One of the biggest football occasions took place last Sunday and that was the draw for the third round of the FA Cup (trophy pictured) with Budweiser.
There have been some interesting encounters thrown up in the draw, with all ties to be played on the weekend commencing 5 – 6 January 2013.
So what are the standout ties that were drawn by former Tottenham defender Ledley King and the inspirational ex-Bolton midfielder Fabrice Muamba?
Total Football’s Simon Wright picks out 10 of the best to look out for.
Crystal Palace v Stoke City
First tie to be drawn was this meeting at Selhurst Park. Palace have an uncanny reputation of producing lengthy cup runs and with Ian Holloway in charge, it adds to the incentive.
However, Holloway’s cup pedigree as a manager is not great. He often sees cup competitions as a distraction to the league and the Eagles have to target promotion after such a strong start to their Championship season.
By contrast, Stoke City were dumped out by Swindon Town in the early stages of the Capital One Cup but the Potters reached the FA Cup final two years ago and have happy memories of this tournament in recent seasons.
This could be one of the closest match-ups of the third round.
Brighton v Newcastle United
Alan Pardew must have taken a deep breath, gulped and thought ‘oh no, here we go again.’
Pardew has endured a nightmare run in the Premier League and he will not relish a return to the Amex Stadium this season.
Brighton dumped Newcastle out of this competition in round four in January, winning 1-0.
Their form is inconsistent but Gus Poyet knows how to motivate his troops for big occasions and with the Magpies wilting on current results, the Seagulls might even start this cup tie as favourites.
Tottenham Hotspur v Coventry City
When you look at this match on first glance, you have to think that it should be a routine home victory.
Tottenham might well be overdue an FA Cup victory. They have reached the semi-finals twice in the last three seasons but haven’t lifted the coveted silverware since 1991.
Improved league form has seen Mark Robins guide Coventry into a safer mid-table position in League One.
They also have the spirit of 1987 to motivate them for the trip to White Hart Lane. The outcome isn’t as clear cut as this might sound.
Swansea City v Arsenal
Arsene Wenger looked flummoxed last Saturday as he walked away from the dugout at the Emirates.
His side were outfought and outclassed by Swansea, slipping to a 2-0 defeat, so the last side he wanted to face surely was the Welsh side in round three.
The Liberty Stadium has become a fortress. Only Everton and Norwich City have won in Wales this season in the Premier League.
The Gunners will do well to get out of this match with a positive result. Wenger has never exited the FA Cup in round three as Arsenal boss – he will do well to avoid that this time around.
Leicester City v Burton Albion
Admittedly, this isn’t the most enticing game of the third round but Burton Albion have proved to be a very good cup side this season.
In fact, they knocked the Foxes out of the Capital One Cup in August, winning 4-2 at the King Power Stadium.
Fortunes have changed rapidly for both sides since that match but Gary Rowett will return to one of his former clubs as manager and will fancy causing another upset for his determined League Two side.
Cheltenham Town or Hereford United v Everton
Everton have had a few FA Cup nightmares in the past. Remember Bradford in 1997, Tranmere in 2001 and Shrewsbury Town in 2003.
The Toffees could find this game to be a really sticky affair. There is now a big incentive for the winners of the Cheltenham/Hereford tie which has gone to a replay.
If Hereford win the game, it will evoke memories of Ronnie Radford in 1973 against Newcastle. It is a game that David Moyes could have done without.
Crawley Town v Reading
This meeting definitely has upset spelt all over it. Reading might have great team spirit but they are leaking goals left, right and centre and have lost their last three matches.
Crawley have reached round five in the last two seasons and have gained a reputation as a giant-killing side.
I’m not a betting man but the League One play-off contenders must fancy their chances to cause another scalp in the FA Cup.
Peterborough United v Norwich City
It hasn’t been a great season for Peterborough United, as they prop up the Championship table but the spirit of the FA Cup has never been lost on Posh.
It won’t be on Darren Ferguson either and he will look forward to this local derby with Premier League side Norwich City.
The Canaries lost to lower league opposition last season in the form of Leicester and they will not want another repeat, especially in a local atmosphere.
Lincoln City or Mansfield Town v Liverpool
Both Lincoln and Mansfield have fallen from grace in recent times. They have slipped out of the Football League and sit in the mid-table reaches of the Conference.
Both sides now know that TV coverage and a huge cash boost is ready for them, with a replay to be played at Field Mill to decide who Liverpool play.
The Reds continue to evolve under Brendan Rodgers but he would have preferred to have a slightly more comfortable tie here.
If the Merseysiders go out to a non-league side, it won’t just be the biggest FA Cup upset of the season but the biggest shock in the history of the competition.
West Ham United v Manchester United
Lastly, this game is the tie of the round. West Ham gave Manchester United a really good game last Wednesday in the Premier League and were very unfortunate to lose to an early deflected goal from Robin van Persie.
Sir Alex Ferguson will have to play a full strength team from the outset, or they could come unstuck at Upton Park.
The Hammers thrashed them in the League Cup two seasons ago and beat the Red Devils at Old Trafford in the FA Cup in 2001, through Paolo di Canio’s cheeky effort.
It has the makings to be a proper cup tie at Upton Park and hopefully, it will live up to the acquired expectations.
FA CUP THIRD ROUND DRAW
Crystal Palace v Stoke City
Brighton & Hove Albion v Newcastle United
Tottenham Hotspur v Coventry City
Wigan Athletic v Bournemouth
Fulham v Blackpool
Aston Villa v Ipswich Town
Charlton Athletic v Huddersfield Town
Barrow or Macclesfield Town v Cardiff City
Barnsley v Burnley
Manchester City v Watford
Swansea City v Arsenal
Leicester City v Burton Albion
Millwall v Preston North End
Cheltenham Town or Hereford United v Everton
Derby County v Tranmere Rovers
Crawley Town v Reading
Aldershot Town v Rotherham United or Notts County
Middlesbrough v Harrogate Town or Hastings United
Accrington Stanley or Oxford United v Sheffield United
Southampton v Chelsea
QPR v West Brom
Peterborough United v Norwich City
Lincoln City or Mansfield Town v Liverpool
Bolton Wanderers v Sunderland
Nottingham Forest v Oldham Athletic
West Ham United v Manchester United
Hull City v Leyton Orient
Blackburn Rovers v Bristol City
Leeds United v Birmingham City
Bury or Southend United v Brentford
Luton Town v Wolves
Sheffield Wednesday v Milton Keynes Dons
All ties to be played on the weekend 5-6 January 2013
By Simon Wright – Follow me on Twitter @Siwri88
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