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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Guardian sport

FA Cup third round: previews for Sunday and Monday's matches

Newport County welcome Leicester to Rodney Parade on Sunday afternoon.
Newport County welcome Leicester to Rodney Parade on Sunday afternoon. Photograph: Dan Mullan/Getty Images

Fulham v Oldham

Sunday 2pm

Venue Craven Cottage

Referee Anthony Taylor

Odds H2-7 A9-1 D5-1

Claudio Ranieri may have bigger fish to fry but he will be wary of underestimating an Oldham side that have won their last two matches since the departure of manager Frankie Bunn. Caretaker Peter Wild has a full strength squad to choose from as the Latics attempt to reach the fourth round for the first time since the 2012-13 season, while his Italian counterpart is expected to ring the changes. Ed Aarons

Manchester City v Rotherham

Sunday 2pm

Venue Etihad Stadium

Referee David Coote

Odds H1-14 A50-1 D13-1

Kevin De Bruyne should start after being an unused sub for Thursday’s 2-1 league win over Liverpool. Pep Guardiola would dearly like to add the FA Cup to complete his set of domestic trophies at Manchester City. Rotherham will arrive fourth-bottom in the Championship so if they can somehow pull off a win this would be a serious act of giant-killing. Fabian Delph serves the final game of his suspension. Jamie Jackson

The Rotherham manager, Paul Warne, will look at home on the Manchester City touchline.
The Rotherham manager, Paul Warne, will certainly fit in on the Manchester City touchline. Photograph: Ryan Browne/BPI/Rex/Shutterstock

Millwall v Hull City

Sunday 2pm

Venue The Den

Referee Andy Woolmer

Odds H11-10 A12-5 D5-2

Millwall, the 2004 FA Cup finalists, came from behind to win at Ipswich last time out. It make it nine Championship points from nine over the festive period after a dreadful season to that point, although they did take a point from the visit of Hull last month. The 2014 finalists have won their last five after a similarly bad start and are 13th, six ahead of the Lions, and may feel they can be a little bolder with selection. Mark Tallentire

Newport County v Leicester City

Sunday 4.30pm BBC One

Venue Rodney Parade

Referee Chris Kavanagh

Odds H10-1 A2-7 D5-1

The fact Newport beat Leeds at this stage of the FA Cup last season and came within eight minutes of knocking out Tottenham in the following round should serve as a warning to Claude Puel and his players as they prepare for a trip to Rodney Parade. Leicester’s manager is expected to bring back Wes Morgan and make a few other changes after a hectic but successful festive period. Stuart James

Will Jamie Vardy be celebrating again for Leicester?
Will Jamie Vardy be celebrating again for Leicester? Photograph: Magi Haroun/Rex/Shutterstock

Preston v Doncaster

Sunday 2pm

Venue Deepdale

Referee Andy Davies

Odds H5-6 A7-2 D11-4

Injury-ravaged North End may have Sean Maguire, Josh Earl, Alan Browne and Brandon Barker back involved but Ben Pearson remains suspended. The home side’s three January signings are all cup-tied but Doncaster recruit Kieran Sadlier is expected to get international clearance. Preston were unlucky not to convert numerous chances in their past two games and Doncaster have been scoring for fun so expect plenty of goals. Tony Paley

QPR v Leeds

Sunday 2pm

Venue Loftus Road

Referee Geoff Eltringham

Odds H9-5 A8-5 D12-5

Leeds arrive at Loftus Road on a run of two successive defeats but are still top of the table while QPR are undefeated in five, their last setback being 2-1 at Elland Road. Marco Bielsa is hinting at making changes as Leeds are back in league action against Derby five days later and enjoying their best chance of promotion in recent seasons. Fans will remember last year’s third-round defeat at Newport but care little if they win on Friday. Mark Tallentire

Sheffield United v Barnet

Sunday 2pm

Venue Bramall Lane

Referee Tony Harrington

Odds H2-7 A12-1 D5-1

Flying high in the Championship, Sheffield United host non-league Barnet looking for a fourth successive win. Chris Wilder will likely hand the Everton loanee Kieran Dowell his debut, while his captain, Billy Sharp, may be rested having created history last weekend by becoming the leading scorer in the Football League since the turn of the century after taking his tally to 220 since making his debut in 2004. Ben Fisher

Non-league Barnet face a tough assignment at Championship high flyers Sheffield United.
Non-league Barnet face a tough assignment at Championship high flyers Sheffield United. Photograph: TGSPhoto/Rex/Shutterstock

Woking v Watford

Sunday 2pm BT Sport 2

Venue Kingfield Stadium

Referee Graham Scott

Odds H16-1 A1-5 D11-2

Relegated from the National League last season, Woking released their entire first-team when they went from being full to part-time. Under Alan Dowson – with Martin Tyler, the commentator, his first-team coach – the club have rebuilt and are second in the National League South. Only once have Woking reached the FA Cup fourth round. Their chances of an upset? “You can’t make a shock,” Dowson said. “It’s ridiculous.” David Hytner

Wolves v Liverpool

Monday 7.45pm BBC One

Venue Molineux

Referee Paul Tierney

Odds H3-1 A5-6 D9-4

Jürgen Klopp’s side ran out 2-0 winners at the Molineux just over a fortnight ago but may be unrecognisable, at least in terms of personnel, when they return on Monday. The pursuit of a first league title in 29 years is an all-consuming priority for Liverpool at present and that may be reflected in changes for the cup tie, with Naby Keïta, Daniel Sturridge, Alberto Moreno and several youngsters likely to be involved. Andy Hunter

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