FA Cup 2018-19 3rd Round ‘Proper’ Top-line Stats & Facts

All information copyright © @FACupFactfile – please seek permission before using

Stats of the Round

It is the first time in 23 years that two different clubs have scored seven goals in the same FA Cup 3^rd Round – Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City.

Ipswich Town and Norwich City have now failed to win an FA Cup match for a combined 15 years.

Manchester United’s 2-0 victory over Reading was their ninth win in ten FA Cup encounters, now equal fourth most one-sided FA Cup head-to-head in history.

 

First time in 4^th Round ever

AFC Wimbledon (15^th campaign)

 

Equalling best run to 4^th Round

Barnet – 3^rd time in 97 campaigns

Accrington Stanley – 3^rd time in 48^th campaign

Newport County – 2nd time in 27th campaign

 

Lowest ranked club in 4^th Round

Barnet

 

First time in 4^th Round in a while

15 years – Gillingham

9 years – Doncaster Rovers

6 years – Oldham Athletic, Queens Park Rangers

 

Into 4^th Round and a while since last KO as early as the 3^rd Rd

21 years – Chelsea

7 years – Manchester City

5 years – Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur

4 years – Watford

 

Consecutive 3^rd Rd Kos

Ipswich Town (9)

Norwich City (6)

AFC Bournemouth, Aston Villa, Barnsley, Fleetwood Town, Luton Town, Stoke City (3)

Blackburn Rovers, Fulham, Leeds United (2)

 

KO in 3^rd Rd but Equalled Best Run

Fleetwood Town – 4^th time in 20 campaigns

 

KO in 3rd Rd for first time in a while

8 years – Liverpool

 

KO in 3^rd Rd and a while since last progressed to 4^th Round

28 years – Woking

19 years – Grimsby Town

17 years – Rotherham United

15 years – Tranmere Rovers

9 years – Ipswich Town

6 years – Barnsley

 

Avenged Previous FA Cup Defeat

Aston Villa 0-3 Swansea City (Villa now 2-1 ahead)

Blackpool 0-3 Arsenal (now 2 wins apiece)

Preston North End 1-3 Doncaster Rovers (now 1 win apiece)

Millwall 2-1 Hull City (now 1 win apiece)

Crystal Palace 1-0 Grimsby Town (now 1 win apiece)

Replay

Stoke City 2-3 Shrewsbury Town (now 1 win apiece)

 

Biggest Wins of the 3^rd Rd

Tranmere Rovers 0-7 Tottenham Hotspur (biggest ever away Win)

Manchester City 7-0 Rotherham United (heaviest ever Defeat)

Middlesbrough 5-0 Peterborough United

 

Cup Upsets

Sheffield United (2) 0-1 Barnet (5)

Fulham (1) 1-2 Oldham Athletic (4)

Newport County (4) 2-1 Leicester City (1)

Gillingham (3) 1-0 Cardiff City (1)

Preston North End (2) 1-3 Doncaster Rovers (3)

Norwich City (2) 0-1 Portsmouth (3)

Accrington Stanley (3) 1-0 Ipswich Town (2)

Bristol City (2) 1-0 Huddersfield Town (1)

Replay

Stoke City (2) 2-3 Shrewsbury Town (3)

Southampton (1) 2-2 Derby County (2) (Derby won 5-3 on pens)

 

Hat-tricks and more

Fernando Llorente (Tottenham Hotspur)

Josh Magennis (Bolton Wanderers)

Advertisements

FA Cup 2018-19 3rd Round ‘Proper’ Tie-by-Tie Previews

Stats and Facts about all 32 FA Cup 3rd Round ‘Proper’ ties – all information copyright © @FACupFactfile – please seek permission before using

 

Tie No. 1 – Bolton Wanderers (EFL Championship) v Walsall (EFL 1)

Levels: Tier 2 v Tier 3

Best Runs: WINNERS v Round 5

History: No previous FA Cup meetings

Facts: Bolton Wanderers have exited the FA Cup in the 3^rd Round in both the last two seasons. Walsall have only once ventured beyond the 3^rd Round in the last dozen years.

Nb: This tie is to be played on Saturday 5^th January, KO 3.0pm

Tie No. 2 – Millwall (EFL Championship) v Hull City (EFL Championship)

Levels: Tier 2 v Tier 2

Best Runs: FINALISTS v FINALISTS

History: One previous FA Cup meeting won 2-0 by Hull City 10 years ago

Facts: Millwall have failed to progress beyond the 3^rd Round of the FA Cup three times in the last seven years, whilst Hull City have only once failed to reach the 4^th Round during the same period.

Nb: This tie is to be played on Sunday 6^th January, KO 2.0pm

 

 

 

Tie No. 3 – Gillingham (EFL 1) v Cardiff City (Premier League)

Levels: Tier 3 v Tier 1

Best Runs: QUARTER FINALS v WINNERS

History: Three previous FA Cup meetings, with Gillingham ahead by two wins to one, including a 2-0 win when last meeting 22 years ago

Facts: It is 15 years since Gillingham last progressed beyond the 3^rd Round of the FA Cup. Cardiff City have gone out at this stage of the competition five times in the last eight seasons.

Nb: This tie is to be played on Saturday 5^th January, KO 3.0pm

 

 

 

 

Tie No. 4 – Brentford (EFL Championship) v Oxford United (EFL 1)

Levels: Tier 2 v Tier 3

Best Runs: QUARTER FINALS v QUARTER FINALS            

History: Two previous FA Cup meetings with one win apiece, last meeting 55 years ago with Oxford United winning 2-1 in a replay

Facts: Brentford have exited the FA Cup in the 3^rd Round three times in the last four years, whilst Oxford United have twice gone beyond this Round in the last three seasons.

Nb: This tie is to be played on Saturday 5^th January, KO 3.0pm

Tie No. 5 – Sheffield Wednesday (EFL Championship) v Luton Town (EFL 1)

Levels: Tier 2 v Tier 3

Best Runs: WINNERS v FINALISTS

History: No previous FA Cup meetings despite 252 campaigns between them

Facts: Sheffield Wednesday have a 50/50 win/loss ratio in the FA Cup 3^rd Round over the last half a dozen seasons. Luton Town have only once gone beyond this Round of the competition in the last 11 years.

Nb: This tie is to be played on Saturday 5^th January, KO 12.30pm

Tie No. 6 – Manchester United (Premier League) v Reading (EFL Championship)

Levels: Tier 1 v Tier 2

Best Runs: WINNERS v SEMI FINALS

History: Nine previous FA Cup meetings (the highest of the 3^rd Round) with Manchester United ahead by eight wins to one (one of the biggest one-sided head-to-heads in FA Cup history)

Facts: Manchester United have only twice exited the FA Cup in the 3^rd Round in the last 34 years. Reading have gone out in this Round three times in just the last nine seasons.

