Cup clash for top two

Chelsea's FA Cup-winning captain Dennis Wise is relishing the prospect of taking on Manchester United after his side were given the sternest possible test in their defence of the trophy.

The pairing of the top two sides in the table - one of five all-Premiership ties in the FA Cup third-round draw - gives Chelsea the chance to avenge their 1994 cup final and 1996 semi-final defeats by United.

And Wise, who steered Chelsea to victory at Wembley last season over Middlesbrough, said: "It's at home, so that's good. We've always done well against them, so we're looking forward to it.

"I think they will be a little bit disappointed - especially that they have to play us at our place. It will be interesting."

Struggling Everton's chances of an FA Cup run were reduced by a home draw against Newcastle, while Liverpool host Coventry, Derby play Southampton and Barnsley face Bolton.

Newcastle are due to face Liverpool in the quarterfinals of the Coca-Cola Cup and twice in the Premiership and Kenny Dalglish said: "What with the Premier League, FA Cup and CocaCola Cup, the turn of the year is really Newcastle versus Merseyside.

"Obviously, we would have preferred to have been at home, but Goodison is a wonderful venue to stage any game and we're looking forward very much to this cup tie."

Meanwhile, former Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan got the mouth-watering draw he wanted as his Fulham side travel to London rivals Tottenham.

Three of the non-league sides left in the draw also face lucrative trips to Premiership clubs, if they can win their second-round replays.

Emley's reward for a replay victory over Lincoln to make it into the third round for the first time ever would be a visit to West Ham - with bookmakers responding by making the Unibond League side 10,000 to 1 outsiders.

And minnows Ilkeston Town, of the Dr Martens League Midland Division, were awarded a possible trip to Crystal Palace, if they can first defeat Scunthorpe.

Ilkeston chairman Paul Millership said he had two special reasons for wanting to play Palace: "They are a Premiership side, but also because we are affiliated to Manchester City.

"Steve Coppell left Manchester City and went to Crystal Palace, so we'd like to have a go at Steve Coppell's team."

Basingstoke have already knocked out Wycombe Wanderers and their 12th game in the FA Cup this year would be a trip to Filbert Street to face Leicester City, if they can overcome Northampton.

There will be at least one non-league side in the third round - the winner of the replay between Borehamwood and Cheltenham Town - and they have a chance of further progress after being drawn against Reading, 16th in Division One.

Meanwhile, Hereford - relegated from the third division last season - will host Tranmere Rovers, if they can overcome Colchester. Two Premiership sides face tricky away trips - Aston Villa to Portsmouth and Sheffield Wednesday to the winner of second division leaders Watford's replay against Torquay.

But the remaining four have, at least on paper, slightly easier tasks - Arsenal at home to Port Vale, Leeds hosting Oxford, Wimbledon playing last year's FA Cup quarter-finalists Wrexham and Blackburn facing Wigan Athletic.

There are several all-first division affairs, with Charlton's match against Nottingham Forest and last year's beaten finalists Middlesbrough's visit to Queen's Park Rangers the pick.

The team that Middlesbrough beat in the semi-finals last season, Chesterfield, will host Norwich, if they can beat Grimsby in a secondround replay.

Bookmakers William Hill have installed Arsenal as 11-2 favourites for the Cup, with Liverpool 6-1 and Manchester United 13-2.

Chelsea are 8-1, with Blackburn 11-1, Newcastle 12-1, Leeds, Aston Villa and West Ham all 16-1, and Derby 22-1. Leicester, Sheffield Wednesday, Spurs and Wimbledon are 25-1, Everton and Palace are 40-1, while Nottingham Forest, Bolton and Southampton are all 501.

The ties will take place on the weekend of January 3th and 4th.

(see also pages 2 and 3)