Stoke boss Tony Pulis has expressed his disappointment that the FA Cup fourth round has been scheduled so near to a programme of Barclays Premier League fixtures.
The Potters' cup trip to Derby is swiftly followed by Tuesday's league clash with Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Pulis' side then face another top-flight contest four days later when they host Sunderland, and the Welshman said: "This round has been lined up with two Premier League games following it, and it shows what other people think of the FA Cup.
"That is disappointing, to have it as part of a three-game week, but we will approach it in the right way and hopefully we will get the result.
"As soon as the game is over with, we will be preparing for Manchester United away, but that is the one disappointment - with the FA Cup, you would like to have a bit of time after it and you haven't, because they have put a Premier League fixture in straight away afterwards."
When it was pointed out to him that Tuesday's match also coincides with the January transfer window deadline, Pulis said: "I didn't want to bring that up, but that shows how well organised it is. You make plans with great difficulty, but then that is the people running football."
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