Holders Manchester City have been handed an explosive derby clash with bitter rivals Manchester United in yesterday’s draw for the FA Cup third round.
City defeated United 1-0 in the FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley en route to winning the competition last season and they will host Sir Alex Ferguson’s side at Eastlands on January 7/8.
Roberto Mancini’s side, who beat Stoke in the final to claim their first trophy in 35 years, are currently five points clear of reigning champions United in the Premier League as they seek to snatch the English title away from Old Trafford.
The match has added spice as it will be the first Manchester derby since City’s astonishing 6-1 league triumph at Old Trafford in October.
The tie was one of only two all-Premier League encounters in the third round draw, with Newcastle hosting Blackburn in the other.
Chelsea take on Portsmouth at Stamford Bridge in a rematch of the 2010 FA Cup final which the west London club won 1-0 to complete their first ever league and cup double.
Arsenal will host Championship side Leeds and Liverpool are at home to either Southend or Oldham.
Tottenham take on League Two club Cheltenham and Everton host National Conference outfit Tamworth.
Martin O’Neill’s first FA Cup tie in charge of Sunderland will come at Championship club Peterborough, while Stoke manager Tony Pulis returns to one of his former clubs at League Two Gillingham.
Aston Villa face a trip to League Two Bristol Rovers, who earned their place in the third round with a 6-1 demolition of Southern Premier Division AFC Totton yesterday.
The draw
M’Boro vs Shrewsbury; Nottm Forest vs Leicester; Man. City vs Manchester United; Dagenham and Red./Walsall vs Millwall; Crawley vs Bristol City; Doncaster vs Notts County; Bristol Rovers vs Aston Villa; Tottenham vs Cheltenham; Sheffield Wed. vs West Ham; MK Dons vs QPR; Hull vs Ipswich; Coventry vs Southampton; Brighton vs Wrexham; Fulham vs Charlton; Birmingham vs Wolves;
Norwich vs Burnley; Arsenal v Leeds; Derby vs Crystal Palace; Fleetwood/Yeovil vs Blackpool; Swindon vs Wigan; Barnsley vs Swansea; Chelmsford/Macclesfield vs Bolton; Newcastle vs Blackburn; Everton vs Tamworth; Sheffield Utd vs Salisbury/Grimsby; Liverpool vs Southend/Oldham; Gillingham vs Stoke; Chelsea vs Portsmouth; Watford vs Bradford; Peterborough vs Sunderland; West Brom vs Cardiff; Reading vs Stevenage.
Ties to be played on January 7/8.