Sports Mole provides score predictions and previews for all of today’s FA Cup fixtures, including Sunderland vs. Newcastle.
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Plough Lane will play host to an intriguing FA Cup third-round contest on Saturday afternoon, with League Two outfit AFC Wimbledon welcoming Championship side Ipswich Town.
AFC Wimbledon have had to win twice to reach this stage of the competition, putting five goals past both Cheltenham Town and Ramsgate, but this is Ipswich’s first FA Cup contest since losing 2-1 to Burnley in the fourth round of last season’s tournament.
We say: AFC Wimbledon 1-2 Ipswich Town
This has the potential to be a very tricky match for Ipswich, especially as the Championship outfit are unlikely to have a full-strength side on the field. The Blues are struggling to win games at the moment, but we are backing them to navigate their way past AFC Wimbledon to advance to the fourth round.
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Runaway Championship leaders Leicester City will be aiming to book their spot in the fourth round of the FA Cup when they take on an in-form Millwall at the Den on Saturday afternoon.
The visitors will enter this contest off the back of a 4-1 victory over Huddersfield Town on New Year’s Day, while Millwall recorded a 1-0 win over Bristol City in their last match in the second tier.
We say: Millwall 1-2 Leicester City
Both managers will make changes to their strongest sides for this match, but it should still be a very competitive contest. Millwall have home advantage, but Leicester have been so strong this season, and we are backing the visitors to secure their position in the fourth round of the tournament.
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In-form Championship outfit Coventry City will aim to book their spot in the fourth round of the FA Cup when they host League One side Oxford United on Saturday afternoon.
The Sky Blues will enter the match off the back of a 3-1 win over Middlesbrough in the Championship on New Year’s Day, while Oxford recorded a 2-1 victory over Charlton Athletic in their last game in the third tier.
We say: Coventry City 3-1 Oxford United
Oxford are more than capable of making it three wins in this season’s competition against a Coventry side that are unlikely to be at full-strength. The hosts are in strong form at the moment, though, and we are backing them to secure their spot in the fourth round of the FA Cup.
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Gallagher Stadium will play host to an intriguing FA Cup third-round contest on Saturday afternoon, with National League South outfit Maidstone United hosting League One side Stevenage.
Maidstone have had to win five games to advance to this stage of the competition, while Stevenage have beaten Tranmere Rovers and Port Vale to secure their spot in round three.
We say: Maidstone United 1-2 Stevenage
Maidstone’s form in this season’s FA Cup has been excellent, but this will be their biggest test of the campaign, and although we are predicting a close match, Stevenage should be able to navigate their way into the fourth round of the competition.
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One of the standout fixtures in the third round of the FA Cup, Sunderland and Newcastle United renew hostilities at the Stadium of Light for a tantalising Tyne-Wear derby on Saturday lunchtime.
The Black Cats opened 2024 with a 2-0 victory over Preston North End in the Championship, whereas the Magpies fell to a 4-2 Premier League loss at the hands of Liverpool.
We say: Sunderland 1-2 Newcastle United
While Newcastle should not face a similar barrage of shots at the Stadium of Light as they did at Anfield, the Magpies will still be feeling the heat in front of a raucous Sunderland contingent, who have witnessed their side slowly but surely become accustomed to Beale’s methods.
Newcastle are no strangers to being on the wrong end of FA Cup shocks either, but Howe’s men should not pass up this opportunity to end their dismal Tyne-Wear winless streak, and we can envisage the visitors earning a derby triumph in what may or may not act as a catalyst for a change in fortunes.
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Brighton & Hove Albion travel to the bet365 Stadium to face Stoke City in the third round of the FA Cup on Saturday afternoon.
The Potters will be seeking revenge after they suffered a slender 1-0 defeat at home to the Seagulls in the fifth round last season.
We say: Stoke City 0-2 Brighton & Hove Albion
A closely-fought contest was played out between these two teams last year, and another tight affair could be in store, although Brighton will be regarded as the favourites to progress to the fourth round.
Neither side will be at full strength on Saturday, but the Seagulls boast a deeper squad and the players selected by De Zerbi should ultimately have the quality to get the job done against Championship opposition.