Nb: This tie is to be played on Saturday 5^th January, KO 12.30pm

 

Tie No. 7 – Everton (Premier League) v Lincoln City (EFL 2)

Levels: Tier 1 v Tier 4

Best Runs: WINNERS v QUARTER FINALS

History: No previous FA Cup meetings

Facts: Everton have exited the FA Cup in the 3^rd Round in three of their last four campaigns. Lincoln City have only once ventured beyond the 3^rd Round in the last 42 years, but that was all the way to the Quarter Finals two years ago.

Nb: This tie is to be played on Saturday 5^th January, KO 3.0pm

 

 

Tie No. 8 – Tranmere Rovers (EFL 2) v Tottenham Hotspur (Premier League)

Levels: Tier 4 v Tier 1

Best Runs: QUARTER FINALS v WINNERS

History: Two previous FA Cup meetings both won by Tottenham Hotspur, the first a 9-1 replay win in 1952/53 season, the record FA Cup defeat for Tranmere Rovers

Facts: It is 15 years since Tranmere Rovers progressed beyond the FA Cup 3^rd Round. By contrast, Tottenham Hotspur have only once gone out of the FA Cup at this stage in the last dozen seasons.

Nb: This tie is to be played on Friday 4^th January, KO 7.45pm

Tie No. 9 – Preston North End (EFL Championship) v Doncaster Rovers (EFL 1)

Levels: Tier 2 v Tier 3

Best Runs: WINNERS v Round 5

History: One previous FA Cup meeting won 3-2 by Preston North End 21 years ago.

Facts: Preston North End have a 50/50 win/loss ratio in the FA Cup 3^rd Round over the last half a dozen seasons. It is nine years since Doncaster Rovers last progressed beyond the 3^rd Round of the FA Cup.

Nb: This tie is to be played on Sunday 6^th January, KO 2.0pm

Tie No. 10 – Newcastle United (Premier League) v Blackburn Rovers (EFL Championship)

Levels: Tier 1 v Tier 2

Best Runs: WINNERS v WINNERS

History: Eight previous FA Cup meetings with Newcastle United ahead by six wins to two, including winning 2-1 in the last meeting seven years ago

Facts: Newcastle United have only won five FA Cup matches in the last dozen seasons. Blackburn Rovers have only twice failed to progress to the 4^th Round in the last half dozen years.

Nb: This tie is to be played on Saturday 5^th January, KO 5.30pm

Tie No. 11 – Chelsea (Premier League) v Nottingham Forest (EFL Championship)

Levels: Tier 1 v Tier 2

Best Runs: WINNERS v WINNERS

History: Three previous FA Cup meetings all won by Chelsea, most recently 12 years ago by three goals to nil

Facts: Holders Chelsea have the current longest winning streak in the FA Cup 3^rd Round, last failing to win in this Round 21 years ago. Nottingham Forest have exited the FA Cup in this Round five times in last nine years, but not last season when defeating the holders.

Nb: This tie is to be played on Saturday 5^th January, KO 3.0pm

 

Tie No. 12 – Crystal Palace (Premier League) v Grimsby Town (EFL 2)

Levels: Tier 1 v Tier 4

Best Runs: FINALISTS v SEMI FINALS

History: One previous FA Cup meeting won 1-0 by Grimsby Town 111 years ago

Facts: Last season Crystal Palace exited the FA Cup in the 3^rd Round for the first time in five years. Grimsby Town have yet to go beyond this Round of the competition this Century.

Nb: This tie is to be played on Saturday 5^th January, KO 5.30pm

 

Tie No. 13 – Derby County (EFL Championship) v Southampton (Premier League)

Levels: Tier 2 v Tier 1

Best Runs: WINNERS v WINNERS

History: Three previous FA Cup meetings all won by Derby County, most recently 21 years ago with a 2-0 win

Facts: Both Derby County and Southampton have only failed to go beyond the 3^rd Round of the FA Cup three times each in the last 14 seasons.

Nb: This tie is to be played on Saturday 5^th January, KO 3.0pm

Tie No. 14 – Accrington Stanley (EFL 1) v Ipswich Town (EFL Championship)

Levels: Tier 3 v Tier 2

Best Runs: Round 4 v WINNERS

History: No previous FA Cup meetings

Facts: This is only the fourth time Accrington Stanley have appeared in the FA Cup 3^rd Round in their 48 campaigns to date, and are just one win away from equalling the club’s (and the town’s) best ever Cup run. Ipswich Town have the worst current FA Cup form of all top two division clubs going out in this Round in each of the last eight seasons.

Nb: This tie is to be played on Saturday 5^th January, KO 3.0pm

Tie No. 15 – Bristol City (EFL Championship) v Huddersfield Town (Premier League)

Levels: Tier 2 v Tier 1

Best Runs: FINALISTS v WINNERS

History: Two previous FA Cup meetings with one win apiece, last meeting 18 years ago with Bristol City winning 2-0

Facts: Bristol City have exited the FA Cup in the 3^rd Round nine times in the last 11 seasons. Huddersfield Town are competing in the FA Cup for the 100^th time and made the 5^th Round in both the last two seasons.

Nb: This tie is to be played on Saturday 5^th January, KO 5.30pm

Tie No. 16 – Newport County (EFL 2) v Leicester City (Premier League)

Levels: Tier 4 v Tier 1

Best Runs: Round 4* v FINALISTS (*since re-forming)

History: No previous FA Cup meetings since Newport County re-formed, but Leicester City did win a replay 2-0 in 1919-20 season against the original club

Facts: Newport County set the re-formed club’s best FA Cup run last season and have gone one Round further in each of the last four years. Leicester City have only twice exited the FA Cup in the 3^rd Round in the last seven years.

Nb: This tie is to be played on Sunday 6^th January, KO 4.30pm

 

Tie No. 17 – Fulham (Premier League) v Oldham Athletic (EFL 2)

Levels: Tier 1 v Tier 4

Best Runs: FINALISTS v SEMI FINALS

History: One previous FA Cup meeting won 2-0 by Fulham 36 years ago

Facts: Fulham have only twice exited the FA Cup in the 3^rd Round in the last 10 years. Conversely, Oldham Athletic have only once gone beyond this Round over the same decade.

