Big weekend for FA Cup minnows as they plot upset of giants

The English FA Cup may have lost some of its glitter over the years but the third round is still one of the more eagerly anticipated weekends in English football for the smaller clubs.

It is the time the heavyweights of the Premier League join the competition and there is always an outside chance that one of the “big boys” might come a cropper against lesser opponents.

There cannot be a better time to take on a top team than a cold, wet and windy January afternoon.

Because of the fixture backlog prompted by Covid, replays have been scrapped for the third and fourth rounds, so we could be in for some tense penalty shoot-outs this weekend which could trigger upsets.

One fixture has already been played with League Two’s Swindon Town taking on runaway Premier League leaders Manchester City at the County Ground last night.

There are still four non-league clubs remaining in the tournament — Chesterfield, Kidderminster Harriers, Yeovil Town and Boreham Wood — and all four can look forward to the games with certain expectations.

Chesterfield, currently top of the National League (formerly Conference) have a financially lucrative fixture away to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

They were relegated from League Two in 2018 but the Spireites appear to be on their way to regaining full league status this season.

Chelsea ought to deal with them comfortably, but you can be sure Chesterfield, with 6,000 supporters travelling to London, will give the Blues something to think about.

Chesterfield manager James Rowe said his team facing the European champions was “a bit surreal. But we are back on the map, that’s the important thing”.

Kidderminster Harriers are the lowest-ranked club left in the Cup, but they might just fancy their chances at home against struggling Championship side Reading who have a relegation battle on their hands.

The Harriers, relegated from League Two in 2005, are currently in the sixth tier National League North.

With the crowd roaring the Harriers on at the 5,000 capacity Aggborough Stadium, the Royals could find themselves in quite a scrap.

“This is what FA Cup dreams are made of,” said Harriers manager Russell Penn. “It is going to be spinetingling stuff.”

Yeovil, currently 11th in the National League, were relegated from League Two in 2019, ending a 16-year spell in the Football League where they performed remarkably well to reach the Championship.

But it was their exploits in the FA Cup as a non-league team which are legendary.

They earned a considerable reputation as giant-killers, reaching the third round a record 13 times, beating 20 league teams in the process.

The Glovers will think they are in with a shout when they take on Championship high-flyers Bournemouth at Huish Park and the visitors will be well aware of their hosts’ impressive FA Cup record.

Another non-league team that will fancy their chances are Boreham Wood.

Currently fourth in the National League, the Wood host AFC Wimbledon from the lower regions of League One.

Of the matches featuring top clubs facing “smaller fry,” Liverpool should not have any problems at home to Shrewsbury who are in the lower reaches of League One as are Morecambe who travel to London to take on Tottenham Hotspur.

Perhaps the most eye-catching match is Manchester United at home to Aston Villa led by former Liverpool star Steven Gerrard.

In his playing days, Gerrard liked nothing better than stuffing the Red Devils and you can be sure that as a manager he carries the same passion.

In another all Premier League clash, defending FA Cup champions

Leicester host Watford with Claudio Ranieri paying another trip to his old haunt where he achieved much success.

Leeds United will be hoping to shake of their league worries when they visit West Ham at the London Stadium.

Arsenal have been playing quite well lately but will not find it easy when they visit Nottingham Forest who have shown good form in the Championship.

Newcastle should be able to temporarily cast their league worries aside with the visit of Cambridge United who are mid-table in League One.

Being realistic, it is unlikely there will be any major upsets. But you never know in football and with the prospect of penalty shoot-outs there is plenty for the smaller clubs to dream about.