FA Cup holders Portsmouth will begin their defence with a third round tie at home to Bristol City after the draw was made yesterday.

Portsmouth, who won the Cup last year for the first time since 1939, joined the rest of the Premier League clubs in the draw which also included minor league side Histon after their shock defeat of Leeds in the second round yesterday.

The favourites for the competition were kept apart with Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool all handed comfortable looking ties.

Chelsea host League One team Southend United, Arsenal are at home to Championship side Plymouth Argyle while Manchester United go to Southampton, also from the Championship. Liverpool are away to Preston.

Cambridgeshire village side Histon, who beat Leeds 1-0, were rewarded with a third round tie at home to Championship side Swansea City.

The draw

Portsmouth vs Bristol City; Sheffield Wed. vs Fulham; Preston vs Liverpool; Birmingham vs Wolves; West Ham vs Barnsley; M'Boro vs Barrow; Hull City vs Newcastle; Hartlepool vs Stoke; Chelsea vs Southend; Man. City vs Nottm Forest; Cardiff vs Reading; Ipswich vs Chesterfield/Droylsden; Charlton vs Norwich; West Brom vs Peterborough/Tranmere; Torquay vs Blackpool; Leyton Orient vs Sheff. United; Southampton vs Man. United; Millwall vs Carlisle/Crewe; Histon vs Swansea; Forest Green vs Derby; QPR vs Burnley;

Leicester vs C. Palace; Tottenham vs Wigan; Morecambe/Cheltenham vs Doncaster; Arsenal vs Plymouth; Notts County/Kettering vs Eastwood; Bournemouth/Blyth Spartans vs Blackburn; Macclesfield vs Everton; Watford vs Scunthorpe; Sunderland vs Bolton Wanderers; Coventry vs Kidderminster; Gillingham/Stockport vs Aston Villa.

Ties to be played on January 3 and 4.