The FA Cup third-round draw brought a local derby but no glamorous rewards for the non-league teams left in this season’s competition, with Jaap Stam’s return to Manchester United as Reading manager one of the round’s few intriguing subplots.
There will be four all-Premier League ties when the FA Cup resumes early next year but the heavyweights all avoided the seven non-league sides in the draw.
Sutton United’s reward for beating the League Two strugglers Cheltenham on Saturday is a home tie against their near neighbours AFC Wimbledon. The League One club staged a remarkable recovery to see off Curzon Ashton on Sunday, coming back from three goals down to win 4-3, and will hope to avoid another scare in a cup derby that at least offers Sutton the opportunity of a place in the fourth round.
Barrow, the other National League team left in the FA Cup, will host League One Rochdale, Halifax Town or Eastleigh will travel to Brentford, Stourbridge will be away at Wycombe Wanderers should they overcome Northampton Town, and Rotherham await the winners of Macclesfield Town versus Oxford United.
While the non-league clubs were left dreaming of what might have been, or perhaps have their hopes of a Premier League opponent on hold until round four, the stakes were raised for the replay between Newport County and Plymouth Argyle next Tuesday with a trip to Liverpool awaiting the winners. Steven Gerrard, who drew Jürgen Klopp’s team at home, joked that he “should get a job” for the favourable tie for his former club.
The oustanding tie of the round is arguably Manchester City’s visit to West Ham United, Pep Guardiola’s first taste of the FA Cup, while the holders United have a home game against a Reading side managed by their former title-winning defender Stam. Andy Cole, Stam’s former Old Trafford team-mate, said: “I look forward to that. He’s done very well at Reading. I’m sure he’ll get a good reception. I’m not surprised by how well he has done. I’m really pleased for him.”
The Premier League champions, Leicester City, will face Everton at Goodison Park, Hull City will host Swansea City and Sunderland will be at home to Burnley in the other all-top-flight ties. Arsenal are away at Preston North End while their north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur will be at home to Steve Bruce’s Aston Villa. The third round ties will be played on 6-9 January.
FA Cup third round draw in full
Ties will take place between 6 and 9 January.
Ipswich Town v Lincoln City
Barrow v Rochdale
Manchester United v Reading
Hull City v Swansea City
Sunderland v Burnley
QPR v Blackburn Rovers
Millwall v AFC Bournemouth
West Ham v Manchester City
Brighton v Charlton or MK Dons
Blackpool v Barnsley
Wigan v Nottingham Forest
Birmingham v Newcastle United
Chelsea v Notts County or Peterborough United
Middlesbrough v Sheffield Wednesday
West Brom v Derby County
Everton v Leicester City
Liverpool v Newport County or Plymouth Argyle
Wycombe Wanderers v Stourbridge or Northampton Town
Watford v Burton Albion
Preston North End v Arsenal
Cardiff City v Fulham
Stoke City v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Cambridge v Leeds United
Bristol City v Shrewsbury or Fleetwood
Huddersfield Town v Port Vale
Tottenham Hotspur v Aston Villa
Brentford v Halifax or Eastleigh
Bolton Wanderers v Crystal Palace
Norwich City v Southampton
Sutton United v AFC Wimbledon
Accrington Stanley v Luton Town
Rotherham United v Oxford United or Macclesfield Town
