FA Cup 3rd Round Preview 2013

FA Cup – Third Round.

The early kick off of the FA Cup third round takes us to the home of Brighton and Hove Albion as they face Premiership side Newcastle United.
The Seagulls are on 37 points in the Championship and are and come into this game on a high after a convincing 0-3 away win at Ipswich on New Years Day. Another positive that stand The Albion in good stead for this match is the boost of winger Will Buckley signing a new four year deal.
On the other hand Newcastle have been struggling of late, the Magpies find themselves just two points above the relegation zone and have failed to win any of their last three games including a 2-1 home defeat to Everton on Wednesday.
Aldershot are currently 20th in the league take on Rotherham in a battle between the two league two sides. The Shots have already lost 3-0 to the Millers this season.
Rotherham have won four of their last five games and have the further boost of Liverpool stoker Adam Morgan joining them on loan. The loan move is consequence of Liverpool signing Daniel Sturridge from Chelsea.
Aston Villa will be hoping to continue the form they found against Swansea on New Years Day as they host Ipswich Town. A young and inexperienced Villa side conceded 15 goals in three matches over the Christmas period without scoring themselves.
Just one point above the drop zone in the Premier league Villa will hope a good cup run will bring them a run of form in 2013.
Similarly Ipswich are struggling in the relegation zone of the Championship. Despite winning two of their last three Ipswich still find themselves 19th in the league.
Mick McCarthy will be hoping that duo Aaron Mclean and David McGoldrick will be cleared for tomorrows game. Mclean is on loan from Hull and McGoldrick from Nottingham Forrest will stay at Portman Road for the rest of the season.
Barnsley take on Burnley at the Oakwell Stadium, Barnsley are bottom of the Championship with 21 points and have only won one match in their last five. Burnley who is currently 12th drew to the Tykes earlier in the season.
In another all Championship clash tomorrow Blackburn are at home to Bristol City. Bristol City find themselves just above Barnsley while Blackburn are 13th in the league.
The former Premier league club showed their dominance when the two clubs met at the start of the season with Rovers thumping five past City in a 3-5 away win.
One point separates Charlton Athletic and Huddersfield Town in the Championship and there was nothing to part them earlier in the season as they drew 1-1 at the Valley.
On paper this looks set to be a very close match as Charlton have picked up four points from a possible 15 and Huddersfield have picked up three from the same amount.
Charlton, now in 15th, however started 2013 with a 3-4 away victory over Watford while Huddersfield, in 17th, received a harsh lesson loosing 6-1 to Leicester.
Bolton take on Sunderland, Bolton come off the back of a defeat to Leeds on New Years Day and have only won two out of their last five fixtures. Sunderland appear to have the upper hand in this fixture claiming four out of six points last season in the Premier league.
Sunderland beat the defending Premier league champions 1-0 but failed to continue their momentum and have lost both games since.
Reading faces a short away trip down the M25 and M4 to the Broadfield Stadium to face Crawley. Crawley are in 8th in league one picked up the name giant killers in this competition and will hope to continue their cup form against premier league Reading.
Crystal Palace take on Stoke City after winning 3-1 against Wolves while Stoke are going into this game on the back of a 3-0 defeat to Manchester City.
Tranmere Rovers are flying high at the top of league one and will be hoping to go on a good cup run as they are the visitors to Derby County. Rovers have picked up ten points from their last fifteen with Derby picking up seven.
Blackpool drew to Hull in their first game of 2013 travel down to Fulham who were victorious on New Years Day against West Bromwich Albion. Hull host league one side Leyton Orient, Hull fill the second automatic promotion place while Orient are sitting comfortably in 15th position.
Leeds United are at home to Birmingham City earlier in the season Birmingham were victorious at Elland Road. Burton Albion face a tough away day at Leicester City, the league two side are currently sitting in 8th place but the fifth placed Championship side have already been beaten by Albion in the Capital One Cup.
Conference Premier Side Luton Town are hosting Championship side Wolves tomorrow at Kenilworth Road. Luton have won three of their last five games where as Wolves confidence is diminished after loosing four out of five and only scoring two goals in those five games.
Another Conference Premier side set with a big game ahead of them is tenth place Macclesfield as they face Championship leaders Cardiff City.
However the toughest game of the day looks to go to Hastings United. The Ryman League Premier Division side are heading to Middlesbrough. Hastings are unbeaten in 12 games in all competitions. Boro have won three of their last five games.
Millwall face Preston tomorrow while Nottingham Forrest takes on Oldham. Oxford United is hosting league one side Sheffield United who are second in the league table.
The U’s were victorious on New Years Day beating Cheltenham 1-0 while Sheffield United drew 2-2 away to Doncaster Rovers on New Years Day.
Sheffield Wednesday are at home to league one side MK Dons, this looks set to be a lose match with The Dons currently in 6th as well as winning their last game away to Notts County 2-1. Wednesday are in the relegation zone of the Championship while loosing 2-0 against Barnsley on New Years Day.
Southend take on Brentford. The league two side lost 1-0 at home to Gillingham while Brentford drew 0-0 to Bournemouth on New Years Day who away to Wigan.
Tottenham face Coventry at White Hart Lane, a replay of the 1987 final where the Sky Blues were the cup winners. Though Coventry are going though trouble going on off the pitch their performances picked up drastically as they went on a 10 game unbeaten run in all competitions. However Shrewsbury put an end to the form with a victory at the Ricoh Arena 1-0 on New Years Day.
Tottenham are heading into tomorrows game with three successive wins and are unbeaten in five games.
Four all Premier League ties are to take place tomorrow. QPR host West Bromwich Albion for the second time in nine days. West Brom won 2-1 on the 26th of December however they have since been hit with a string of injuries to key members of the team.
QPR’s confidence will be brimming as they are on the back of a fantastic away win against the European Champions earlier this week while the Baggies were beaten at home.
Southampton are facing the cup holders Chelsea, just goal difference is keeping them above the relegation zone.
West Ham are taking on Manchester United at Upton Park. United are at the top of the table with a seven point lead over second place Manchester City. West Ham has lost three of their last five games and also lost to United 1-0 earlier this season.
The two remaining games that are to take place on Sunday see Swansea take on Arsenal and Mansfield face Liverpool.
Mansfield manager Paul Cox will be hoping to make it a triple celebration on Sunday following his wedding today (Friday) and his 41st birthday on Sunday. Liverpool have won three of their last four games in the premier league propelling them up to eighth in the league