BIELSA’S WHITES BAG CUP TRIP TO ARSENAL
TEN Championship sides are set to tackle Premier League sides in the FA Cup third round in the New Year.
Marcelo Bielsa takes his high-flying Leeds team to the capital to take on Arsenal in a tie that wraps up the round on Monday, January 6. The tie kicks off at 7.56pm on BBC One.
Fulham entertain Aston Villa in a repeat of their Championship play-off final in 2018 and Wigan have a tough trip to Brendan Rodgers’ in-form Leicester.
Middlesbrough will hope to put their league worries to one side when they host Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham, while Nottingham Forest face a tough test at Frank Lampard’s Chelsea.
Other second versus first tier matches are: Southampton v Huddersfield, Bournemouth v Luton, Brighton v Sheffield Wednesday, Preston v Norwich and Crystal Palace v Derby, who could field new player-coach Wayne Rooney.
At least three League One clubs are looking forward to facing top-flight opposition.
Gillingham host West Ham, Tranmere travel to struggling Watford and Peterborough go to Burnley. It could yet be four as Rochdale head to Boston for a second round replay. There is a big incentive for the winners - a home tie against Newcastle. The third round tie will be live on BT Sport 1 on Saturday, January 4 (12.31pm).
League Two Port Vale have a plum tie at Manchester City to savour.
Other ties: QPR v Swansea, Wolves v Manchester United, Charlton v West Brom, Cardiff v Forest Green/Carlisle, Oxford v Exeter/Hartlepool, Sheffield United v AFC Fylde, Liverpool v Everton, Bristol C v Shrewsbury, Bristol R/Plymouth v Coventry/Ipswich, Eastleigh/ Crewe v Barnsley, Reading v Blackpool, Milwall v Newport, Rotherham v Hull, Brentford v Stoke, Fleetwood v Portsmouth, Burton v Northampton, Birmingham v Blackburn.