The game between ALFRETON and Walsall was postponed at the last minute and has been rearranged for Tuesday evening. In the other two games CAMBRIDGE UNITED comfortably beat Fleetwood Town 4-0, while CHESTERFIELD pulled off another 'giant killing' with another League One scalp, beating Leyton Orient 1-0. Premier League and Championship clubs will be joining them in the hat for Round THREE.
The much anticipated draw has been made for Round THREE Southampton v ALFRETON or Walsall Championship Saints are two levels higher than Walsall and four above ALFRETON They did of course win the cup as a Second Division (Championship) side in 1976, when a goal from Portsmouth born Bobby Stokes gave them a famous win over Manchester United. Being a Championship side they are entering the fray at this stage Last season they reached Round FIVE, where they suffered a shock 1-2 defeat at home by League Two Grimsby Town Blackburn Rovers v CAMBRIDGE UNITED The Riversiders are in the Championship, so are a division higher than the visitors They have won the competition six times, although five of those were in the 19th Century. Their most recent triumph was nearly a hundred years ago, in 1927-28. They are entering the competition at this stage Last season they went down 3-2 at Sheffield Utd in the QUARTER FINALS Watford v CHESTERFIELD The Hornets complete a trio of Championship opponents for the incumbent baton holders. They have been runners up on two occasions; 1983-84 and 2018-19 They are of course entering proceedings at this stage They went out at the first attempt last year, going down 2-0 at Reading in Round THREE Ties to be played on the week-end of Saturday 6th January. As a side note, we seem to have sprung a bit of a pattern here. In Round ONE, all the Baton holders were drawn away In Round TWO, all the baton holders were drawn at home Now, in Round THEREE, all the baton holders have been drawn away again
I'd rather forgotten about this and the thread had slipped onto page 2!! The 2nd Round replay saw WALSALL take the red baton from Alfreton with a 1-0 home victory Round THREE Southampton 4-0 WALSALL Blackburn Rovers 5-2 CAMBRIDGE UNITED Watford 2-1 CHESTERFIELD All the baton holders were drawn away to higher league sides and, as a consequence, all the batons have changed hands.
Round FOUR Unbelievably, for the first time in three years two baton holders meet before the semi finals! WATFORD v SOUTHAMPTON If only we hadn't been knocked out...... BLACKBURN ROVERS v Wrexham The Red Dragons are enjoying their first season back in the EFL after being relegated to the National League in 2008. This cup run equals their best. They have so far knocked out Mansfield Town, Yeovil Town and Shrewsbury Town Last season they went out at this stage. They took Sheffield United to a replay, before going down 3-1 at Bramall Lane Ties to be played over this coming wekend
With WATFORD and SOUTHAMPTON needing a replay and the match between BLACKBURN ROVERS and Wrexham being played tomorrow, we are, as yet, non the wiser as to who will carry the respective batons into Round FIVE. However, the draw has been made and we know the eventual opponents in both ties. Liverpool v WATFORD or SOUTHAMPTON The Reds need to wait and see if they will be playing for the Blue Baton, which started with Pompey in Round ONE or for the Red Baton which began life in the Extra Preliminary Round in the fixture between MONEYFIELDS and WESTBURY UNITED. With eight wins Liverpool sit joint 3rd (with Chelsea and Tottenham) in the all time list, behind Arsenal (14) and Man Utd (12). They last lifted the cup two seasons ago. They have so far knocked out Arsenal and Norwich City. Last season they went out in Round FOUR after suffering a 2-1 defeat at Brighton BLACKBURN ROVERS or Wrexham v Newcastle United The Magpies will be contesting the Purple Baton, which started with Havant & Waterlooville in the Second Qualifying Round. They have won six FA Cups, although anyone born on the day they last won it will now be approaching their 69th birthday. They have so far won at Sunderland and Fulham to set up, what is their third consecutive away draw of the season. The last time they were drawn at home was in Round THREE, two season ago, when they suffered a shock 0-1 defeat by Cambridge United. Last season the fell at the first hurdle, going down 2-1 away to Sheffield Wednesday in Round THREE. In a mark of disrespect (in my opinion) of this great competition, The Round FIVE fixtures are due to be played in mid week; the week including Wednesday 28th February.
Looks like there's been a technical problem here. The most recent post seems to have disappeared and the whole thread seems to have disappeared from the site, so having found it by searching the thread title, I hope it will reappear with this post! (otherwise I'm just talking to myself lol) I'll go straight to the Round FIVE results: Liverpool 3-0 SOUTHAMPTON BLACKBURN ROVERS 1-1 Newcastle United AET - Newcastle won on penalties So, onwards and upwards to Round SIX, the Quarter-Finals Manchester United v LIVERPOOL The Red Devils are the second most successful side in the FA Cup, with 12 wins. So far this season they have knocked out Wigan Athletic, Newport County and Nottingham Forest. This is their first home draw in this season's competition. Last season they reached the final, where they were beaten 2-1 by their nearest and dearest, Manchester City Manchester City v NEWCASTLE UNITED In a quirk of fate, The Citizens make it a Manchester double as far as bids to take over the batons are concerned They have won the cup seven times, with three of those wins being in the 21st Century, and they are, of course the current holders. They have so far disposed of Huddersfield Town, Tottenham Hotspur and Luton Town Ties to be played on the weekend of Saturday 16th March
Manchester City 2-0 NEWCASTLE UNITED So it is the holders MANCHESTER CITY flying the purple banner at Wembley in the semi finals
Manchester United 4-3 LIVERPOOL AET (2-2 90min) What a thriller for the neutral So it is MANCHESTER UNITED carrying the red baton into the semi finals We have a potential Manchester Derby on our hands again this season as the two baton holders have avoided each other in the semi final draw. Coventry City v MANCHESTER UNITED The Sky Blues are the last man standing from outside the Premier League Their one triumph came in 1987, when they lifted the trophy after a 3-2 win over Tottenham. They have reached the semi finals courtesy of wins over Oxford Utd, Sheffield Wed, Maidstone Utd and Wolves Last season they fell in Round Three with a shock 3-4 home defeat to non-League Wrexham MANCHESTER CITY v Chelsea The Pensioners have won the sup on eight occasions; most recently in 2018 They are here after beating Preston, Aston Villa, Leeds and Leicester They will be looking for revenge against the side that thrashed them 4-0 in Round Three last season Games to be played at Wembley Stadium on the week-end of 20-21 April
