FA Cup draw leaves Ancelotti singing with delight
3rd rd draw
Tottenham v Peterborough
Brentford v Doncaster
Middlesbrough v Manchester City
Stoke v York
Notts County v Forest Green Rovers
Huddersfield v West Brom
Sheffield United v Queens Park Rangers
MK Dons v Burnley
Chelsea v Watford
Nottingham Forest v Birmingham
Preston v Colchester
West Ham v Arsenal
Aston Villa v Blackburn
Portsmouth v Coventry
Sunderland v Oxford or Barrow
Wigan v Hull
Everton v Carlisle
Sheffield Wednesday v Crystal Palace
Tranmere or Aldershot v Wolves
Blackpool v Ipswich
Fulham v Swindon
Stockport or Torquay v Brighton
Scunthorpe v Barnsley
Southampton v Rotherham or Luton
Bristol City v Cardiff
Reading v Liverpool
Staines or Millwall v Derby
Plymouth v Newcastle
Leicester v Swansea
Bolton v Lincoln
Accrington or Barnet v Gillingham
Manchester United v Kettering or Leeds
Ties to be played on weekend of
January 2 and 3 |
Holders Chelsea set out on the first steps towards a defence of their
FA Cup crown with a home tie against Championship side Watford,
finalists in 1984, in the third round draw made on Sunday.
The pairing had Chelsea coach Carlo Anceletti drooling at the
prospect of getting the chance to meet one of his singing heroes, former
Watford chairman Sir Elton John.
“I do not know Watford very well at the moment but I will have the
opportunity to learn about them,” he said after Sunday’s 3-0 Premier
League win at Arsenal.
“The owner of Watford many years ago was Elton John. Elton John is my
favourite singer. The match will be an opportunity to meet Elton John.”
West Ham will host London rivals Arsenal, who last lifted the trophy
in 2005 and have not picked up any silverware since, in one of three all
Premier League fixtures.
The other two top-flight affairs see Aston Villa host Blackburn and
Hull travel to Wigan.
Everton, the side Chelsea beat under then interim coach Guus Hiddink
in last season’s final, welcome League One side Carlisle to Goodison
Park. The Toffees’ Merseyside rivals, seven-time winners Liverpool, were
drawn against second-tier Reading.
Non-league Kettering could be set for a dream trip to Old Trafford to
face 11 time winners Manchester United should they manage to negotiate
their second round replay with Leeds. Kettering player-manager Lee
Harper vowed that he and his team-mates would give it their “best shot”.
Kettering must knock out League One leaders Leeds first, after the
two teams drew 1-1 at Rockingham Road on Sunday.
“It will be really hard but we will give it our best shot,” Harper
told ITV1. “We’ve got an enormous task ahead of us before we start
thinking about getting there (Old Trafford) yet.
“The club is in a bit of trouble at the moment, it is difficult for
us financially but we will go to Elland Road, try to have a great time
and see where it gets us.”
Either Oxford or Barrow will definitely get the chance to claim a
Premier League scalp, with the winner of their replay set for a trip to
Sunderland’s Stadium of Light, while York, from the semi-professional
ranks of the Blue Square Premier league (the fifth division) travel to
Stoke. Another non-league side, Staines Town, who forced a replay with
2004 finalists Millwall at Wheatsheaf Park, have the incentive of a home
tie with Derby.
The 2008 winners Portsmouth have been drawn at home against Coventry.
Of the remaining Premier League clubs Manchester City will return to
Middlesbrough’s Riverside Stadium, Tottenham host Peterborough, Bolton
are at home to Lincoln, Fulham face Swindon, Wolves will meet either
Tranmere or Aldershot and Birmingham are away to Nottingham Forest.
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