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Up for the Cup; Can Victory For Blades Spur There Season

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It’s that time of year again. The FA Cup Round 3 allows clubs like Sheffield United, who are struggling ion their league table, to take a break from the doom and gloom. United will travel to Bristol to face Rovers but what about the other teams competing in this seasons competition.

Last season, Sheffield United reached the Quarter Final stage, beating AFC Fylde, Millwall, and Reading before bowing out at home to Arsenal. It was the furthest they had reached in the semi-final stage in 2014, losing 5-3 as a League One club under then-manager Nigel Clough to Premier League Hull City. In the clubs’ history, the Blades have lifted the historic trophy four times in; 1899 (v Derby), 1902 (v Southampton), 1915 (v Chelsea), and 1925 (v Cardiff). They have also been losing finalists twice in 1901 (v Tottenham), and 1936 (v Arsenal). On the occasions the Blades have failed to reach the final they have been semi-finalists on eight occasions; 1914 (v Burnley), 1923 (v Bolton), 1928 (v Huddersfield), 1961 (v Leicester), 1993 (v Sheffield Wednesday), 1998 (v Newcastle), 2003 (v Arsenal), and 2014 (v Hull). 

Jamie Murphy celebrates scoring United’s third goal in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley v Hull City. 

By the time that Sheffield United kick-off at the Memorial Ground at 3 pm today, the ties involving the four Premier League clubs; Wolves, Palace, Villa, and Liverpool will already have been decided, having taken place last night. 

With no zero supporters able to spectator today’s performance at the Memorial Ground, fans are reminded that they watch the live match on BT Sport and will also be available at over 100 countries across the globe.

Perhaps the oddest tie of the round will pit Championship club Derby County travelling to non-league Chorley in Lancashire. This usually wouldn’t be a strange game, except that there has been an outbreak of COVID-19 at the Rams training ground. The match will go ahead but the Pride Park club will be forced to select players from their Academy.

Regardless of this weekend’s results, the draws for both the fourth and fifth round will take place on Monday, at around 7:10 pm, shortly before Stockport County host West Ham United at Edgley Park in the final third-round tie.

The full FA Cup Third Round draw is as follows…

Friday, 8th January 2021

Wolverhampton Wanderers v Crystal Palace

Aston Villa v Liverpool

Saturday, 9th January 2021

Huddersfield Town v Plymouth Argyle

Southampton v Shrewsbury Town

Chorley v Derby County

Oldham Athletic v AFC Bournemouth

Manchester United v Watford

Stevenage v Swansea City

Everton v Rotherham United

Nottingham Forest v Cardiff City

Arsenal v Newcastle United

Bristol Rovers v Sheffield United

Boreham Wood v Millwall

Blackburn Rovers v Doncaster Rovers

Stoke City v Leicester City

Wycombe Wanderers v Preston North End

Burnley v Milton Keynes Dons

Queens Park Rangers v Fulham

Brentford v Middlesbrough

Luton Town v Reading

Exeter City v Sheffield Wednesday

Norwich City v Coventry City

Blackpool v West Bromwich Albion

Sunday, 10th January 2021

Crawley Town v Leeds United

Barnsley v Tranmere Rovers

Bristol City v Portsmouth

Manchester City v Birmingham City

Cheltenham Town v Mansfield Town

Chelsea v Morecambe

Newport County v Brighton & Hove Albion

Marine v Tottenham Hotspur

Monday, 11th January 2021

Stockport County v West Ham United

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