It’s time to dream for some smaller clubs

Although the appeal of the English FA Cup has waned over the years, the third round is still one of the more eagerly anticipated weekends especially for the smaller clubs that have battled hard just to get this far.

It is the time the heavyweights join the competition and traditionally the stories that grab the headlines are when a minnow takes on a Premier league giant.

A cold, wet and windy January afternoon is an ideal time to take on the big boys.

Also the Premier League teams are likely to rest key players as a result of the particularly hectic schedule they have experienced since the World Cup.

If a little club takes the lead against one of the bigger opponents you can be sure it won’t be long before their fans will burst into song with “We’re on our way to Wembley.”

This year three non-league clubs — Wrexham, Chesterfield and Boreham Wood — all from the fifth tier National League will be battling for glory.

Both Wrexham and Chesterfield are in-form teams vying for promotion and could prove to be a handful for their opponents.

Having reached the fifth round of the FA Cup last season, “The Wood,” currently mid-table in the National League, also might just fancy their chances against Accrington Stanley, who are in the lower reaches of League One.

Wrexham and their Hollywood owners have not got the best of draws, away to mid-table Championship side Coventry.

But Chesterfield will go into their home game against West Brom with some confidence, although the Baggies have recently shown improved form in the Championship.

The game is a sellout, meaning more than 10,000 fans will be packed in the Technique Stadium, most of them cheering the Spireites.

Several other teams also believe they have a chance of creating upsets.

It will be a bit too much to expect League One side Oxford United to overcome Premier League leaders Arsenal on Monday night, but the U’s will be relishing taking on the Gunners at the Kassam Stadium.

Oxford manager Karl Robinson is excited about playing the Gunners.

“It’s a fantastic tie,” he said. “Seeing the Premier League leaders coming to the Kassam will be tremendous for everybody involved.”

Another big match will be at Sheffield Wednesday where the in-form second-placed League One side, owned by Thai businessman Dejphon Sansiri, face high-flying Newcastle United in what could be the game of the round.

Owls manager Darren Moore commented: “It’s a great draw. I’m so pleased for the fans. To get a Premier League team down at Hillsborough where the supporters can see their team compete against good top-flight opposition will be great.”

Gillingham are rooted at the very bottom of League Two but the Gills can enjoy a welcome break from their league woes this weekend with a home game against Premier League side Leicester.

Another League Two side, Stevenage, also meet Premier League opposition with an away excursion to Aston Villa.

Other Premier League clubs that face potentially tricky away trips include Brighton at Middlesbrough, Fulham away to Hull and Nottingham Forest at Blackpool.

Championship leaders Burnley will also fancy their chances in their visit to struggling Premier League side Bournemouth.

Ten Premier League sides have been drawn against one another and much depends on whether managers choose to rest players or not.

Holders Liverpool will start their defence with a home game against Wolves.

When the draw was made, the standout fixture appeared to be Chelsea’s visit to Manchester City.

However, Chelsea have fallen away badly in recent weeks and few will expect Graham Potter’s injurystricken side to upset City tomorrow.

By some quirk, their Cup clash comes only days after they met in the league at Stamford Bridge where City edged Chelsea 1-0, leaving the Blues in an unfamiliar lowly 10th place in the league.

There is huge pressure on Potter and some concern about how new American owner Todd Boehly will react to the team’s struggles.

Will there be any major upsets his weekend? Probably not, but you never know. It certainly won’t stop the fans of the smaller clubs dreaming of glory. After all, that’s what the FA Cup is all about.