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Bristol Post
Bristol Post
Sport
Elliott Jackson

The reason why Bristol Rovers could be given a bye into the FA Cup Second Round this season

Bristol Rovers are just one of the 79 teams that could see themselves safely through to the Second Round of the FA Cup without having to lift a finger.

The Gas will enter the famous competition, where they have reached the quarter-finals on three occasions, in the First Round alongside the rest of League One and Two.

Last season, Rovers were dumped out of the FA Cup in the First Round against Non-League Barnet.

The Bees held Bristol Rovers to a 1-1 draw at the Hive before beating them 1-0 in the replay 10 days later.

However, this season one lucky League One or Two club will have Saturday, November 9 off, as they will be given a bye into the Second Round.

Bury's tragic expulsion from the English Football League in August means that when the 47 EFL teams enter the competition, there will be an odd number of teams remaining.

32 Non-League outfits will also be in the draw and one of the 79 clubs will be automatically put through to the next round.

The Football Association have announced that the last team left to be drawn out of the pot will be given a bye.

The Fourth Round Qualifying matches, the final round of fixtures before the First Round proper, take place this weekend, with the draw for the First Round due to take place on Monday, October 21, live on BBC2 and online at 7:10pm.

The prize money for those sides that makes it past the First Round is £36,000 which could make a huge difference to one potentially lucky Non-League side if they are awarded a bye into the Second Round.

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