EPL) takes a breather because 32 clubs in England - including 13 from the EPL - will slug it out in the fourth round of the Emirates FA Cup.

There is something magical about the FA Cup. At 146 years old, it is the football competition with the world's longest history. The matches can be cagey and dramatic affairs because these are one…