The world’s greatest knockout cup competition returns this weekend with the second round of the 2012-13 FA Cup with Budweiser.
This is the final hurdle for teams competing before the round three draw on Sunday, where the big boys from the Premier League and the Championship enter the fray.
There are some fantastic ties over the next few days and Total Football’s Simon Wright previews some of the action.
The MK vs AFC divide
The tie of the round is undoubtedly on Sunday at Stadium MK. League One high-flyers Milton Keynes Dons play host to AFC Wimbledon in a game that has been in the making for many years now.
It is the first meeting between the two sides since AFC Wimbledon were formed by angry supporters in 2002, as a reaction to the decision to move the original Wimbledon club down from London to Milton Keynes.
A contingent of AFC fans (pictured) have decided to boycott making the trip down to Milton Keynes and it is unknown yet how bad the atmosphere could be at the weekend.
There are differing players on each side. Dons captain Dean Lewington has played for both Wimbledon in its old disguise and Milton Keynes now, while Neal Ardley, a former Wimbledon player is now AFC boss and will be in the opposite dugout to Mick Harford, who was a former team-mate to Ardley and is now Karl Robinson’s assistant.
MK Dons chairman Pete Winkleman told the Budweiser FA Cup newsletter: “It was inevitable it was eventually going to happen.
“There’s obviously been a lot of history and water under the bridge over the last 10 years but it’s a game the whole football world should be looking forward to. We certainly are."
There are also some old rivalries at Bramwall Lane where Sheffield United clash with Port Vale and their former manager Micky Adams.
Adams left Vale to take over at the Blades in December 2010 but was sacked after he couldn’t keep the club in the Championship a couple of seasons ago.
He said: “I suppose a lot of the attention will be drawn on me but I have got nothing to prove to anybody.
“I am delighted where we (Vale) are and what we are doing and I am pleased to be in the second round.”
Standout clashes
There will be at least three non-league sides advancing into the third round.
Dorchester Town, who were the conquerors of Plymouth Argyle in round one, travel to Kenilworth Road to play Luton Town.
Two former league clubs meet at Sincil Bank where Lincoln City face Mansfield Town and two of the smallest clubs left in the competition do battle, as Hastings United make the trip to Harrogate Town, who dumped out Torquay United in the first round.
Capital One quarter-finalists Bradford City get the second round action underway on Friday night as they host Brentford, who have quietly moved into the top four in League One.
The ESPN cameras will be heading to Alfreton Town on Sunday afternoon, as they spy another potential upset.
Leyton Orient will be hoping to spoil the script and ensure that their recent improvement in League One continues into the cup.
Martin Allen has taken Gillingham to the top of League Two and he will fancy his Gills to cause an upset as they travel to Deepdale to play Preston North End.
Oldham Athletic will be targeting cup revenge on Doncaster Rovers at Boundary Park. Doncaster have somersaulted to joint top of League One and beat Oldham 1-0 in midweek.
1987 FA Cup winners Coventry entertain Morecambe at the Ricoh Arena as they aim to continue their better form which has seen Mark Robins steer the Sky Blues into a mid-table position in League One.
As ever, the FA Cup will provide plenty of great stories and hopefully the odd upset here and there this weekend.
The draw for round three will be done on Sunday afternoon by former Tottenham skipper Ledley King and the inspirational Fabrice Muamba.
FA CUP SECOND ROUND FIXTURES
Friday, 30 November: Bradford City v Brentford
Saturday, 1 December: Harrogate Town v Hastings United (1pm)
Saturday, 1 December: Lincoln City v Mansfield Town (1pm)
Saturday, 1 December: Accrington Stanley v Oxford United
Saturday, 1 December: Barrow v Macclesfield Town
Saturday, 1 December: Bury v Southend United
Saturday, 1 December: Carlisle United v Bournemouth
Saturday, 1 December: Coventry City v Morecambe
Saturday, 1 December: Crawley Town v Chelmsford City
Saturday, 1 December: Crewe Alexandra v Burton Albion
Saturday, 1 December: Fleetwood Town v Aldershot Town
Saturday, 1 December: Luton Town v Dorchester Town
Saturday, 1 December: Oldham Athletic v Doncaster Rovers
Saturday, 1 December: Preston North End v Gillingham
Saturday, 1 December: Rotherham United v Notts County
Saturday, 1 December: Sheffield United v Port Vale
Saturday, 1 December: Tranmere Rovers v Chesterfield
Sunday, 2 December: Milton Keynes Dons v AFC Wimbledon (12.30pm)
Sunday, 2 December: Alfreton Town v Leyton Orient (3.15pm)
Monday, 3 December: Cheltenham Town v Hereford United (7.45pm)
By Simon Wright – Follow me on Twitter @Siwri88
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