By Gareth James
Swansea City have been forced into a reunion with former head coach Russell Martin next month after the club drew Southampton in the third round of the FA Cup.
It means a trip to St. Mary’s for the Swans, who will go up against the man who left them 18 months ago.
Martin quit as Swans boss in the summer of last year before taking Saints up into the Premier League via the play-offs.
On the weekend of January 10-13, he will go head-to-head with his former club, who are now coached by one of his former assistants, Luke Williams.
Cardiff have also been handed a difficult looking away trip, to Championship pace-setters Sheffield United.
The Bluebirds are due to host the B;ades – currently two points clear at the top of the table – in the Championship on December 21.
We will face @SouthamptonFC away in the third round of the @EmiratesFACup
The tie will be played between Friday, January 10 2025 and Monday, January 13 2025. pic.twitter.com/WauN8MEbOQ
— Swansea City AFC (@SwansOfficial) December 2, 2024
Arsenal will host Manchester United in a mouth-watering, pick-of-the-round tie.
The competition’s two most successful teams – the Gunners have won it 14 times compared to United’s 13 – will clash at Emirates Stadium on the weekend of January 11-12.
Ruben Amorim’s team are the current champions, while Arsenal last lifted the trophy in 2020.
Tamworth, one of only two non-league clubs in the draw, have been given a dream tie against Premier League heavyweights Tottenham, who must travel to The Lamb Ground.
FA CUP DRAW RESULTS….
#SaintsFC vs Swansea City
#AFCB vs West Brom
Wycombe Wanderers vs #PompeyWe’ll bring live commentary of all these games on our Radio Solent frequencies pic.twitter.com/pa13eWRKcS
— BBC Radio Solent Sport (@solentsport) December 2, 2024
The underdogs are sat in mid-table of the National League and will be targeting a giant-killing in a money-spinning fixture.
Manchester City, winners in 2023 and last season’s beaten finalists, face an intriguing encounter with League Two outfit Salford City at Etihad Stadium.
Salford are owned by the ‘Class of 92’, which is made up of former Manchester United stars such as Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville and Paul Scholes.
Accrington Stanley have been given the daunting task of taking on Premier League and Champions League pacesetters Liverpool at Anfield.
Stanley are struggling in League Two this season while Liverpool have won 18 matches and lost just once, against Nottingham Forest in September.
Tamworth’s National League rivals Dagenham & Redbridge – who are also sat in mid-table – must travel to Millwall for their third-round fixture.
Chelsea have been resurgent under new boss Enzo Maresca and the Italian will be eyeing a strong FA Cup run that begins against Morecambe, who are bottom of League Two.
The third round sees the 44 clubs from the Premier League and Championship enter the competition, joining the 20 lower-league and non-league sides who won in the previous round.
FA Cup third round draw in full
Southampton v Swansea City
Arsenal v Manchester United
Exeter City v Oxford United
Leyton Orient v Derby County
Reading v Burnley
Aston Villa v West Ham United
Norwich City v Brighton & Hove Albion
Manchester City v Salford City
Millwall v Dagenham and Redbridge
Liverpool v Accrington Stanley
Bristol City v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Preston North End v Charlton Athletic
Chelsea v Morecambe
Middlesbrough v Blackburn Rovers
Bournemouth v West Bromwich Albion
Mansfield Town v Wigan Athletic
Tamworth v Tottenham Hotspur
Hull City v Doncaster Rovers
Sunderland v Stoke City
Leicester City v Queens Park Rangers
Brentford v Plymouth Argyle
Coventry City v Sheffield Wednesday
Newcastle United v Bromley
Everton v Peterborough United
Wycombe Wanderers v Portsmouth
Birmingham City v Lincoln City
Leeds United v Harrogate Town
Nottingham Forest v Luton Town
Sheffield United v Cardiff City
Ipswich Town v Bristol Rovers
Fulham v Watford
Crystal Palace v Stockport County
