FA CUP:An FA Cup fourth-round draw relatively short on glamour did at least produce the possibility of the only surviving non-league club, Havant & Waterlooville, playing Liverpool at Anfield if they overcome the visiting League One leaders Swansea City in a replay next week. Rafael Benitez's team, for their part, would need to see off Luton Town in their replay at Anfield.
"It's incredible," said Shaun Gale, the Havant manager. "Everyone was jumping around when the draw was made. It's something potentially fantastic for the club, for me and everyone connected with us. It's been a fairytale; you see it every season and this year it's been us."
"They (Swansea) won't enjoy coming here. It will be a full house and an intimidating atmosphere. We've got to make it awkward for them - they are a good side and we've got to stop them playing."
Fans of Oldham and Huddersfield had reason to be disappointed after their rewards for respective wins against Everton and Birmingham was a match against each other. Oldham's manager John Sheridan, the former Republic of Ireland international, had seen his side produce one of the shocks of the third round as they beat David Moyes' high-fliers 1-0 at Goodison Park on Saturday, but did not hide his dismay despite being handed the home tie against a side managed by the former Latics manager and striker, Andy Ritchie, a star of the club's run to the semi-finals in 1990.
"I'm a good friend of Andy's, who was one of Oldham's best ever players, and I'm sure he'll be disappointed, but it'll be a full house and a game we both think we can win," he said.
"I heard Andy on the radio this morning saying he didn't want to draw us, but it's done now. We'll both be looking to get into the next round and get hopefully get a big boy."
Wigan are at home to the holders Chelsea and Manchester United host either Tottenham or Reading.
Newcastle could face league leaders Arsenal twice in four days. Sam Allardyce's side, who travel to the Emirates Stadium in the Premier League on Tuesday, January 29th, will also run out against the same opposition at the same venue the previous weekend if they manage to see off Stoke City in their third-round replay next week.
If the prospect of Dimitar Berbatov showing Alex Ferguson precisely what he has missed out on in declining to break the British transfer record for his services is not enough to excite then the possibility of Steve Coppell, a former United winger, returning with his Reading team should satisfy romantics. Last season United won 3-2 at the Madejski in a fifth-round replay en route to the final.
Ferguson would doubtless have also been pleased that his son Darren's Peterborough United side earned a home game with either West Bromwich or Charlton.
Gareth Southgate and his Middlesbrough players may not be relishing a trip to Field Mill. "It's a tremendous draw," said Billy Dearden, manager of League Two's second bottom side, Mansfield Town. "We've got a Premier League team at home, we're looking forward to it, and anything can happen."
If West Ham can overcome Manchester City in their replay then it would set up a potentially explosive clash with Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.
The Blades still harbour ill feeling towards the Hammers and feel it should have been the west London club who were relegated to the Championship last season for fielding an ineligible player in the shape of Carlos Tevez.
