Do enjoy my stat-packed tie-by-tie previews of this coming weekend’s FA Cup 3rd Round games and please do credit @FACupFactfile should you choose to use any of the information from my previews in your own commentaries, match previews, blog, vlogs and podcasts.
Thursday 4th January
8.0pm Crystal Palace (PL) vs. Everton FC (PL) – ‘Live’ on ITV X
Seventh time drawn together in FA Cup with three wins apiece in past Cup meetings spanning 115 years. Everton won first encounter 4-0 in replay in 1906/07 whilst Palace won 4-0 when the club’s last met in Quarter Finals two years ago. And they’ve both beaten each other 6-0 in past FA Cup meetings. All points to a one-sided affair … but to which club? Both clubs exited in this round last season.
Friday 5th January
7.15pm Brentford FC (PL) vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers (PL)
First FA Cup meeting between these two Premier League clubs despite 248 campaigns between them. Both clubs exited in this round last season.
7.30pm Fulham FC (PL) vs. Rotherham United (EFL Championship)
First FA Cup meeting between these two clubs despite 209 campaigns between them. It’s five years since Fulham exited at this stage of the competition whilst Rotherham has exited in the 3rd Round in each of the last five seasons, and has not won a 3rd Round tie in 22 years.
8.0pm Tottenham Hotspur (PL) vs. Burnley FC (PL) – ‘live’ on ITV 1
Eighth time drawn together in FA Cup including the Cup Final of 1962 won 3-1 by Tottenham, one of five victories for Spurs in past Cup encounters between the two clubs. It’s 10 years since Spurs last tasted defeat in the 3rd Round of the FA Cup and the club needs to score three goals in this season’s campaign to reclaim top spot in the competition’s overall goal-scoring chart. Burnley reached the Quarter Finals last season for the first time in 20 years.
Saturday 6th January
12.30pm AFC Wimbledon (EFL 2) vs. Ipswich Town (EFL Championship)
First FA Cup meeting between these two clubs. Last season Ipswich won a 3rd Round tie for the first time in 13 years. A victory for the Dons would result in only the club’s second foray beyond the 3rd Round in their 20 campaigns as AFC Wimbledon.
12.30pm Millwall FC (EFL Championship) vs. Leicester City (EFL Championship)
Sixth time drawn together in FA Cup with Leicester winning on the first two occasions and Millwall victorious in the last three. The Lions exited in the 3rd Round in both the last two seasons whilst the Foxes last experienced defeat in this round five years ago, in which time the club lifted the Trophy for the first time.
12.30pm Coventry City (EFL Championship) vs. Oxford United (EFL 1)
One previous FA Cup encounter in the 5th Round 42 years ago won 4-0 by Coventry City when there were two divisions between the clubs.
12.30pm Maidstone United (National League South) vs. Stevenage FC (EFL 1)
Maidstone United are the only Level Six club in the 3rd Round and so are the lowest ranked club remaining in the competition. It is the first time that the Stones have made it this far in what is the club’s 22nd FA Cup campaign since forming following the demise of the original Maidstone United FC. This means the current club has matched the original club’s best Cup run.
Maidstone United and Stevenage have met in FA Cup before, in the 1st Round nine years ago, when both were in leagues one level below their current status. On that occasion Maidstone caused an upset with a 2-1 replay victory, and a similar result this season would see a Maidstone United side in the 4th Round for first time ever, 125 years after first participating in the competition. Last season Stevenage went beyond the 3rd Round for only the fifth time in the club’s history.
12.45pm Sunderland FC (EFL Championship) vs. Newcastle United (PL) – ‘live’ on ITV 1
This will be the first FA Cup meeting between these two north-east rivals for 68 years and each has beaten the other twice in past FA Cup encounters. Sunderland went beyond 3rd Round last season for first time in eight years whilst Newcastle United have exited at this stage in each of the last three seasons.
3.0pm Stoke City (EFL Championship) vs. Brighton and Hove Albion (PL)
Met twice before in FA Cup, both times in the 5th Round, the first time 13 years ago won 3-0 by Stoke City on their way to their first ever FA Cup Final. Back then Stoke were the top-flight club and Brighton were playing in the third tier. Brighton avenged that defeat 1-0 just last season. Both clubs progressed beyond the 3rd Round in at least the last two seasons.
3.0pm Norwich City (EFL Championship) vs. Bristol Rovers (EFL 1)
Third time drawn together in FA Cup with Bristol Rovers being triumphant on both previous occasions, the last time 60 years ago. It’s 16 years since Rovers last ventured beyond the 3rd Round whilst the Canaries exited at this stage last season for the first time in four years.
