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The FA Cup, the oldest association football competition in the world, continues with the Third Round Proper scheduled for this weekend. This is where things get interesting, since teams from the Championship and the Premier League enter the competition. The FA Cup proved more than once that underdogs can go from rags to riches and we can just wait and see which of the clubs will become this term’s giant killers. In this article we will offer you the entire list of the 32 fixtures, links to our match previews and short predictions for the most interesting clashes in this round.
Friday
19:55 GMT Exeter City vs Liverpool
Saturday
12:45 GMT Wycombe Wanderers vs Aston Villa
15:00 GMT Watford vs Newcastle United
The two Premier League teams face each other for the first time in the FA Cup, and for the tenth time at Vicarage Road. Quique Sánchez Flores’ side are on a three-game winless run and the clash against Newcastle is the perfect opportunity to end the negative trend. Watford have already beaten the Magpies this season at St James’ Park and it is quite possible that the Hornets will repeat their success on home ground as well. Steve McClaren’s men are facing serious crisis, they managed to score a single goal in previous four matches and, unless a miracle happens, they will continue with their pale performances. When it comes to Watford, they scored in every one of their last eleven games, and are facing one of the worst defensive lines in Premier League this term. This is why I expect a clean home win in this encounter.
Tip: Home win
15:00 GMT West Bromwich Albion vs Bristol City
WBA are seen as favourites in their match against Bristol City at The Hawthorns. After back-to-back victories against Newcastle and Stoke, Tony Pulis’ side await the FA Cup encounter in high spirits. The Baggies boast a 6-2-1 home record against the Robins, winning their last two encounters at The Hawthorns with the identical result (4-1). Bristol City are fighting hard to escape from the relegation zone in the Championship. Steve Cotterill’s men lost their last three away matches with a disheartening goal difference of 0:9 and they probably do not expect much from their visit to West Bromwich this weekend. I predict that WBA will make it through the third round rather easily.
Tip: West Brom/West Brom
15:00 GMT West Ham United vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
15:00 GMT Hartlepool United vs Derby County
15:00 GMT Colchester United vs Charlton Athletic
15:00 GMT Peterborough United vs Preston North End
15:00 GMT Northampton Town vs Milton Keynes Dons
15:00 GMT Arsenal vs Sunderland
Last season’s FA Cup winners, Arsenal, will host drowning Sunderland in this round. Their current outstanding form, as well as the fact that the Gunners have a seventeen-game unbeaten run at home against the Black Cats are reason enough to consider Arsene Wenger’s side as favourites in this encounter. Sunderland lost five of their last six matches, Sam Allardyce is completely concentrated on avoiding relegation from the Premier League and success in the FA Cup is certainly not in his main focus. Wenger will probably rest some of his leading players, but either way I am positive that anything but a home win could be treated as a miracle.
Tip: Arsenal/Arsenal
15:00 GMT Newport County vs Blackburn Rovers
15:00 GMT Ipswich Town vs Portsmouth
15:00 GMT Birmingham City vs Bournemouth
15:00 GMT Sheffield Wednesday vs Fulham
15:00 GMT Brentford vs Walsall
15:00 GMT Bury vs Bradford City
15:00 GMT Everton vs Dagenham & Redbridge
After an important League Cup victory against Manchester City in midweek (2-1) with which they made a huge step towards the finals, the Toffees await the Daggers from the League Two. This is their first ever encounter, and it is more than obvious that Everton are considered as favourites in this match, even though it is expected that Roberto Martinez will bring out a rather patched-up side, bearing in mind the injuries of Romelu Lukaku, Tom Cleverley and Seamus Coleman. Dag & Red are struggling to keep their League Two status. Even though John Still’s side recorded back-to-back away victories against Stevenage (3-1) and Exeter City (2-1) it is highly unlikely that the underdogs are capable of achieving an upset in this encounter. The difference in class is so clear and I predict a sure home win in this fixture.
Tip: Everton/Everton
15:00 GMT Southampton vs Crystal Palace
15:00 GMT Eastleigh vs Bolton Wanderers
15:00 GMT Nottingham Forest vs Queens Park Rangers
15:00 GMT Doncaster Rovers vs Stoke City
15:00 GMT Leeds United vs Rotherham United
15:00 GMT Huddersfield Town vs Reading
15:00 GMT Middlesbrough vs Burnley
The current Championship leaders will host fifth-placed Burnley. Aitor Karanka’s side boast a five-game undefeated run against the Clarets and will do everything it takes to make it a six. Their last three games ended with the identical result (1-0), thus the assumption we will witness a hard tactical battle with a small number of goals. Sean Dyche’s men kept a clean sheet in last two matches, while the Boro’s defense haven’t conceded in previous eight Championship games, merely two times in 13 total home fixtures. It seems that Burnley’s attack is rather toothless when it comes to away games, having scored less than a goal per game, while the Smoggies score about a 1.5 goals per game on average at Riverside Stadium this season. This is why I firmly believe we will not see too many goals in this clash.
Tip: Under 2.5 goals
15:00 GMT Norwich City vs Manchester City
15:00 GMT Hull City vs Brighton & Hove Albion
17:30 GMT Manchester United vs Sheffield United
Sunday
12:00 GMT Oxford United vs Swansea City
14:00 GMT Carlisle United vs Yeovil Town
14:00 GMT Chelsea vs Scunthorpe United
16:00 GMT Tottenham Hotspur vs Leicester City
Sunday afternoon offers us a real treat as we will witness a fight for a place in the FA Cup last 32 between two Premier League top-flight clubs. Tottenham will host Leicester City twice in three days, as they also meet in the next round of the Premier League. A little less than a year ago Leicester managed to advance to the Fifth Round with an away win against the Spurs, and Mauricio Pochettino’s side will be looking for revenge. This season Tottenham boast a 8-4-2 home record in all competitions, are on a four-game undefeated run and are looking good. The Foxes, on the other hand, are on a three-game winless run, and scored no goals in those matches. Jamie Vardy is out and Ranieri will rely on Leonardo Ulloa, who scored five goals in his previous five FA Cup starts, one of them being against the Spurs last term. I expect a tough match, but I believe that Spurs will advance to the next round, given the current forms of both teams.
Tip: Home win
18:00 GMT Cardiff City vs Shrewsbury Town
