Six possible FA Cup third round shocks

Football fans will be hoping for lots of magic as the FA Cup third round arrives this weekend. We have picked out some of the likeliest FA Cup shocks in the next few days.

 

Six possible FA Cup shocks this weekend

 

Swindon Town vs. Manchester City (Friday, 8pm)

The action starts at the County Ground, where League Two side Swindon will be aiming to pull off what would be one of the greatest results in the history of this grand old competition.

City would normally be balancing a busy schedule featuring two legs of the EFL Cup semi-final around this time of year, but Pep Guardiola’s men exited that tournament early this season. Swindon therefore have increased hopes that the Premier League leaders could be fallible in the cups, with Ben Garner’s side firmly ensconced in the promotion picture in the fourth tier.

Stars for Swindon include the 19-year-old hotshot Tyreece Simpson, who has hit eight goals during a productive loan spell from Ipswich Town, while there is further goal threat from Jack Payne and Harry McKirdy for Guardiola’s men to be wary of as well. McKirdy is on fire, having hit four goals in a thrilling 5-2 win over Northampton Town to get the new year off to a flyer.

Whilst it’s romantic to think that Swindon could pull off one of the biggest FA Cup shocks ever, City have been in irresistible form, winning 14 of their last 15 games in all competitions.

 

Burnley vs. Huddersfield Town (Saturday, 12.30pm)

Struggling Burnley welcome the Terriers to Turf Moor, with Sean Dyche unlikely to be aiming for a cup run following a spate of Premier League postponements that will lead to a fixture pile-up.

Dyche’s Clarets also have an appalling cup record during his long spell, with early exits to the likes of Lincoln City, Burton Albion and Sunderland among the low points of his reign.

Huddersfield make the short trip across the Pennines for a Roses derby on an unbeaten run of six matches, while they have kept clean sheets in successive Championship clashes too.

While Burnley have a strong record in this fixture – avoiding defeat in seven straight meetings – few eyebrows would be raised if Huddersfield were celebrating at the end of this one.

 

Newcastle United vs. Cambridge United (Saturday, 3pm)

The newly-crowned richest football club in the world faces a banana skin on Saturday as Cambridge of League One visit the north-east. While Cambridge are in the bottom half of the third tier, they recently flexed their muscles with a 5-0 away win at Cheltenham Town.

Magpies boss Eddie Howe is likely to shuffle the pack and an embarrassing exit is quite possible with Premier League survival deemed to be the only priority for Newcastle right now, one of the potential FA Cup shocks to keep your eye on.

 

Chelsea vs. Chesterfield (Saturday, 5.30pm

Finalists in four of the past five seasons, Chelsea are rightly proud of their fine FA Cup record but the European champions could be vulnerable to shocks amid an untimely downturn in results. The furore over that controversial Romelu Lukaku interview has increased the heat on Thomas Tuchel, who may already be feeling some pressure as the Blues’ title hopes fade.

The European champions are overwhelming favourites but Chesterfield head to the capital as the leaders of the National League and without a defeat in more than three months of action. Chelsea will need to keep a close eye on striker Kabongo Tshimanga, who has hit 18 goals in 20 league games this season including a recent hat-trick in a 4-0 home win over Weymouth.

 

Hull City vs. Everton (Saturday, 5.30pm)

After a bright start, the Rafael Benitez era at Everton could be coming to a grinding halt. The FA Cup is a change of pace for the Spaniard, whose Toffees side have won once in three months.

Hull – who reached the final in 2014 – are just above the relegation zone in the Championship. But they are unbeaten in three games in front of their own fans, taking seven points from a potential nine on offer.

Five-time FA Cup winners Everton will be extremely vulnerable on Humberside this weekend, Hull looking to pull off one of the shocks of  the weekend.

 

Charlton Athletic vs. Norwich City (Sunday, 2pm)

Norwich went out at Barnsley in the fourth round last year and they could be victims of another exit this weekend, though their hosts Charlton have lost their last two games in League One.

A run of five straight defeats in the Premier League with no goals scored means confidence will be rock bottom for Dean Smith’s men, who seem certain to be relegated to the Championship. The Addicks can call upon the vast experience of their veteran midfielder Ben Watson, who hit a famous winner for Wigan Athletic over Manchester City in the 2013 final of the FA Cup.

Johnnie Jackson will be hoping Charlton’s top scorer Jayden Stockley is fit after missing their loss against Wycombe Wanderers. Target man Stockley has hit 14 goals in 25 appearances this term, including seven strikes in his four most recent cup matches for the club.

 

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