3.0pm Southampton FC (EFL Championship) vs. Walsall FC (EFL 2)
Third time drawn together in FA Cup with one victory each in past meetings both with a 2-1 scoreline. It’s five years since the Saints last exited the competition as early as the 3rd Round whilst Walsall went beyond this round last season for the first time in seven years.
3.0pm Watford FC (EFL Championship) vs. Chesterfield FC (National League)
With victories over two EFL One sides already this season Chesterfield FC have become only the fifth non-league club, since the current structure was adopted 98 years ago, to reach the 3rd Round in three successive seasons. And the Spireites have faced and beaten Watford FC in the competition before, albeit in a completely different footballing era, 111 years ago in a 5th Qualifying Round tie. Chesterfield won that tie 3-1 and a similar victory for the National League pacesetters this season would take the club into the 4th Round for the first time in nine years. Meanwhile, Watford has exited at this stage of the competition in each of the last four seasons.
3.0pm Blackburn Rovers (EFL Championship) vs. Cambridge United (EFL 1)
First FA Cup meeting between the two clubs despite 224 campaigns between them. Blackburn went beyond this round last season for the first time in six years whilst Cambridge have gone further than the 3rd Round just once over the past eight seasons.
3.0pm Gillingham FC (EFL 2) vs. Sheffield United (PL)
First FA Cup meeting between these two clubs despite 246 campaigns between them. Gillingham last went beyond this round five years ago the club’s only 4th Round appearance in their last 19 campaigns. Sheffield United reached the Semi-Finals last season for the third time this century, all as a lower than top-flight club.
3.0pm Queens Park Rangers (EFL Championship) vs. AFC Bournemouth (PL)
One previous FA Cup meeting in the 2nd Round in 1966/67 season saw QPR win 2-0 when both clubs were playing in the fourth tier. Last season saw QPR exit the FA Cup in the 3rd Round for an unwanted record 51st time. AFC Bournemouth also exited in the 3rd Round last season for the first time in four years.
3.0pm Plymouth Argyle (EFL Championship) vs. Sutton United (EFL 2)
First FA Cup meeting between the two sides and Plymouth Argyle will be hoping to avoid a Cupset against their struggling EFL 2 opponents, a result that would move the club alongside QPR with the most 3rd Round exits. The Pilgrims twice made the 4th Round over the last three seasons, but they were the only occasions in their last 15 campaigns. It’s seven years since Sutton United went on their club record run to the 5th Round as a non-league club.
3.0pm Newport County (EFL 2) vs. Eastleigh FC (National League)
Eastleigh FC are already equalling the club’s best FA Cup runs just by appearing in this season’s 3rd Round, having got this far in the competition in both the 2015/16 and 2016/17 campaigns. Having already seen off opposition in the last round from a higher level than Newport County, the Spitfires will be looking to reach the 4th Round for the first time in the club’s 47th FA Cup campaign. Newport County have already dispatched two non-league clubs in this season’s campaign so will be well prepared to try to prevent a Cupset and go beyond this round for the first time in five years.
3.0pm Hull City (EFL Championship) vs. Birmingham City (EFL Championship)
Met once before in FA Cup at the same stage of the competition but 69 years ago when both clubs were also playing in the second tier. That match was won 2-0 by Birmingham City who made the 4th Round last season, something Hull City hasn’t done for four years.
5.30pm Sheffield Wednesday (EFL Championship) vs. Cardiff City (EFL Championship)
Met once before in FA Cup at the same stage of the competition but 76 years ago when both clubs were also playing in the second tier. That match was won 2-1 by Sheffield Wednesday who made the 4th Round last season, something Cardiff City last did as recently as the season before.
5.30pm Swansea City (EFL Championship) vs. Morecambe FC (EFL 2)
First time the two clubs have met in FA Cup despite 197 campaigns between them. Swansea has exited in 3rd Round in both the last two seasons. Morecambe did the same twice in their last three campaigns, the difference being for the Shrimps is that the 3rd Round is the furthest the club has ever gone in the competition.
5.30pm Chelsea FC (PL) vs. Preston North End (EFL Championship) – ‘Live’ on BBC i-player
Fourth time drawn together in FA Cup and Chelsea have won through on all three previous occasions, the last happening 14 years ago. Last season, Chelsea lost a 3rd Round match last season for the first time in a record 25 consecutive campaigns whilst Preston avoided defeat in the 3rd Round last season for the first time in five years.