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Aiming to snap a dismal three-game winless run, Norwich City begin their quest for FA Cup glory at home to Bristol Rovers in the third round on Saturday afternoon.
The Canaries’ opening game of 2024 ended in a 1-1 draw with Southampton on New Year’s Day, while their League One opponents were bested 3-2 away from home by Wycombe Wanderers.
We say: Norwich City 3-1 Bristol Rovers
As efficient as Bristol Rovers have been in the attacking third during the winter period, their defensive deficiencies continue to bedevil them and ought to be exposed by a Norwich crop aiming to right a few wrongs this weekend.
Wagner should not be averse to making a few alterations to his pack, who will likely be faced with a three-man Pirates wall, but we still expect the Canaries to prevail with ease.
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Two teams in fine form in their respective leagues prepare for an FA Cup third-round clash at St Mary’s on Saturday afternoon, as Southampton play host to Walsall.
While the Saints enter the competition at this stage, their League Two counterparts have already overcome Sheppey United and Alfreton Town to make it this far.
We say: Southampton 3-1 Walsall
Both sides have bigger promotion fish to fry in the coming months, but if the visitors’ recent offensive exploits are anything to go by, Walsall ought to give an injury-hit Southampton a scare or two.
However, Sadler’s side have been decimated by fitness concerns of their own, and even if Saints boss Martin rings the changes, the in-form hosts should prove too strong for their League Two counterparts.
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Watford turn their attention to FA Cup duties when they play host to Chesterfield in the third round on Saturday afternoon.
At a time when the Hornets sit in 10th position in the Championship standings, their opponents occupy top spot in the National League table.
We say: Watford 3-0 Chesterfield
While this is something of a free hit for Chesterfield, they will also want to do themselves justice. Nevertheless, facing Watford on away territory is a big step up, and we anticipate that the Hornets will come through with a comfortable win.
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Blackburn Rovers play host to Cambridge United in the FA Cup third round looking to end their recent dismal run of form.
At a time when Rovers are in 17th position in the Championship, the visitors occupy 18th place in the League One table.
We say: Blackburn Rovers 3-1 Cambridge United
Given Blackburn’s most recent form, Cambridge will fancy their chances of causing an upset at Ewood Park. However, despite their frailties, Blackburn have plenty of quality in attack, leading us to predict a home victory with something to spare.
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League Two outfit Gillingham welcome Premier League opposition in the form of Sheffield United to Priestfield for an FA Cup third-round tie on Saturday afternoon.
The two teams are meeting for the very first time in the FA Cup and for the first time in any competition since January 2017 when they played out a 2-2 draw in League One.
We say: Gillingham 0-1 Sheffield United
Rarely have Sheffield United entered a fixture this season as favourites, but Saturday’s contest is one that they will not be considered as underdogs, although success against a resurgent Gillingham side is not a given.
The Gills have made themselves difficult to beat in recent weeks under Clemence, but we believe that their Premier League counterparts will do just enough to claim a slender victory.
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Bournemouth make the trip to Loftus Road for an FA Cup third-round encounter against Queens Park Rangers on Saturday afternoon.
The two teams meet for just the second time in the FA Cup after the Hoops previously beat the Cherries 2-0 in the second round of the competition back in 1966-67.
We say: Queens Park Rangers 0-2 Bournemouth
Only one goal has separated these two sides in the previous three meetings, and another tight affair could be on the cards, especially if Iraola decides to rotate his Bournemouth side.
The Cherries will be wary of the threat that QPR could pose having lost to lower-league sides in their last two FA Cup ties, but they will still be regarded as the favourites on Saturday and should have few problems securing the victory that they require to advance to the fourth round.
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Both coming off the back of draws in their respective divisions, Plymouth Argyle and Sutton United will do battle for a place in the fourth round of the FA Cup at Home Park on Saturday afternoon.
The Green Army shared the spoils in a six-goal thriller with Watford, while Sutton secured a last-minute point against Welsh outfit Newport County.
