Whitehawk one win away from goodison park trip in the fa cup

Part-timers Whitehawk have been handed a possible trip to Everton in the draw for the third round of the FA Cup.

The Hornets were the first name out of the hat during this evening’s draw and were handed a home tie against Steve McClaren’s Magpies.

Here we look at seven other ties in the 2015-16 third round where the underdog could prevail.

Our first FA cup game of the season is scheduled for Saturday January 9th and this would be okay as we do have to travel to face Liverpool at Anfield the following Wednesday but the cup date could be changed for the TV schedule and that could give us a problem.

Juergen Klopp’s Liverpool, smarting from a 2-0 league defeat at Newcastle on Sunday, will visit fourth-tier Exeter City.

The lowest-ranked among them, Salford City of the seventh tier – co-owned by former Manchester United stars Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt and brothers Gary and Phil Neville – are to host championship high-fliers Derby if they can get past League Two team Hartlepool in their second-round replay.

Previously I had argued we should do away with FA Cup replays, especially given how much football is already played over the congested festive period. “It’s 50-50, the best on the day goes through”.

Holders Arsenal, looking to win the trophy for a third successive year, will face Sunderland at home.

The third round draw also paired two current Premier League high flyers, fifth-placed Tottenham against leaders Leicester City.

Chelsea were the victims of a giant-killing in 2014-15; beaten 4-2 at home by Bradford, and with the Blues having a wretched season, whoever emerges out of Leyton Orient and Scunthorpe’s replay will feel they have a decent enough chance of creating shockwaves.

Charlie Nicholas makes his predictions for the Champions League games and says Arsenal may struggle and Chelsea can qualify.