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City face tricky Oldham trip

MANCHESTER City have been drawn away against neighbours Oldham Athletic in one of the most eye-catching ties of the FA Cup third round.

The last time the clubs met in the competition was back in 1912, when Oldham emerged 1-0 winners, and City can expect a tough game at Boundary Park.

City youngster Lee Croft, who is currently on loan with the League One side, is hopeful he will be able to play for the Latics.

The match also pits together two of the only managers in Greater Manchester to have won the FA Cup as players. Oldham boss Brian Talbot won it with Ipswich and Arsenal, while Kevin Keegan tasted success with Liverpool.

Manchester United, meanwhile, have been drawn against Conference side Exeter in the third round of the FA Cup in a classic David and Goliath encounter.

The cash-strapped Grecians, who were relegated from the Football League in 2003, earned the money-spinning tie against the holders by beating Doncaster in the second round.

The club are currently 13th in the Conference - 99 places below United - but hope the visit to Old Trafford can provide the springboard for promotion back to the League.

Exeter were not the only non-League club celebrating after Ryman League Premier Division leaders Yeading were drawn at home to Newcastle.

Manager Johnson Hippolyte immediately called for the game to be switched from their 3,500-capacity ground, The Warren, to St James' Park but that may not be permitted under competition rules.

Hinckley United, the third non-League side in the draw after their 0-0 stalemate with Brentford, will play Luton if they can come through their replay with the Bees.

Premiership leaders Chelsea were handed a home tie against Scunthorpe whilst champions Arsenal were drawn to face Stoke at Highbury.

Stoke were one of 13 Coca-Cola Championship teams to be drawn against Premiership opposition, nine of them at home.

Burnley will take on Liverpool, Sunderland face Crystal Palace and Cardiff host Blackburn.

Aston Villa are away at Sheffield United, Fulham visit Carling Cup semi-finalists Watford and Norwich go to West Ham.

Everton and Bolton have long trips to Plymouth and Ipswich respectively whilst West Brom travel to Preston.

The other Championship teams to play away to Premiership opposition are Brighton, Leeds and Gillingham who face Tottenham, Birmingham and Portsmouth respectively.

The winners of the replay between Swindon and Notts County will host Middlesbrough.

Northampton will play Southampton whilst Charlton are at home to Rochdale.


FA Cup third round draw:

Arsenal v Stoke

Swindon/Notts Co v Middlesbrough

Man Utd v Exeter

Plymouth v Everton

Leicester v Blackpool

Derby v Wigan

Sunderland v Crystal Palace

Wolves v Millwall

Yeading v Newcastle

Hull v Colchester

Tottenham v Brighton

Reading v Stockport/Swansea

Birmingham v Leeds

Hartlepool v Boston

Milton Keynes Dons v Peterborough

Oldham v Man City

Chelsea v Scunthorpe

Cardiff v Blackburn

Charlton v Rochdale

West Ham v Norwich

Sheff Utd v Aston Villa

Preston v West Brom

Rotherham v Yeovil

Burnley v Liverpool

Bournemouth v Chester

Coventry v Crewe

Watford v Fulham

Ipswich v Bolton

Portsmouth v Gillingham

Northampton v Southampton

QPR v Nottm For

Luton v Hinckley/Brentford

Matches to be played on weekend of January 8-9.

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I dont understand!! Tricky tie? Oldham are a League 1 team, City are a quality PL side, whats tricky about it?? We will do a Barnsley on them. Typical 'the rags' get an even easier draw though....

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What do you mean "the rags get an easy draw"? I'm looking forward to that one, it's quite an evenly matched tie......Exeter to sneek it in a replay though.

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Given a decent Cup run is financially important to City and this is a potential bananaskin, I hope Lee Croft is not allowed to play for Oldham unless he's transferred to them at market value.

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Bizarre if City allow Croft to try and do his bit to knock us out of a cup that we must take seriously. He'd have too much to prove if allowed to play and has said he wants to. We've already permitted him to be cup-tied when our squad wasn't big enough to do so. Get a grip KK. Tricky? Eye Catching? Am I missing something?

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This is indeed a special one. Oldham not far away and with Lee Croft who gets a great opportunity to show KK what he can do. Hope he scores a lot of goals and be man of the match, as long as City score one more and go through.

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They do a mean meat pie at Boundary Park. The beer's terrible though. Me mum and dad still live near by. Wish I could be there. Can't see us losing but it will not be easy as the Latics have hit a bit of form recently.

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