Nb: This tie is to be played on Sunday 6^th January, KO 2.0pm

 

 

 

Tie No. 18 – Shrewsbury Town (EFL 1) v Stoke City (EFL Championship)

Levels: Tier 3 v Tier 2

Best Runs: QUARTER FINALS v FINALISTS

History: One previous FA Cup meeting won 2-0 by Stoke City 105 years ago

Facts: Shrewsbury Town have only once progressed beyond the 3^rd Round of the FA Cup in the last 15 years. Stoke City have been knocked out at this stage in both the last two season.

Nb: This tie is to be played on Saturday 5^th January, KO 12.30pm

 

Tie No. 19 – Blackpool (EFL 1) v Arsenal (Premier League)

Levels: Tier 3 v Tier 1

Best Runs: WINNERS v WINNERS

History: Three previous FA Cup meetings with Blackpool ahead by two wins to one, although Arsenal won 3-1 in last meeting 19 years ago

Facts: Blackpool have only twice gone beyond the FA Cup 3^rd Round in the last 11 years. Last season Arsenal were knocked out in the 3^rd Round for the first time in 22 years.

Nb: This tie is to be played on Saturday 5^th January, KO 5.30pm

 

Tie No. 20 – Manchester City (Premier League) v Rotherham United (EFL Championship)

Levels: Tier 1 v Tier 2

Best Runs: WINNERS v Round 5

History: One previous FA Cup meeting won 4-2 by Manchester City in a replay 40 years ago

Facts: Manchester City last failed to make it beyond the 3^rd Round of the FA Cup seven years ago. Rotherham United have failed to win an FA Cup tie in the last four years.

Nb: This tie is to be played on Sunday 6^th January, KO 2.0pm

Tie No. 21 – AFC Bournemouth (Premier League) v Brighton and Hove Albion (Premier League)

Levels: Tier 1 v Tier 1

Best Runs: QUARTER FINALS v FINALISTS

History: Two previous FA Cup meetings with one win apiece, last meeting in 1993-94 season, won 4-2 by AFC Bournemouth

Facts: AFC Bournemouth exited the FA Cup in the 3^rd Round in both the last two seasons. Brighton and Hove Albion have only once been knocked out at this stage of the competition in the last nine years.

Nb: This tie is to be played on Saturday 5^th January, KO 12.30pm

Tie No. 22 – West Ham United (Premier League) v Birmingham City (EFL Championship)

Levels: Tier 1 v Tier 2

Best Runs: WINNERS v FINALISTS

History: Three previous FA Cup meetings with West Ham United ahead by two wins to one, although Birmingham City won the last meeting 3-0 in 1983-84 season

Facts: Over the last 11 years West Ham United have exited the FA Cup in the 3^rd Round six times. Birmingham City have only had three FA Cup 3^rd Round exits in the last nine seasons.

Nb: This tie is to be played on Saturday 5^th January, KO 12.30pm

 

Tie No. 23 – Woking (National League South) v Watford (Premier League)

Levels: Tier 6 v Tier 1 (biggest league gap of the 3^rd Round)

Best Runs: Round 4 v FINALISTS

History: No previous FA Cup meetings

Facts: The lowest ranked side remaining in the FA Cup, Woking, have only once gone beyond the 3^rd Round in their 104 campaigns to date. Watford have only been knocked out of the FA Cup in the 3^rd Round three times over the last dozen seasons.

Nb: This tie is to be played on Sunday 6^th January, KO 2.0pm

 

Tie No. 24 – Burnley (Premier League) v Barnsley (EFL 1)

Levels: Tier 1 v Tier 3

Best Runs: WINNERS v WINNERS

History: Two previous FA Cup meetings with one win apiece, last meeting six years ago with Barnsley winning 1-0

Facts: Burnley have gone out of the FA Cup in the 3^rd Round five times in the last seven seasons. Barnsley have had their first two FA Cup wins this season for five years to make the 3^rd Round.

Nb: This tie is to be played on Saturday 5^th January, KO 12.30pm

 

 

 

Tie No. 25 – Queens Park Rangers (EFL Championship) v Leeds United (EFL Championship)

Levels: Tier 2 v Tier 2

Best Runs: FINALISTS v WINNERS

History: Two previous FA Cup meetings with one win apiece, last meeting in 1986-87 season, won 2-1 by Leeds United

Facts: Queens Park Rangers have won just four FA Cup matches in the last 21 years. Leeds United have exited the FA Cup in the 3^rd Round five times in the last eight years.

Nb: This tie is to be played on Sunday 6^th January, KO 2.0pm

 

Tie No. 26 – Sheffield United (EFL Championship) v Barnet (National League)

Levels: Tier 2 v Tier 5

Best Runs: WINNERS v Round 4

History: No previous FA Cup meetings

Facts: Sheffield United have only failed to go beyond the 3^rd Round of the FA Cup three times in the last 11 seasons. It is also 11 years since Barnet last achieved their best ever FA Cup run.

Nb: This tie is to be played on Sunday 6^th January, KO 2.0pm

 

 

Tie No. 27 – Norwich City (EFL Championship) v Portsmouth (EFL 1)

Levels: Tier 2 v Tier 3

Best Runs: SEMI FINALS v WINNERS

History: One previous FA Cup meeting won 2-0 by Portsmouth in a replay 69 years ago

Facts: Norwich City have the second worst current FA Cup form of all teams in the top two divisions having not won in each of their last five campaigns. Portsmouth have only once gone beyond the 3^rd Round in the last eight years.

Nb: This tie is to be played on Saturday 5^th January, KO 5.30pm

 

Tie No. 28 – Fleetwood Town (EFL 1) v AFC Wimbledon (EFL 1)

Levels: Tier 3 v Tier 3

Best Runs: Round 3 v Round 3 (winner guaranteed to achieve best FA Cup run)

History: No previous FA Cup meetings

Facts: This is the fourth time Fleetwood Town have appeared in the FA Cup 3^rd Round in their 20 campaigns to date. For AFC Wimbledon it is the fourth time in their 15 campaigns to date.

Nb: This tie is to be played on Saturday 5^th January, KO 3.0pm

 

 

Tie No. 29 – West Bromwich Albion (EFL Championship) v Wigan Athletic (EFL Championship)

Levels: Tier 2 v Tier 2

Best Runs: WINNERS v WINNERS

History: No previous FA Cup meetings

Facts: West Bromwich Albion have only once been knocked out of the FA Cup in the 3^rd Round over the last four seasons. Wigan Athletic have only twice failed to go beyond the 3^rd Round in the last six years.

