Five all-Premier League ties in FA Cup third round as part-timers Whitehawk get the blues

Whitehawk manager Steve King said: “I wanted the Reds but I got the Blues. But we ain’t got the blues.”

Mon, 07 Dec, 2015 - 20:47

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

The sixth-tier side, who are on their best run in the competition in their history, will make the trip to Goodison Park if they get through their second-round replay against Sky Bet League Two Dagenham & Redbridge at home.

WHITEHAWK: @HawksFCOfficial boss Steve King on potential Everton tie @comeonyouhawks @hawksultras #FACup pic.twitter.com/xrZRkYSoKC
— BBC Sport Sussex (@BBCSussexSport) December 7, 2015

The third-round draw, made tonight in Cardiff, also sees Jurgen Klopp’s first FA Cup tie as Liverpool boss take him to League Two Exeter.

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

The two sides met in the Barclays Premier League at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, with the Gunners recording a 3-1 victory.

Whitehawk were one of four non-league teams to feature in the draw.

The lowest-ranked among them, Salford City, will host Championship high-fliers Derby if the seventh-tier outfit get past Hartlepool in their second-round replay.

Eastleigh, the only one of the quartet to have made it through outright, were handed a home tie against Championship basement boys Bolton, while the draw also pitted the winner of Grimsby’s second-round clash against Shrewsbury – being played on Monday night – against Cardiff away.

As well as the Arsenal-Sunderland game, there are four other all-Premier League ties, with the pick seeing surprise leaders Leicester travelling to fifth-placed Tottenham.

Tottenham draw table-topping Leicester City in the third-round of the #FACup. pic.twitter.com/KChVP43XL2
— B/R Football (@brfootball) December 7, 2015

The others are Norwich v Manchester City, Southampton v Crystal Palace and Watford v Newcastle.

Manchester United host League One Sheffield United and Chelsea will play the winner of Leyton Orient v Scunthorpe at Stamford Bridge.

Other notable fixtures include rock-bottom Premier League side Aston Villa’s trip to Wycombe, who reached the 2001 semi-final, and Leeds’ clash with Rotherham at Elland Road, where respective managers Steve Evans and Neil Redfearn will both be facing their old clubs.

That game is one of six all-Championship matches in the draw.

Difference between Leeds fans and Rotherham fans reaction to the FA cup 3rd round draw #lufc #mot #rufc pic.twitter.com/PG8UB1LdM9
— john (@cnsnckdvnjdnv) December 7, 2015

Whitehawk manager Steve King had admitted before the draw that he was hoping to be given the chance to take on Liverpool.

And afterwards, regarding the prospect of facing Everton instead, King told the BBC: “I wanted the Reds but I got the Blues. But we ain’t got the blues.”

He added: “It’s a tough game to get through against Dagenham & Redbridge first because both teams will want to play that massive tie.

“It’s 50-50, the best on the day goes through.”