5.30pm Middlesbrough FC (EFL Championship) vs. Aston Villa (PL) – ‘Live’ on BBC 1
Fourth time drawn together in FA Cup with Villa ahead by two wins to one in past Cup encounters, with all three meetings occurring in the 1950s. Aston Villa are on the current worst FA Cup run for those clubs that start in the 3rd Round having exited at this stage of the competition in each of the last seven seasons. Middlesbrough has twice made the Quarter Finals in that time.
Sunday 7th January
2.0pm Luton Town (PL) vs. Bolton Wanderers (EFL 1)
Sixth time drawn together in FA Cup spread over almost 100 years from 1897/98 with Bolton ahead by four wins to one in past Cup meetings. It’s four years since Luton Town last failed to go beyond this round whilst it’s one year more since Bolton Wanderers were even participating in the 3rd Round.
2.0pm West Ham United (PL) vs. Bristol City (EFL Championship)
Third time drawn together in FA Cup with the Hammers successful on both previous occasions, most recently nine years ago. It’s seven years since West Ham last failed to go beyond the 3rd Round whilst Bristol City have gone further than this round every other season over the last nine years.
2.0pm West Bromwich Albion (EFL Championship) vs Aldershot Town (National League)
The Shots have reached this season’s 3rd Round with victories over two EFL Two clubs, setting a new competition goal-scoring record for a non-league club at Football League opposition in the process, and being the top scoring club of those that have fought their way through to this round. Another similar victory away at Championship side West Bromwich Albion would equal Aldershot Town’s best FA Cup run from 11 years ago. Five times FA Cup winners West Bromwich Albion will obviously be a tougher nut to crack but the Baggies will be wary of being on the wrong end of another Tim Buzaglo type hat-trick.
2.0pm Peterborough United (EFL 1) vs. Leeds United (EFL Championship)
Drawn together in the FA Cup for the third time with one win apiece in past Cup meetings. The Posh have gone further than the 3rd Round in the last six years (twice) than Leeds United has (once) despite always being in a lower division in that time and usually having to win through to the 3rd Round. Leeds United have set a new FA Cup ‘Proper’ Rounds record by being drawn away from home for the 13th consecutive time.
2.0pm Nottingham Forest (PL) vs. Blackpool FC (EFL 1)
Meeting at this stage of the competition for the second successive season with last year Blackpool winning 4-1 whilst just one League below their opponents. Both clubs have only twice gone beyond this round over the last five seasons.
2.0pm Manchester City (PL) vs. Huddersfield Town (EFL Championship) – ‘Live’ on BBC i-Player
Fourth time drawn together in FA Cup with Manchester City being triumphant on all three previous occasions. Cup holders Manchester City have not failed to go beyond this round for 12 years, lifting the Trophy twice in that time. Huddersfield Town has just once made it beyond the 3rd Round over the last five seasons.
2.0pm Shrewsbury Town (EFL 1) vs. Wrexham FC (EFL 2) – ‘Live’ on S4C
Fourth time drawn together in FA Cup including in the 1945/46 season where they had to play two legs. Wrexham won that tie on aggregate and have a two to one win ratio against Shrewsbury Town in the Cup. Shrewsbury have won their way through to the 3rd Round for seventh successive season, twice going further in that time. Last season Wrexham went beyond this round for the first time in the 21st Century. Wrexham make up a quartet of Welsh clubs in this season’s 3rd Round, the first time that many Welsh clubs have been in the last 64 since the 1986/87 season.
4.30pm Arsenal FC (PL) vs. Liverpool FC (PL) – ‘Live’ on BBC 1
The most common tie of this season’s 3rd Round with this being the 14th time the two clubs have been drawn to face each other, including in three separate FA Cup Finals. Arsenal have an eight to five win ratio in past Cup meetings and a two to one win ratio in Cup Final meetings. Between them the two clubs have won the FA Cup 22 times and have each lifted the Trophy within the last four seasons, so one of the big favourites for this year exit at the first hurdle.
Monday 8th January
8.15pm Wigan Athletic (EFL 1) vs. Manchester United (PL) – ‘Live’ ITV 1
Met once before in FA Cup in the 4th Round seven years ago won 4-0 by Manchester United at Old Trafford whilst Wigan were a Championship side. The Latics have just once gone beyond this round over the last five seasons whilst last year’s beaten finalists Manchester United haven’t failed to go beyond this round for 10 years.
FA Cup Factfile 