We say: Plymouth Argyle 3-0 Sutton United
Plymouth have failed to get any wins since the departure of Schumacher but will be confident of breaking their winless streak on Saturday afternoon.
Sutton have struggled in League Two this season, and it is hard to imagine the visitors advancing into the fourth round at Home Park.
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Both aiming to seal a coveted spot in the fourth round, League Two side Newport County will welcome National League outfit Eastleigh to Rodney Parade in the FA Cup on Saturday afternoon.
The Exiles have drawn their last two matches in the fourth tier ahead of this clash, while Eastleigh’s form has stuttered in recent matches before the third-round trip to Wales.
We say: Newport County 1-2 Eastleigh
Newport have been stuttering in League Two of late and may not be the outstanding favourites to advance to round four at Rodney Parade on the weekend.
Eastleigh have shown their effectiveness in knocking out superior opposition already this season, and we believe that the Spitfires will do the same in this one.
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Both looking to forget about poor displays on New Year’s Day in the Championship, Hull City and Birmingham City will battle for a place in the fourth round of the FA Cup at the MKM Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Tigers’ poor away form continued with a loss at relegation-threatened Sheffield Wednesday, while Blues’ convincing defeat at Leeds United was the last straw for Wayne Rooney in the managerial hotseat.
We say: Hull City 1-0 Birmingham City
Hull will be favourites to progress here considering Birmingham’s lack of confidence, but the Tigers could have been handed an easier draw in the third round.
Blues are likely to adopt a defence-minded approach as they look to steady the ship ahead of the new manager’s arrival, although we believe that Saturday afternoon will end in defeat for Spooner’s side.
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Championship sides Sheffield Wednesday and Cardiff City will kick off their FA Cup campaigns on Saturday, when they meet in a third-round tie at Hillsborough.
The teams met in South Yorkshire in December, when Saturday’s visitors completed a league double over the Owls with a 2-1 victory.
We say: Sheffield Wednesday 1-2 Cardiff City
With both sides likely to rotate heavily at the weekend as we emerge from the busy festive period, Cardiff have slightly more quality to call on and will fancy themselves to score a third win of the season over their hosts to progress to the fourth round.
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Taking a break from a fairytale Premier League title challenge, Aston Villa head to the Riverside Stadium for an FA Cup third-round date with Middlesbrough on Saturday evening.
The Lions ended 2023 as they mean to go on with a nervy 3-2 success over Burnley in the top flight, while their hosts were most recently defeated 3-1 at home by Coventry City in the Championship.
We say: Middlesbrough 1-3 Aston Villa
The third-round curse has plagued Aston Villa for almost eight years now, but with Middlesbrough working around a personnel crisis, the Lions ought to avoid making unwanted history at the Riverside.
A recent lack of defensive discipline from the Lions offers Carrick’s decimated squad some hope of a surprise beating, but even with a few first-teamers rested, Emery’s men ought to reach the fourth round for the first time since the 2015-16 campaign.
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Swansea City will be hopeful of continuing their recent revival when they play host to Morecambe in the FA Cup third round on Saturday afternoon.
The home side currently sit in 16th position in the Championship standings, while Morecambe occupy 17th place in the League Two table.
We say: Swansea City 2-0 Morecambe
With confidence low in the Morecambe ranks, Swansea will expect to take advantage. However, with changes likely in the home side’s starting lineup, they may only score a goal in each half to secure the progress to the last 32.
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Eight-time FA Cup winners Chelsea will be hoping to avoid a second successive third-round elimination when they welcome Preston North End to Stamford Bridge on Saturday evening.
The two teams lock horns for the first time since January 2010 when the Blues claimed a 2-0 win over the Lilywhites at Deepdale in the FA Cup fourth round.
We say: Chelsea 2-0 Preston North End
Chelsea’s recent upturn in form and impressive record against lower-league opposition bodes well ahead of Saturday’s clash with an out-of-sorts Preston outfit.
The visitors cannot be completely written off, especially if they are to come up against a much-changed Blues lineup, but Pochettino’s side should ultimately have the firepower to secure a relatively routine victory on home soil.
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> How Chelsea could line up against Preston
> Chelsea injury, suspension list vs. Preston
