FA CUP HOLDERS CRYSTAL PALACE TRAVEL TO (JOHN) ROONEY’S MACCLESFIELD
Crystal Palace’s defence of the FA Cup will start with a third-round trip to non-League Macclesfield.
It might not be what Palace had envisioned, but it will be a moment to savour for Wayne Rooney’s younger brother John, who has managed the club since Robbie Savage’s abrupt departure in July.
There will be four all-Premier League clashes in the third round, including Manchester United hosting Brighton and Hove Albion and Aston Villa visiting Tottenham Hotspur.
Everton will host Sunderland, with Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe offered another opportunity to face former club Bournemouth when they visit St James’ Park.
It was not a draw for those who defend the magic of the Cup. Instead, the enthusiasm of the spectators came to a crashing halt as draw hosts Brackley Town, who were facing Burton Albion in the final second-round fixture on Monday, were handed a potential tie against Boreham Wood. The crowd fell silent and manager Gavin Cowan could manage little more than a half-hearted thumbs up at the prospect of a trip to a fellow non-League outfit rather than one of the top clubs in the country. Burton later ran out 3-1 winners to compound the hosts’ disappointment.
It was not a dream draw for either of the lowest-ranked clubs, with Weston-super-Mare facing a long trip to Grimsby Town, who knocked Manchester United out of the League Cup earlier this season.
For fans not wanting to travel the length of the country, there were a few helpful ties drawn by Joe Cole and Peter Crouch, with West Ham United hosting Queens Park Rangers and Charlton Athletic hosting Chelsea for the first time since they were relegated from the Premier League in the 2006-07 season.
Wolverhampton Wanderers, the Premier League’s bottom club, have a chance to enjoy some success with a home tie against local rivals Shrewsbury Town.
Arsenal, who have lifted the FA Cup more times than any other club with 14 wins, will travel to Portsmouth for the first time since one of the last matches before the Covid-19 shutdown in March 2020, when they won 2-0 in a fifth-round tie at Fratton Park.
Barnsley, who recorded a shock fifth-round win over Liverpool at Anfield in the 2007-08 season, will have a chance to attempt a repeat against Arne Slot’s side.
The third-round matches are scheduled for the weekend commencing January 10, although the games are expected to be spread from Thursday to Monday. The exact dates and times will be confirmed in due course.
FA Cup third-round draw
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Shrewsbury Town
Doncaster Rovers v Southampton
Tottenham Hotspur v Aston Villa
Port Vale v Fleetwood Town
Preston North End v Wigan Athletic
Ipswich Town v Blackpool
Wrexham v Nottingham Forest
Charlton Athletic v Chelsea
Manchester City v Exeter City
West Ham United v Queens Park Rangers
Sheffield Wed v Brentford
Fulham v Middlesbrough
Everton v Sunderland
Liverpool v Barnsley
Burnley v Millwall
Norwich City v Walsall
Portsmouth v Arsenal
Derby v Leeds United
Swansea City v West Bromwich Albion
Salford City v Swindon Town
Boreham Wood v Burton Albion
Grimsby Town v Weston-super-Mare
Hull City v Blackburn Rovers
Newcastle United v Bournemouth
MK Dons v Oxford United
Cheltenham Town v Leicester City
Cambridge United v Birmingham City
Bristol City v Watford
Stoke City v Coventry City
Macclesfield v Crystal Palace
Manchester United v Brighton and Hove Albion
Sheffield United v Mansfield Town
2025-12-08T20:55:44Z