FA Cup Third Round Replays – The Joy of Ten
With the draw having been made for the last 32 of this season’s FA Cup (aka the Fourth Round), 11 of the teams have still yet to be confirmed, ten due to the presence of replays, and one due to the intervention of the weather (Newport County and Blackburn Rovers will meet for first time on Monday night). With ten matches taking place over Tuesday and Wednesday night, here are some of the highlights awaiting fans of the world’s oldest domestic cup competitions
Aston Villa V Wycombe Wanderers, Tuesday 19/01/16 at 19.45 GMT
With the winners due to play at the Etihad in the Fourth Round, victory perhaps does not seem as enticing for Villa’s players as it did when this third round tie was originally drawn. However, for Wycombe, the prospect of running out against the superstars of Manchester City, especially after they more than held their own in securing a 1-1 draw in the original game, could lead to another uncomfortable evening for Villains supporters, who already face the prospect of relegation in what has been a tumultuous season for the club so far. Lest we forget, Villa were beaten finalists in this competition last year.
Aston Villa 1.44, Draw 4.75, Wycombe Wanderers 8.00
Winner to play away at Manchester City
Bristol City V West Bromwich Albion, Tuesday 19/01/16 at 19.45 GMT
Bristol City are another side who will consider themselves unfortunate to not already have booked their place in the Fourth Round after seeing Premier League West Brom secure a replay with a 90th minute equaliser in the original tie at The Hawthorns just over a week ago. City fought back from 1-0 down in that game to lead 1-2, matching their more illustrious opponents in every department, and will be another side relishing the prospect of another shot at victory against a team from a higher division, especially as an escape from the reality of a Championship relegation dog-fight which the rest of the season threatens to deliver.
Bristol City 4.00, Draw 3.50, West Bromwich Albion 2.05
Winner to play at home to Peterborough United
Bolton Wanderers V Eastleigh, Tuesday 19/01/16 at 20.00 GMT
Non-league Eastleigh, playing in the Third Round of the FA Cup for the first time, are in fact desperately unlucky not to already have booked their place in the Fourth Round after conceding an 87th minute equaliser at home against Bolton. Eastleigh Boss Chris Todd will have been proud of his players’ performance in holding the Championship side, but he will also know that, with the home side in financial chaos and struggling at the foot of their league, his minnows will have a second good opportunity of advancing to a meeting against Leeds United. With Neil Lennon’s side in such dire straits, an FA Cup replay was perhaps the last thing needed, but the shame of defeat to a non-league side playing at this stage for the first time may well provoke his players into something akin to a performance you could associate with a club of Bolton’s standing.
Bolton Wanderers 1.85, Draw 3.75, Eastleigh 4.50,
Winner to play at home to Leeds United
Leicester City V Tottenham Hotspur, Wednesday 20/01/16 at 20.00 GMT
And yet again, this match represents a game that perhaps should never have been required if one of the sides had been able to see out their lead for another few minutes. Yet in the case of Leicester City, perhaps that judgement is rather harsh as they can consider themselves unfortunate in the extreme in conceding an 89th penalty which was duly despatched by Tottenham’s Harry Kane. This match completes a trilogy between the two teams which has been played in the last ten days, and added to the league game earlier in the season, will represent Tottenham’s final opportunity to beat their less heralded rivals. What the three previous encounters have taught us is that one side is unlikely to run away with this one.
Leicester City 2.95, Draw 3.50, Tottenham Hotspur 2.50
Winner to play away at Colchester United
Liverpool V Exeter City, Wednesday 20/01/16 at 20.00 GMT
In many ways, the giants from Merseyside are lucky to have gained this opportunity to take the League Two minnows back to Anfield, as they twice had to come from behind in the original tie to secure a 2-2 draw. Jurgen Klopp’s side are sitting a disappointing ninth in the Premier League and a strong FA Cup showing is the least Liverpool fans deserve in this season of upheaval and mediocrity. Exeter City boss Paul Tisdale and his players will relish their trip to Anfield, but will also know that the team they will face on Wednesday night is highly likely to be completely unrecognisable from the young and inexperienced one that faced them at St James’ Park.
Liverpool 1.30, Draw 6.00, Exeter City 11.00
Winner to play at home to West Ham United
Full list of replays
Bradford City V Bury, Tuesday 19/01/16 at 19.45 GMT
Bradford City 1.90, Draw 3.60, Bury 4.50
Winner to play away at Hull City
Milton Keynes Dons V Northampton Town, Tuesday 19/01/16 at 19.45 GMT
Milton Keynes Dons 2.10, Draw 3.60, Northampton Town 3.75
Winner to play away at Chelsea
Portsmouth V Ipswich Town, Tuesday 19/01/16 at 19.45 GMT
Portsmouth 2.30, Draw 3.50, Ipswich Town 3.25
Winner to play at home to Bournemouth
Yeovil Town V Carlisle United, Tuesday 19/01/16 at 19.45 GMT
Yeovil Town 2.87, Draw 3.50, Carlisle United 2.55
Winner to play at home to Everton
Reading V Huddersfield Town, Tuesday 19/01/16 at 20.00 GMT
Reading 2.10, Draw 3.50, Huddersfield Town 3.80
Winner to play at home to Walsall
All odds courtesy of Bet365 and correct as of 17.00 GMT on Monday 18/01/16
By: Steve Paget