Current League One clubs in the FA Cup third round draw face everything from dream Premier League trips to awkward all-EFL ties as England’s third tier looks to extend its interest into the new year.
Barnsley, Blackpool, Burton Albion, Doncaster Rovers, Exeter City, Mansfield Town, Port Vale and Wigan Athletic are all in the hat and now know their route into the last 32.
Barnsley have been rewarded with one of the standout ties, a trip to Anfield to face Liverpool. The Tykes will head to Merseyside as clear underdogs but with the chance to summon memories of past shocks in front of a full house and television cameras.
Blackpool are also on the road, away to Ipswich Town. The Tangerines will test themselves against Championship opposition, a reminder of where they have recently been and where they would like to return. Wigan Athletic face a more familiar assignment, drawn away at Preston North End in a Lancashire meeting that should carry plenty of edge despite the divisional gap.
For Mansfield Town, there is the glamour of a visit to Sheffield United at Bramall Lane, a classic lower-league trip to a major city ground. Doncaster Rovers have landed a home tie with Southampton, bringing Championship quality to the Eco-Power Stadium and a sizeable away following along with it.
Exeter City have arguably the toughest assignment of the lot. They travel to Manchester City, a daunting prospect in football terms, but a financial and experiential boost that many League One clubs dream of when the competition begins in November. Given Exeter’s recent woes, it is cracking to see them get a decent tie.
Port Vale will be at home to Fleetwood Town, which offers a realistic path into the fourth round against League Two opponents, while Burton Albion will be away to Boreham Wood if they come through their second-round tie with Brackley Town.
Away from the League One interest, the draw delivered plenty for the rest of the pyramid. Non-league Macclesfield have been paired at home with holders Crystal Palace, the sort of tie that can transform a season for a club at that level. Weston-super-Mare’s reward is a trip to Grimsby Town, a little less salubrious.
There are heavyweight all-Premier League contests too. Tottenham play Aston Villa in north London, while Manchester United host Brighton. West Ham take on Queens Park Rangers, Portsmouth are at home to Arsenal, Sheffield Wednesday face Brentford and Swansea City meet West Bromwich Albion.
Elsewhere, Wrexham welcome Nottingham Forest, Stoke City host Coventry City, and Derby County take on Leeds United in a fixture that will resonate with both sets of supporters regardless of current league status.
The round is scheduled for the weekend of 10 and 11 January, although television selections will inevitably spread the ties across several days.
FA Cup third round draw
Wolves v Shrewsbury
Doncaster v Southampton
Tottenham v Aston Villa
Port Vale v Fleetwood
Preston v Wigan
Ipswich v Blackpool
Wrexham v Nottingham Forest
Charlton v Chelsea
Manchester City v Exeter
West Ham v QPR
Sheffield Wednesday v Brentford
Fulham v Middlesbrough
Everton v Sunderland
Liverpool v Barnsley
Burnley v Millwall
Norwich v Walsall
Portsmouth v Arsenal
Derby v Leeds
Swansea v West Brom
Salford v Swindon
Boreham Wood v Brackley or Burton
Grimsby v Weston-super-Mare
Hull v Blackburn
Newcastle v Bournemouth
MK Dons v Oxford
Cheltenham v Leicester
Cambridge v Birmingham
Bristol City v Watford
Stoke v Coventry
Macclesfield v Crystal Palace
Manchester United v Brighton
Sheffield United v Mansfield
Ties will be played around the weekend of January 9-12.
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