Nb: This tie is to be played on Saturday 5^th January, KO 12.30pm

 

 

 

Tie No. 30 – Middlesbrough (EFL Championship) v Peterborough United (EFL 1)

Levels: Tier 2 v Tier 3

Best Runs: FINALISTS v QUARTER FINALS

History: One previous FA Cup meeting won 2-0 by Middlesbrough in a replay 44 years ago

Facts: Middlesbrough have exited the FA Cup in the 3^rd Round just four times in the last 15 years. Peterborough United have twice gone beyond the 3^rd Round in the last three years.

Nb: This tie is to be played on Saturday 5^th January, KO 3.0pm

Tie No. 31 – Wolverhampton Wanderers (Premier League) v Liverpool (Premier League)

Levels: Tier 1 v Tier 1

Best Runs: WINNERS v WINNERS

History: Six previous FA Cup meetings with Wolverhampton Wanderers ahead by four wins to two, including winning 2-1 in the last meeting just two years ago

Facts: Wolverhampton Wanderers have had just two FA Cup wins in the last seven seasons. It is eight years since Liverpool last exited the FA Cup in the 3^rd Round.

Nb: This tie is to be played on Monday 7^th January, KO 7.45pm

 

Tie No. 32 – Aston Villa (EFL Championship) v Swansea City (EFL Championship)

Levels: Tier 2 v Tier 2

Best Runs: WINNERS v SEMI FINALS

History: Two previous FA Cup meetings, both won by Aston Villa in the 1920s, last time winning 3-1 94 years ago

Facts: Aston Villa exited the FA Cup in the 3^rd Round in both the last two seasons. Swansea City have gone out in this Round just three times in the last eight years.

Nb: This tie is to be played on Saturday 5^th January, KO 3.0pm

FA Cup 2018-19 3rd Round Stats & Facts Preview

© @FACupFactfile

Twenty Premier League clubs and 24 EFL Championship clubs are joined in the 3^rd Round by 13 EFL One sides, 5 EFL Two clubs and two non-league sides; Barnet from the National League, and Woking from National League South (the lowest ranked club in this year’s 3^rd Round). Two non-league sides in the 3^rd Round is obviously better than the none that made it last season, but it has also only ever been lower on a dozen occasions since the current format of the FA Cup was put in place in 1925-26.

There are 29 former FA Cup Winners in this year’s 3^rd Round (almost half of them face another former winner), 13 other clubs who have made the Final in the past but who have not yet lifted the Trophy, five clubs whose best runs have been to the Semi-Finals, eight teams who have only ever gone as far as the Quarter Finals, three clubs who’ve reached the 5^th Round, four sides who’ve only ever made it as far as the 4^th Round, and two clubs who are equalling their best ever FA Cup run by appearing in this year’s 3^rd Round.

AFC Wimbledon are one of those two clubs although, of course, Wimbledon famously lifted the Trophy in 1988. As fate would have it the Dons travel to the other club who have never gone beyond the 3^rd Round before, Fleetwood Town, thereby meaning at least one team will set a new FA Cup record for themselves.

Current FA Cup holders Chelsea also hold the current best record of successive seasons making it through to the 4^th Round. It is 21 years since the Blues last tasted defeat in the 3^rd Round. Ironically, they face Nottingham Forest in this year’s 3^rd Round, who last season defeated the holders, Arsenal, who had previously held the longest current successive seasons of reaching the 4^th Round.

It is only the fourth time in FA Cup history that the first game in the following season’s competition for the holders of the FA Cup has been against the same opponents in two successive seasons. In 1931 Aston Villa lost to holders Arsenal then beat West Bromwich Albion in 1932. In 1934 Tottenham Hotspur beat holders Everton and followed that up with victory over Manchester City in 1935. In both 1978 and 1979 third tier Carlisle United made it through to the 3^rd Round only to lose to the holders Manchester United in 1978 and the holders Ipswich Town in 1979.

Liverpool (last 3^rd Rd defeat in 2011) and Manchester City (last 3^rd Rd defeat in 2012) are the only other clubs defending significant runs of successively making it to the 4^th Round.

Conversely, there are several clubs for whom it has been a while since tasting victory in the 3^rd Round. For clubs below the top two divisions it is not uncommon for them to have not appeared in the 4^th Round for a while. For Grimsby Town it is 19 years, for Gillingham and Tranmere Rovers it is 15 years, and for Doncaster Rovers it is nine years. The two remaining non-league sides have both only ever gone as far as the 4^th Round in the past. For Barnet it is 11 years since they last did so, whereas for Woking they have only ever done so once in their 104 FA Cup campaigns to date, 28 years ago. Their match-up with Watford in this year’s 3^rd Round is the biggest gap between two sides of the Round and would represent the ‘shock of the round’ should Woking find themselves in the 4^th Round.

Three EFL Championship clubs, however, are on current unwanted runs of no FA Cup wins at all. Rotherham United have failed to win an FA Cup tie for five years and Norwich City have failed to do so for six seasons. However, not only are Norwich City not the club with the worst current FA Cup record in the country, they are not even the club with the worst current FA Cup record in East Anglia! It is nine years since their local rivals, Ipswich Town, last won an FA Cup tie.

No mention of poor current FA Cup form could pass without including both Newcastle United and Queens Park Rangers. Newcastle United have had only five FA Cup victories in the last dozen seasons, whilst QPR have only managed four FA Cup wins over the last 21 years.

Just nine of this year’s 3^rd Round ties pit sides who’ve never faced each other in the FA Cup before. Of those other 23 ties where clubs have met in the competition in the past, eight of them involve clubs who’ve met just once before. The longest wait for an FA Cup re-match is between Crystal Palace and Grimsby Town. Their only previous FA Cup meeting came in the 1907-08 season. Crystal Palace have had to wait 111 years for the opportunity to avenge that 1-0 defeat.

The most common match-up in this year’s FA Cup 3^rd Round is between Manchester United and Reading who are meeting in the competition for the fourth time in 13 seasons, and are drawn together for the 10^th time in total. Not really the draw Reading wanted as in the previous nine encounters the Royals have won just the once, in what is one of the most one-sided match-ups in FA Cup history.

Newcastle United and Blackburn Rovers have been drawn together for the ninth time (in what is being described as the Alan Shearer derby) with Newcastle United triumphant in 75% of their previous head-to-heads in the competition. The third most common tie is between Liverpool and Wolverhampton Wanders, and surprisingly it is the West Midlands team who have the better win ratio in past encounters, four wins to two.

