The third round of England’s most prestigious cup competition kicked off with an all-Premier League tie on Thursday night, with 31 matches still to be played.
The first weekend in January has become synonymous with the FA Cup for football fans. This round sees sides from the top two tiers of the English pyramid join the competition, opening up the prospect of some major upsets.
Underdog victories are what the FA Cup is best known for, and can often give fans of lower league clubs their greatest memories following their sides. Lincoln City supporters will never forget their magical run to the Quarter Finals in 2016/17 for example, when they were only a non-league side. Or even last season, where League Two Grimsby Town managed to see off Luton Town and Southampton to earn a spot in the final eight.
This season, the draw also opened up the possibility for some more cup upsets, and below are five matchups that have the potential for just that.
Sunderland vs Newcastle United
This fixture is arguably the most highly anticipated match of the third round. This edition of the Tyne-Wear derby is the first since 2016, and the first in the FA Cup since 1956. Kicking off at Saturday lunchtime, this fixture promises to symbolise everything the competition is about, and a cup upset would simply add to that narrative.
The match being played at the Stadium Of Light gives Sunderland a large advantage. That is not just the mental benefit of being the home side, but also down to Newcastle’s away form. Eddie Howe’s men have only won two of their 15 games on the road in all competitions this season, compared to the Black Cat’s eight home wins in 14 matches. With these stats, the prospect of the Championship side progressing past their fierce rivals is not too far-fetched.
Gillingham vs Sheffield United
The away side have already been on the receiving end of a cup upset this season, losing on penalties to League One side Lincoln City in the EFL Cup. They will be hoping not to have a repeat of that this weekend as they travel to Essex to face a Gillingham side who have started to click under manager Stephen Clemence.
It is unlikely that the Blades will field their best team in this fixture too, as Premier League survival is likely to be their key aim this year. Coming into the game off the back of two successive 1-0 victories, the Gills will be hoping that they can keep it tight at home and grab a goal on the counter against the side 59 places above them in the pyramid.
Newport County vs Eastleigh
This game is the only one on this list to feature a non-league club. Eastleigh have already seen off three other sides in this competition, beating fellow National League opposition Dover Athletic and Boreham Wood in the fourth qualifying round and first round proper respectively, before then getting past third-tier Reading in the second round.
On paper, Newport will be an easier side to beat than the Royals, as Graham Coughlan’s men currently sit 18th in League Two, however, they are coming into the game on the back of a three-game unbeaten run. They also took Premier League Brentford to penalties in the EFL Cup in August, although, the South Wales side may find it difficult to not be on the receiving end of an upset.
Peterborough United vs Leeds United
There may not be too many places between these two in the English football pyramid, third in League One compared to fourth in the Championship, but this promises to be a very entertaining matchup. Two teams who are performing strongly in their respective divisions, however, Posh could still cause an upset. Their free-scoring playstyle has seen them average two goals a game and leaves them currently on an unbeaten run of 11 games.
Leeds on the other hand have had a bit of an indifferent festive period, only picking up three points from a possible nine. That single victory came against Birmingham City to kick off 2024, a result which ultimately led to Wayne Rooney getting sacked from the Blues. With a fight for promotion back to the top flight likely to be the more imperative aim this season, The Peacocks may come unstuck at this stage of the competition for the sixth time in the past seven seasons.
Wigan Athletic vs Manchester United
There were a few options for the final game of this list, however, Manchester United seem to pick themselves. This season marks the tenth anniversary since the last time the Red Devils were knocked out in the third round of this cup. Yet, with their current injury list and the lack of identity they’re showing in matches, this could be the season they repeat that feat.
Wigan have an impressive history in the FA Cup, having beat Manchester City 1-0 in 2013 to lift the illustrious trophy. They have also reached the fourth round or better on four occasions since then. Although they have hardly had an outstanding season in the league so far, this tie could be more about Ten Hag’s side’s weaknesses, rather than the strengths of the Latics, potentially resulting in a Monday night upset.
