The FA Cup third round represents one of the most anticipated weekends of the English footballing calendar each year, as clubs from the top two tiers of the pyramid are injected into the draw for the world’s oldest cup competition.
Amid this breeding ground of upsets, not every match can be decided in 90 minutes. After two seasons devoid of replays, the famous tradition of packing up and duking out the tie all over again at the home ground of the away team from the first match has been reintroduced.
Here’s everything you need to know about when the FA Cup third round replays will be played.
The FA is keen to stress: “Fixture dates and times may change, subject to TV selections and replays.” As things stand, third-round teams that can’t be separated after just one match are expected to contest their replay in the week beginning Monday 16 January.
Given the presence of league matches on weekends, most replays will likely take place during that midweek – although, the specific schedules of each involved club will have to be taken into account.
After two days of third-round ties, four replays have been tentatively scheduled on Tuesday 17 January at 19:45.
Championship side West Bromwich Albion will host National League outfit Chesterfield after the spirited non-league team came within a stoppage-time equaliser of knocking out the Baggies.
Boreham Wood sit ten places below Chesterfield in the fifth tier and also forced a replay against Football League opposition with a 1-1 draw at home to League One strugglers Accrington Stanley on Saturday.
Wigan Athletic and Luton Town will renew rivalries in mid-January after the Championship sides played out a 1-1 draw at Kenilworth Road. The pair are scheduled to contest a league fixture against one another on Saturday 21 January, just four days after the proposed replay date.
Liverpool are set to travel to Molineux later this month after Wolverhampton Wanderers were controversially denied a late winner at Anfield on Saturday night.
Credit: 90min.com