Other surprising past FA Cup head-to-head ratios are: EFL One sides Gillingham and Blackpool have both won two of their three previous encounters against their respective Premier League opponents, Cardiff City and Arsenal; EFL One side Portsmouth won their only previous FA Cup encounter with EFL Championship club, Norwich City, winning a replay 69 years ago; and EFL Championship club, Derby County, have won all three of their previous FA Cup meetings with Premier League side, Southampton.

One past head-to-head record in the FA Cup that has definitely gone as expected is that between Tottenham Hotspur and Tranmere Rovers. The clubs actually drew their first meeting in 1953 but the 9-1 victory for Spurs in the replay that season remains the heaviest FA Cup defeat ever for Tranmere Rovers. Spurs also won their only other FA Cup encounter 4-0 in 2002.

A victory for Accrington Stanley over Ipswich Town (a likely outcome given Ipswich’s recent FA Cup record) would equal the best ever FA Cup run for the Lancashire club, not only for the current incarnation, but also for any club who has ever represented the town in the past. Newport County will be hoping they can at least match the best FA Cup run to the 5^th Round achieved by the original club in 1949. A current quirky trend suggests they might do it, given that the Exiles recent FA Cup record has seen them progress one round further than the previous year for the last four seasons (1^st Rd in 2014-15, 2^nd Rd in 2015-16, 3^rd Rd in 2016-17 and 4^th Rd last season).

A few clubs are celebrating FA Cup milestones this season. Huddersfield Town are competing in the FA Cup for the 100^th time whilst both Preston North End and Lincoln City are participating in the competition for the 125^th time each.

Vote for 2018-19 FACTAs

FA Cup Team Awards 2018-19 – The FACTAs

This is the fourth annual running of the FA Cup Team Awards (FACTAs) set up by @FACupFactfile to recognise and celebrate the achievements and efforts of Non-League clubs in the FA Cup.

Past FACTA winners include Didcot Town, Hartley Wintney, Hereford, Woking, Chesham United and Hoddesdon Town.

Dozens of non-league clubs were nominated by fans for this year’s FACTAs covering the four different award,s and all nominations have been appraised to produce a short-list foe each FACTA. It was an extremely difficult task to produce a final shortlist for each award, but the clubs competing for each 2018-19 FACTA are presented below.

 

The Team of the FA Cup FACTA

(Awarded to the club that epitomises the spirit and approach of Non-League clubs in the FA Cup)

Short-listed Clubs

AFC Uckfield Town – Made 2^nd Qualifying Round after previously failing to win an FA Cup game in eight previous seasons as former club Wealden / AFC Uckfield or as AFC Uckfield Town

Dunston UTS – The only club to start in the Extra Preliminary Round to make the 4^th Qualifying Round

Haringey Borough – The only club to start in the Preliminary Round to make the 1^st Round ‘Proper’

Woking – The only level 6 club to reach the 3^rd Round ‘Proper’

 

Performance of the FA Cup FACTA

(Awarded to the club that produced the best one-off performance if this year’s competition)

Short-listed Clubs

Dunston UTS – for their 4-3 win over Chester, who play three leagues above them

Guiseley – for their 4-3 win over League Two side Cambridge United

Hastings United – for their 4-3 win over higher league side Leiston despite being reduced to 8 men

Hereford – for their 4-3 comeback away win over Truro City after being 3-0 down

St Neots Town – for their 4-3 comeback win over Romulus after being 3-0 down in 17 minutes

Stockport County – for their 3-1 away win at League Two side Yeovil Town

Winchester City – for their 4-1 away win at higher league side Merthyr Town

Woking – for their 1-0 away win at League One side Swindon Town

 

Surprise of the FA Cup FACTA

(Awarded to the club which achieved an unexpected result or unexpected feat)

Short-listed Clubs

Coggeshall Town – reached the 3^rd Qualifying Round in their debut FA Cup run

Dunston UTS – the only Step 5 club to reach the 4^th Qualifying Round beating higher league opponents on the way

Haringey Borough – made the 1^st Round ‘Proper’ for the first time ever in 39^th campaign

Weston-super-Mare – made 1^st Round ‘Proper’ winning 3 FA Cup games having at the time not won a League match

 

Special Team Award FACTA

(Awarded to the club that produced something unique or special in this year’s competition)

Short-listed Clubs

AFC Croydon Athletic – won first ever FA Cup games at 6^th attempt to reach 1^st Qualifying Round

Anstey Nomads – won first ever FA Cup games at 4^th attempt to reach 2^nd Qualifying Round

Cleethorpes Town – for being the top goal-scorers in the competition with 19 goals

Daventry Town – for scoring 16 goals in their first two FA Cup games

 

Winners are determined by public vote between 28^th December 2018 and 3^rd January 2019. Votes for FACTA 2018-19 can be cast in one of four ways:

1. Reply to this blog post with your vote, naming both the club and the FACTA
2. Vote via one of four Twitter Polls produced by @FACupFactfile
3. Vote naming both club and FACTA via FACupFactfile on Facebook
4. Vote naming both club and FACTA via email to phil@FACupFactfile.co.uk

 

All four FACTA 2018 winners will be announced on Friday 4^th January, 2019 ahead of this season’s 3^rd Round weekend.

 

Good luck to all clubs short-listed!

 

Met Them Too Soon!

Have you ever consoled yourself that the only reason why your club never made it to the FA Cup Final was because they had been drawn against the eventual winners in an earlier round?

Last season Chelsea beat Manchester United in the Final but had defeated Southampton, Leicester City, Hull City, Newcastle United and Norwich City on their way to lifting the Trophy, with fans of all those teams ruing the fact that they just happened to come face-to-face with the eventual winners in one of the five rounds before the Final.

So, my Christmas present to my followers and blog readers are some stats about those clubs who were just unlucky to have met the eventual FA Cup winners before the Final itself over the years, the kind of stats that only @FACupFactfile can pull together.

 

Most Times Knocked Out of FA Cup by Eventual Winners

Three clubs hold the record for most times coming up against the FA Cup winners on their way to lifting the Trophy having done so 25 times each – Aston Villa, Liverpool and West Bromwich Albion.

 

Most Consecutive Times Being Knocked Out by Eventual Winners

Wolverhampton Wanderers were knocked out by the side that went on to lift the Trophy in five successive seasons losing to Aston Villa in 1886-87 (3^rd Rd), West Bromwich Albion in 1887-88 (3^rd Rd), Preston North End in 1888-89 (Final), and Blackburn Rovers in 1889-90 (Semi Final) and 1890-91 (Quarter Final).

 

Most Consecutive Times Being Knocked Out in the Same Round by Eventual Winners

Queen’s Park famously lost two successive Finals to Blackburn Rovers in the 19^th Century, and along with Old Etonians, West Bromwich Albion, Derby County, Newcastle United (twice), Manchester United, and Everton are the only clubs to have lost in two consecutive Finals.

