An intriguing draw for the fourth round of the FA Cup has thrown up a maximum of three all-Premier League ties, with Arsenal the only current top six side that will play at home.
The Cup holders will host the promotion-chasing Championship side Burnley, having won their last five meetings in the competition by an aggregate score of 16-1.
The only totally top-flight tie that is certain to be played sees Crystal Palace, who also had to beat Premier League opposition in the third round when they won 2-1 at Southampton, host Stoke. If Liverpool win their home replay against Exeter City they will host West Ham United, who they last met in knock-out football in the 2006 final, won on penalties by Liverpool after Steven Gerrard’s late long-range strike secured a 3-3 draw. Manchester City could also face Premier League opposition, but only if Aston Villa come through their tie against Wycombe, having been held to a 1-1 away draw on Saturday.
Oxford United, whose 3-2 victory over Swansea was perhaps the finest of the third round so far, were rewarded with another home tie, even if their opponents – either Blackburn Rovers or Newport County – are probably not those they had dreamt of, with their appetites whetted by a pairing with Chelsea in the rehearsal.
It may however present an opportunity to settle some personal scores. Oxford’s manager, Michael Appleton, endured a miserable 67-day stint as manager at Ewood Park in 2013 while his assistant, Derek Fazackerley, is Blackburn’s all-time record appearance-maker, having represented them 596 times in the league.
Eastleigh, the only non-league side still in the competition, were once again drawn at home to Championship opposition – Leeds United on this occasion – though they will first have to survive a replay against Bolton, with whom they drew 1-1 on Saturday, at the Macron Stadium.
Colchester, 23rd in League One, are rewarded for a 2-1 home victory over Charlton with a home game against either Tottenham or Leicester City, who will replay next Tuesday after drawing 2-2 at White Hart Lane on Sunday. Chelsea, meanwhile, will visit either Northampton, second in League Two, or MK Dons, who also drew their first game 2-2.
Manchester United will visit Derby, currently second in the Championship, almost certain to be their 48th consecutive televised FA Cup tie. United have not failed to beat Derby in six FA Cup games since 1897.
The fourth-round fixtures will be played between January 29th and February 1st.
The draw in full is:
West Brom/Bristol City v Peterborough
Eastleigh/Bolton v Leeds
Arsenal v Burnley
Derby v Manchester United
Huddersfield/Reading v Walsall
Exeter/Liverpool v West Ham
Wycombe/Aston Villa v Manchester City
Shrewsbury v Sheffield Wednesday
Nottingham Forest v Watford
Carlisle/Yeovil v Everton
Crystal Palace v Stoke
Oxford v Newport County/Blackburn
Ipswich/Portsmouth v Bournemouth
Colchester v Tottenham/Leicester
Bury/Bradford v Hull
Northampton/MK Dons v Chelsea
(Guardian service)
