2024/25 FA Cup Predictions: Third Round

For many, the third round of the FA Cup is the most exciting weekend in the English football calendar.

This is the stage of the oldest football competition in the world, where the two best divisions of the pyramid enter. A breeding ground for upsets, fans perched in the trees overlooking the stadium and an unrelenting reminder of FA Cupmagical properties.

For the first time in the competition’s 153-year history, all 32 matches will be completed on the same day they started after replays were abolished.

With the unpredictability of penalty kicks added to the mix of a tournament that prides itself on unexpected results, here 90 minutes best guess on results for this year’s third round.

Priority rivals Sheffield United and Cardiff City face off at Bramall Lane a few weeks after the Blades won 2-0 in the Welsh capital. Kieffer Moore scored twice in that December triumph that sent Cardiff into the relegation zone. The Bluebirds remain below the dotted line, 20 places below promotion-chasing Sheffield United, who are again home favourites.

Sean Dyche has a reputation for prioritizing league football over domestic cup commitments, but he usually helps his team progress beyond the third round. Everton were knocked out in the fourth round last year, but are expected to make it to the third division Peterborough United on Thursday night.

Fulham they are the favorites in the third round match at home against the second league team Watfordbut the Cottagers have not beaten their upcoming opponents since they faced each other at this stage of the same competition in 2005. Edwin van der Sar was in goal for the west London club on the day.

Wycombe Wanderers‘ red-hot form may have started to cool in recent weeks, but the third-tier side could be bettered by the Championship side Portsmouth on Friday night. Pompey may be in the top flight (this season), but they have won just one of their 13 away games in 2024/25.

Aston Villa host West Ham United in an affair that refers only to the Premier League, and everything is in a burgundy-blue affair. Even after a change of manager as for the east london team, villa should be expected to progress.

There are 19 games sandwiched in at six o’clock on Saturday afternoon. While Liverpool and Chelsea will probably make the job easier with level four fights Accrington Stanley and Morecambe that is, there could be some upsets.

Premier League fighters Wolverhampton Wanderers to have a difficult journey home a Bristol City a team unbeaten since Christmas and relegation rivals Leicester City host in form Queens Park Rangers.

Salford City will battle for glory in an outstanding match of the day as they travel to Manchester CityEtihad Stadium at 17:45 GMT. The Second Division promotion chasers, co-owned by a group of former Manchester United players, have won their last six games without conceding a single goal, and a far more impressive record than their hosts.

Pep Guardiola’s side have not impressed in either of their back-to-back wins and could allow chances in transition on Saturday night. Whether Salford will maintain its parsimony in neighboring Manchester is another matter entirely.

Arsenalultimate rematch with cup holders Manchester United may attract the most attention, but Tottenham Hotspurnon-league trip Tamworth it has the hallmarks of an FA Cup classic for the ages. Spurs seem to be coming out of every game with less fit defenders and more pressure on manager Ange Postecoglou.

Success in the cup competitions is imperative for the Australian boss, whose team are naturally favorites against the National League strugglers. Yet the intangible glamor of the FA Cup inevitably takes one almighty scalp each year. Could the 4,000-capacity Lamb Ground be the scene of this season’s shock result? Probably not.

Newcastle United are – apparently – in little danger of falling into that shameful fate. Eddie Howe in royal form wears the fourth level Bromley fresh from effective A 2-0 win over Arsenal in the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup, their seventh win on the spin.

Not only will the Gunners have to tackle the FA Cup ballbut they host a Manchester United team that is no more crippled by fear and anxiety. If United produce the same high-energy performance that saw Liverpool draw 2-2 at Anfield last weekend, Ruben Amorim’s side could avoid a second defeat at the Emirates within a month.

In the event of a tie, 30 minutes of extra time will be played before a final penalty shoot-out – which may have to be applied to separate these two Premier League giants.

Equipment for the championship in the middle of the table Millwall conclude the third round by visiting a fifth-league team Dagenham & Redbridge on Monday night. Alex Neil is yet to win a game since taking over at the Lions at the end of 2024, but will have the luxury of a 10-day break to prepare to host a side who also changed their manager over the festive period.

Ben Strevens was succeeded by his assistant Lewis Young, who at 35 lives up to his name. However, Young will be aware of Millwall’s strong FA Cup record. The London side reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup twice in the 21st century, losing the final to Cristiano Ronaldo– inspired Manchester United at the Millennium Stadium back in 2004.

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