Blackburn Rovers (1892-93 & 1893-94) and Aston Villa (1958-59 & 1959-60) are the only two clubs to have lost to the eventual FA Cup winners in two successive Semi-Finals.

Several clubs (Nottingham Forest, Preston North End, Everton, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Blackburn Rovers, Grimsby Town, Burnley and Wednesbury Old Athletic) have all been knocked out of the FA Cup by the eventual winners in the same round in two successive seasons, but only one club has had the misfortune of coming up against the team that would go on to lift the Trophy in the same round in three successive years and that is West Bromwich Albion. The Baggies were beaten by Portsmouth in 1938-39, by Derby County in 1945-46, and by Charlton Athletic in 1946-47, all three happening in the Fourth Round.

 

Two Local Rivals Both Being Knocked Out by the Eventual Winners in the Same Season

Once: Chelsea and Fulham were both beaten by Manchester United on their way to lifting the Trophy in 1998-99.

Once: Both Manchester City and Manchester United were defeated by Everton on their way to winning the FA Cup in 1965-66.

Once: Newcastle United and Sunderland were both knocked out by Aston Villa en route to lifting the Cup in 1894-95.

Once: Both Portsmouth and Southampton were eliminated by West Bromwich Albion as they went on to win the Cup in 1967-68.

 

Three Times: Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur were both knocked out of the FA Cup by Newcastle United in 1951-52, by Blackpool in 1952-53, and by Leeds United in 1971-72.

Three Times: Both Nottingham Forest and Notts County exited the FA Cup at the hands of Bury in 1899-1900, of Arsenal in 1978-79, and of Tottenham Hotspur in 1990-91.

 

Four Times: Aston Villa and West Bromwich Albion were both beaten by Derby County in 1945-46 (Derby County also beat Birmingham City for a three bagger of Midlands clubs), by Tottenham Hotspur in 1961-62, by Southampton in 1975-76 and by Manchester United in 1989-90.

 

The most common local double, though, has happened six times. Both Everton and Liverpool lost to Aston Villa in 1896-97, to Sheffield Wednesday in 1906-07, to Manchester City in 1955-56, to West Bromwich Albion in 1967-68, to Manchester United in 1994-95, and to Arsenal in 2013-14.

 

West Bromwich Albion (in 1968) are the only club to defeat two sets of local rivals on their way to lifting the FA Cup Trophy … Everton / Liverpool and Portsmouth / Southampton.

 

No club has yet beaten both Ipswich Town and Norwich City nor knocked out both Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday on their way to winning the FA Cup.

 

Non-League Clubs Beaten by Eventual FA Cup Winners

Before the structure of the competition was changed to exempt clubs from the top two divisions until the Third Round ‘Proper’ in the 1925-26 season, several Non-League clubs were defeated by the club that would go on to lift the Trophy that year, but since then it has not happened too often. These seven clubs can rightly claim to have been unfortunate to have met the eventual winners too early and dream of what might have been.

1959 – Tooting and Mitcham United (Isthmian League) lost to Nottingham Forest in the 3^rd Round.

1966 – Bedford Town (original) (Southern League Premier) lost to Everton in the 4^th Round.

1971 – Yeovil Town (Southern League Premier) lost to Arsenal in the 3^rd Round.

1993 – Yeovil Town (Conference) lost to Arsenal again in the 3^rd Round.

2003 – Farnborough Town (Conference) lost to Arsenal in the 4^th Round.

2013 – Macclesfield Town (Conference National) lost to Wigan Athletic in the 4^th Round.

2017 – Both Sutton United and Lincoln City (both National League) lost to Arsenal in the 5^th Round and Quarter Finals respectively

So, Arsenal are the only club to knock more than one Non-League side out of the FA Cup en route to lifting the Trophy (four different clubs), are the only FA Cup winners to knock two Non-League clubs out in the same season, and the only FA Cup Winners to knock the same Non-League club out twice on their way to winning it.

 

When Cup Winners Played in the First Round

Up to and including the 1924-25 season, the FA Cup winners each season would invariably have begun their campaign in the 1^st Round. The last such club to lift the FA Cup having started so early was Sheffield United. The club they defeated in the 1^st Round, and therefore the last club to be knocked out so early in the FA Cup by the eventual winners, was Corinthians, one of the forerunners of the current amateur side Corinthian-Casuals.

 

Clubs with the Most Exits at the Hands of the Eventual FA Cup Winners (10 Times or More)

25 – Aston Villa, Liverpool and West Bromwich Albion

23 – Newcastle United

21 – Arsenal and Leicester City

20 – Everton, Manchester United and Southampton

19 – Chelsea and Wolverhampton Wanderers

18 – Blackburn Rovers

16 – Nottingham Forest and Preston North End

15 – Bolton Wanderers

14 – Burnley, Portsmouth and Tottenham Hotspur

13 – Birmingham City and Manchester City

12 – Derby County, Sheffield United, Sheffield Wednesday, Stoke City and Sunderland

11 – Huddersfield Town, Leeds United, Luton Town, Notts County and West Ham United

 

The current highest placed club which has never been knocked out of the FA Cup by another club that would go on to lift the Trophy is Peterborough United.

FA Cup 2018-19 2nd Round ‘Proper’ Top-line Stats & Facts

All information copyright © @FACupFactfile – please seek permission before using

Stats of the Round

Slough Town now hold the record for most FA Cup 2^nd Round exits without ever making the 3^rd Round … this was their 8^th attempt

Sunderland have been knocked out of the FA Cup before the 3rd Round for the first time in 31 years

 

First time in 3^rd Round ever

None so far

 

Equalling best run to 3^rd Round

Fleetwood Town (4th time in 20 campaigns)

AFC Wimbledon (4^th time in 15 campaigns)

 

Lowest ranked clubs in 3^rd Round

Woking

 

First time in 3^rd Round in a while

Woking (22 years)

Barnet (11 years)

Gillingham (7 years)

Grimsby Town, Oldham Athletic (5 years)

 

Consecutive 2^nd Rd KOs

Charlton Athletic (3)

Guiseley, Maidstone United, Plymouth Argyle, Scunthorpe United, Slough Town, Swindon Town (2)

 

KO in 2^nd Rd but Equalled Best Run

Slough Town (8^th time in 74^th campaign)

Maidstone United (3^rd time in 17^th campaign)

Guiseley (2nd time in 52nd campaign)

Solihull Moors (2nd time in 12th campaign)

