FA Cup Third Round Draw: Who's Playing Whom?

The draw for the third round of the FA Cup is one of the highlights of my footballing season. If you're a Premier League club, you want a lower league side—and vice versa if you're a lower league or one of the few non league sides.

The FA Cup offers something no other competition can: upsets, the chance for semi professional's to line up at Anfield or Old Trafford for the day.

This year's draw was produced some cracking ties with two big guns going head to head - Manchester United v Liverpool in the highlight of the draw.

My side Newcastle United were also given an interesting tie, Stevenage away. Not the most attractive tie for Chris Hughton but it is a repeat of the 1998-99 match.  United held to a 2-2 draw before winning comfortably at St James.

The draw also produced a one in a million moment when Oasis' Noel Gallagher and Kasiabian's Serge Pizzorno, who made the draw, pulled out each others team's to face each other, Leicester city vs. Manchester City.

Holders Chelsea were given a home draw against Roy Keane's Ipswich Town, whilst Arsenal were drawn at home to Leeds United.

The beauty of the cup is the big boys face the minnows and York City's reward for beating Darlington is an away trip to Bolton Wanderers.

Whilst Dover will face League One high flyer's Huddersfield and the lowest team in the competition FC Manchester will face last year's runner up's Portsmouth—if they can beat League One Brighton in a replay.

Spurs face either Charlton or non league side Luton Town whilst Mark Hughes Fulham face a tricky test against League One Peterborough.

The Draw in full:

Torquay v Carlisle

Norwich City v Droylesden/Leyton Orient

Preston v Nottingham Forest

Tottenham v Charlton/Luton

Stoke v Cardiff

Hull v Wigan

Manchester United v Liverpool

Scunthorpe v Everton

Sunderland v Notts County/Bournemouth

Chelsea v Ipswich

Watford v Hartlepool/Yeovil

Southampton v Blackpool

Millwall v Birmingham City

Burton Albion v Middlesbrough

Stevenage v Newcastle

Wycombe v Hereford/Lincoln

Swansea v Colchester United

Blackburn v QPR

Bolton v York

Leicester City v Manchester City

Sheffield United v Aston Villa

Arsenal v Leeds

Reading v West Brom

West Ham v Barnsley

Crawley/Swindon v Derby County

Huddersfield Town v Dover Athletic

Brighton/FC United v Portsmouth

Doncaster Rovers v Wolves

Fulham v Peterborough

Bristol City v Sheffield Wednesday

Coventry v Crystal Palace

Burnley v Port Vale