As you might be aware the 3rd round of the FA cup kicks off this weekend. Not that you would guess given that BBC Sport have decided to pick West Ham v Manchester City and Spurs V Aston Villa as their live games, a couple of proper giant killing, David versus Goliath ties there, then. Its good to see that the BBC, who bang on about how much the FA Cup and all its magic means to them, have backed that up by picking two games with 3 Premier League teams and a a Championship team that were relegated from the top flight only last season. Who said that modern day football was all about the money??
Anyway my Glory Hunt continues and after Brackley Town, who I was following through the last few rounds, came a cropper to League 2 Blackpool, the Tangerines are my latest squeeze in my love affair with the world’s oldest knockout competition.
Striker, Jamille Matt’s first half goal was to be the difference in the second round game, and enough to end the dreams of the Saints of Brackley. Although the National League North side fought hard to at least take the Seasiders to a replay, a hard working Blackpool performance was rewarded come the final whistle and it was the former cup winners who progressed to the 3rd round and not the giant killing minnows from non-league.
The reward for Blackpool’s win is a 3rd round showdown at Bloomfield Road against Championship team Barnsley. The Tykes will be overwhelming favourites coming into this game , as they are currently sitting just 2 points behind Derby County in 8th position in the second tier of English football. The Tykes have taken 7 points out of their last 3 games over the Christmas period. A 2-0 win over Blackburn at home on Boxing Day was followed up with a home 2-2 draw with Birmingham, before an impressive 1-0 away win over Nottingham Forest on Monday night. Sam Winnall is the leading scorer so far this term with 11 goals, all of which have been scored in the League.
The Tangerines festive period has been a bit of a mixed bag. An away 1-0 win against Hartlepool on Boxing Day was followed up with a 0-0 draw away to Grimsby and a home 1-0 defeat to Mansfield on Monday night. Blackpool sit 10th in League 2 with 34 points. Former Peterborough United forward, Kyle Vassell leads the goalscoring charts with 11 goals so far this season.
It is going to be a tough encounter for Blackpool, although at home, you would think the form that the Tykes bring into this game will be enough to quash any chance of an upset. Come 5 o’clock Saturday afternoon, however, who knows.
Both these teams are former winners of the great competition but neither are expected to go much further than this round. Barnsley won the FA Cup for the one and only time way back in 1912. A Harry Tufnell goal in the replay at Bramall lane was the difference after the Tykes had played out a 0-0 draw against West Bromwich Albion at Crystal Palace.
Blackpool famously won the Cup for the one and only time back in 1953. Stan Mortensen scored the last ever hat trick in a final against Bolton Wanderers to seal a 4-3 victory in what has always been known as the Matthews final.
The FA cup 3rd round is always a big day in the football calendar and although the draw didn’t throw up too many eye catching ties, this game has the feel of an old time, Pathe News type contest. Unfortunately there won’t be any baggy shorts or keepers wearing peaked caps on Saturday, and of course the highlights won’t be in black and white.
Lets hope it is a ding, dong encounter.
Up the Tangerines!!
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