FC Halifax Town (2^nd time in 11^th campaign)

 

KO in 2^nd Rd for the First Time in a While

Sunderland (31 years)

 

KO in 2^nd Rd and a while since last progressed to 3^rd Round

Stockport County (12 years)

Swindon Town (7 years)

Cheltenham Town (6 years)

Southend United (5 years)

 

Avenged Previous FA Cup Defeat

Lincoln City 2-0 Carlisle United (Now 2 wins each in FA Cup)

Swindon Town 0-1 Woking (now 2-1 to Swindon)

 

Biggest Wins of the 2^nd Rd

Southend United 2-4 Barnsley

FC Halifax Town 1-3 AFC Wimbledon

Chesterfield 0-2 Grimsby Town

Accrington Stanley 3-1 Cheltenham Town

Lincoln City 2-0 Carlisle United

Replay

Newport County 4-0 Wrexham

 

Cup Upsets

Swindon Town (4) 0-1 Woking (6)

 

Hat-tricks

Ivan Tovey (Peterborough United)

 

FA Cup 2018-19 2nd Round ‘Proper’ Tie-by-Tie Previews

Stats and Facts about all 20 FA Cup 2nd Round ‘Proper’ ties – all information copyright © @FACupFactfile – please seek permission before using

Tie No. 1 – Guiseley (National League North) v Fleetwood Town (EFL 1)

Levels: Tier 6 v Tier 3 (joint biggest league gap of the 2^nd Round)

Best Runs: Round 2 v Round 3

History: No previous FA Cup meetings, but Guiseley did lose 3-2 to previous Fleetwood Town in 1992-93 season

Facts: Guiseley are appearing in the 2^nd Round ‘Proper’ of the FA Cup for the second successive season, but it is also only the second time in their 52 campaigns to date. A win for Fleetwood Town would take them to the 3^rd Round for the third successive year and for the fourth time ever in their 20 campaigns.

Nb: This tie is to be played on Monday 3^rd December, KO 8.0pm

 

Tie No. 2 – Bury (EFL 2) v Luton Town (EFL 1)

Levels: Tier 4 v Tier 3

Best Runs: WINNERS v FINALISTS

History: Two previous FA Cup meetings with one win apiece, last meeting in 2014-15 season with Luton Town winning 1-0 in replay

Facts: It is three years since Bury progressed beyond the 2^nd Round of the FA Cup and have only done so once in 10 years. Luton Town have reached the 3^rd Round three times in the last four year.

Nb: This tie is to be played on Sunday 2^nd December, KO 2.0pm

 

 

Tie No. 3 – Wrexham (National League) v Newport County (EFL 2)

Levels: Tier 5 v Tier 4

Best Runs: QUARTER FINALS v Round 4 (since re-forming in 1989)

History: No previous FA Cup meetings, but Wrexham lost 3-0 to original Newport County in a replay in 1921-22 season

Facts: It is four years since Wrexham last progressed beyond the 2^nd Round ‘Proper’, and have done so only twice in the last 11 seasons. Newport County set their best FA Cup run last season and are tracking to equal the original club’s progress to the 5^th Round having gone one round further every year for the last four seasons.

Nb: This tie is to be played on Saturday 1^st December, KO 8.0pm

 

 

 

Tie No. 4 – Tranmere Rovers (EFL 2) v Southport (National League North)

Levels: Tier 4 v Tier 6

Best Runs: QUARTER FINALS v QUARTER FINALS            

History: Four previous FA Cup meetings with Southport winning the last 3 times, last doing so 50 years ago by 1-0

Facts: It is four years since Tranmere Rovers progressed to the FA Cup 3^rd Round ‘Proper’, but have done so three times in the last nine seasons. Southport have made the 3^rd Round just once this Century, last doing so four years ago.

Nb: This tie is to be played on Sunday 2^nd December, KO 2.0pm

Tie No. 5 – Southend United (EFL 1) v Barnsley (EFL 1)

Levels: Tier 3 v Tier 3

Best Runs: Round 5 v WINNERS

 History: Three previous FA Cup meetings with Barnsley up by two wins to one, last winning 1-0 in 2007-08 season

Facts: Southend United are in the FA Cup 2^nd Round for the first time in five years, which is also when they last progressed beyond this round. Barnsley won their first FA Cup match for four years in the 1^st Round, and have only exited the FA Cup earlier than the 3^rd Round once in the last 13 seasons.

Nb: This tie is to be played on Saturday 1^st December, KO 3.0pm

Tie No. 6 – Shrewsbury Town (EFL 1) v Scunthorpe United (EFL 1)

Levels: Tier 3 v Tier 3

Best Runs: QUARTER FINALS v Round 5

History: Two previous FA Cup meetings with one win apiece, last doing so in 2003-04 season when Scunthorpe United won 2-1

Facts: Shrewsbury Town have twice progressed to the 3^rd Round ‘Proper’ in the last four seasons, but just three times in the last fifteen. It is three years since Scunthorpe United have also gone beyond the 2^nd Round twice in the last four seasons, but last did so three years ago .

Nb: This tie is to be played on Sunday 2^nd December, KO 2.0pm

 

Tie No. 7 – Solihull Moors (National League) v Blackpool (EFL 1)

Levels: Tier 5 v Tier 3

Best Runs: Round 2 v WINNERS (biggest gap of 2^nd round)

History: No previous FA Cup meetings

Facts: This is only the second time Solihull Moors have reached the 2^nd Round ‘Proper’ in their dozen FA Cup campaigns to date. Blackpool have only four times this Century failed to appear in the FA Cup 3^rd Round.

Nb: This tie is to be played on Friday 30^th November, KO 7.55pm

 

 

Tie No. 8 – Chesterfield (National League) v Grimsby Town (EFL 2)

Levels: Tier 5 v Tier 4

Best Runs: SEMI FINALS v SEMI FINALS

History: Six previous FA Cup meetings (the most of the 2^nd Round) with Grimsby winning five times, last doing so in 1997-98 season 2-0 in a replay

Facts: It is three years since Chesterfield progressed beyond the FA Cup 2^nd Round and have done so only twice in the last 21 seasons. Grimsby Town have only once gone beyond the 2^nd Round in their last 15 FA Cup campaigns, five seasons ago.

Nb: This tie is to be played on Sunday 2^nd December, KO 2.0pm

 

Tie No. 9 – Peterborough United (EFL 1) v Bradford City (EFL 1)

Levels: Tier 3 v Tier 3

Best Runs: QUARTER FINALS v WINNERS

History: No previous FA Cup meetings despite having competed in a combined 184 FA Cup campaigns between them.

Facts: Peterborough United have only once failed to appear in the FA Cup 3^rd Round ‘Proper’ in the last dozen seasons, and that was four years ago. Bradford City have appeared in the 3^rd Round three times in the last four years, but only four times in the last fourteen.

Nb: This tie is to be played on Saturday 1^st December, KO 3.0pm

Tie No. 10 – Swindon Town (EFL 2) v Woking (National League South)

Levels: Tier 4 v Tier 6

Best Runs: SEMI FINALS v Round 4

History: Two previous FA Cup meetings both won by Swindon Town without conceding a goal, last in 2009-10 season by 1-0

Facts: It is seven years since Swindon Town last progressed beyond the 2^nd Round ‘Proper’ of the FA Cup. This is the third successive season Woking have appeared in the 2^nd Round, but it is 22 years since they went any further.

Nb: This tie is to be played on Sunday 2^nd December, KO 2.0pm

 

Tie No. 11 – Maidstone United (National League) v Oldham Athletic (EFL 2)

Levels: Tier 5 v Tier 4 (25 years ago the clubs were 14 levels apart)

Best Runs: Round 2 v SEMI FINALS

History: No previous FA Cup meetings

Facts: Maidstone United are appearing in the FA Cup 2^nd Round for the second year running and for the third time in 17 campaigns since re-forming. It is five years since Oldham Athletic last progressed beyond the 2^nd Round of the FA Cup.

Nb: This tie is to be played on Saturday 1^st December, KO 3.0pm

Tie No. 12 – Lincoln City (EFL 2) v Carlisle United (EFL 2)

Levels: Tier 4 v Tier 4

Best Runs: QUARTER FINALS v QUARTER FINALS

History: Three previous FA Cup meetings with Carlisle United ahead by two wins to one, last winning 2-1 in 2002-03 season

Facts: Lincoln City have just once gone beyond the FA Cup 2^nd Round in the last eight seasons, but that was two years ago when they went all the way to the Quarter Finals. Carlisle United have appeared in the 3^rd Round of the FA Cup five times over the last nine years.

Nb: This tie is to be played on Saturday 1^st December, KO 3.0pm

 

Tie No. 13 – FC Halifax Town (National League) v AFC Wimbledon (EFL 1)

Levels: Tier 5 v Tier 3

Best Runs: Round 2 v Round 3 (original clubs both went further)

History: No previous FA Cup meetings (in any guises)

Facts: This is the second time FC Halifax Town have appeared in the 2^nd Round ‘Proper’ in their 11 FA Cup campaigns since re-forming. AFC Wimbledon have progressed to the 3^rd Round three times in the last four years.

Nb: This tie is to be played on Saturday 1^st December, KO 12.30pm

 

Tie No. 14 – Plymouth Argyle (EFL 1) v Oxford United (EFL 1)

Levels: Tier 3 v Tier 3

Best Runs: SEMI FINALS v QUARTER FINALS

History: Two previous FA Cup meetings with one win apiece, last doing so in 1989-90 season when Oxford United won 1-0

Facts: Plymouth Argyle have only twice progressed beyond the 2^nd Round ‘Proper’ of the FA Cup in the last eight seasons. Oxford United have achieved that feat four times in the last six years.

Nb: This tie is to be played on Saturday 1^st December, KO 3.0pm

 

 

Tie No. 15 – Barnet (National League) v Stockport County (National League North)

Levels: Tier 5 v Tier 6 (non-league club guaranteed in the 3^rd round)

Best Runs: Round 4 v Round 5

History: No previous FA Cup meetings

Facts: It is 11 years since Barnet last progressed beyond the 2^nd Round ‘Proper’ of the FA Cup and this is their fourth appearance in this round since then. Stockport County have not gone beyond this round for a dozen years, and this is only their third appearance in the 2^nd Round in that time.

Nb: This tie is to be played on Sunday 2^nd December, KO 2.0pm

 

Tie No. 16 – Rochdale (EFL 1) v Portsmouth (EFL 1)

Levels: Tier 3 v Tier 3

Best Runs: Round 5 v WINNERS

History: No previous FA Cup meetings

Facts: Rochdale have only once failed to go beyond the FA Cup 2^nd Round in the last five seasons and equalled their best FA Cup run just last year. This is only the second time Portsmouth are appearing in the FA Cup 2^nd Round over the last seven years.

Nb: This tie is to be played on Sunday 2^nd December, KO 2.0pm

 

 

 

Tie No. 17 – Walsall (EFL 1) v Sunderland (EFL 1)

Levels: Tier 3 v Tier 3

Best Runs: Round 5 v WINNERS

History: No previous FA Cup meetings

Facts: Walsall have only once progressed beyond the FA Cup 2^nd Round in the last ten seasons. Conversely, Sunderland have only once exited the FA Cup as early as the 2^nd Round over their last 87 campaigns.

Nb: This tie is to be played on Saturday 1^st December, KO 3.0pm

 

 

 

Tie No. 18 – Accrington Stanley (EFL 1) v Cheltenham Town (EFL 2)

Levels: Tier 3 v Tier 4

Best Runs: Round 4 v Round 5

History: No previous FA Cup meetings

Facts: Accrington Stanley have only twice progressed beyond the 2^nd Round ‘Proper’ in the last 22 years, but reached their best run to the 4^th Round on both occasions. It is six years since Cheltenham Town last progressed to the 3^rd Round of the FA Cup.

Nb: This tie is to be played on Saturday 1^st December, KO 3.0pm

 

Tie No. 19 – Charlton Athletic (EFL 1) v Doncaster Rovers (EFL 1)

Levels: Tier 3 v Tier 3

Best Runs: WINNERS v Round 5

History: No previous FA Cup meetings despite a combined 215 FA Cup campaigns between them.

Facts: Charlton Athletic failed to reach the FA Cup 3^rd Round in both the last two seasons. Doncaster Rovers have appeared in the 3^rd Round four times over the last five years.

Nb: This tie is to be played on Saturday 1^st December, KO 3.0pm

 

 

 

Tie No. 20 – Slough Town (National League South) v Gillingham (EFL 1)

Levels: Tier 6 v Tier 3 (joint biggest league gap of the 2^nd Round)

Best Runs: Round 2 v QUARTER FINALS

History: No previous FA Cup meetings

Facts: Slough Town are appearing in the 2^nd Round ‘Proper’ for the second year running and for the eighth time in their 74 FA Cup campaigns to date. It is seven years since Gillingham went beyond the 2^nd Round of the FA Cup.

Nb: This tie is to be played on Sunday 2^nd December, KO 2.0pm