The Premier League might have completely taken over our lives during the Christmas period, but nothing quite compares to the excitement of the FA Cup third-round. Here are three fixtures to look out for over the weekend, and why they have (cliché warning) ‘magic of the cup’ written all over them!

SUTTON UNITED V AFC WIMBLEDON

Not only is this a local derby – five miles separates the clubs – but it is also a cup tie of big historical significance. The game takes place at Sutton United’s Gander Green Lane, the site of AFC Wimbledon’s first EVER match following the MK Dons debacle, all the way back in July 2002 (pictures above). Sutton won the friendly 4-0, just as The Dons were about to enter the ninth tier of English football – it didn’t stop the visiting fans storming the pitch at the end though!

As we all know, Wimbledon would then go on a phenomenal run up through the divisions, and are now sitting mid-table in League One following promotion last year. Amazingly, the two sides never had a league meeting following that friendly – Sutton were relegated from the Conference South just as Wimbledon won promotion to it in the 2007/08 season – but they do have cup history, contesting the FA Amateur Cup Final at Wembley back in 1963. It was won 4-2 by the ‘old’ Wimbledon.

It is Sutton who have the FA Cup prestige though. In 1989 they caused one of the biggest upsets in the competition’s history, beating top-flight Coventry City 2-1 in the third-round. Coventry were third in Division 1 when the match was played, and their side on the day contained eight players from the team that won the cup in 1987. Truly remarkable, especially considering The U’s finished that season 12th in the Conference, and have still never made it into the Football League.

Wimbledon meanwhile avoided a shock of their own against Curzon Ashton in the last round, in what was one of the best cup ties of recent years. This has all the makings of a classic!

Match details: Gander Green Lane, Saturday 7th January, K.O 3pm (Highlights on Match of the Day)

BRENTFORD V EASTLEIGH

Could this be another non-league fairytale? South-coasters Eastleigh overcame the mighty Swindon in the last round to set up this mouthwatering tie, which sees their new boss Martin Allen return to Griffin Park nearly eleven years after resigning as Brentford manager.

Allen enjoyed good times at the club, steering the Bees to two play-off finishes in League One and consecutive runs to the fifth-round of the FA Cup – they haven’t made it that far since. Their cup run in 2006 included a DJ Campbell-inspired 2-1 win over Sunderland, a performance which earned the striker a £500,000 switch to Birmingham City in the Premier League just three days later!

In 2005, Allen jumped naked into the Solent before Brentford’s fifth-round tie at Southampton. It inspired a 2-2 draw, although they would lose the replay at home. “I nearly had a heart-attack it was so cold,” he said afterwards, “there was a tanker, bigger than St Mary’s stadium, 100 yards from where I was, and I did question my sanity.” A true maverick, there is no doubt he is still remembered fondly in West London.

Read a fantastic interview he did with the Guardian at the time here

The manager’s methods have softened since, and he has admitted that he nearly chose to quit football following heart problems last year. He will have to resort to other means to inspire Eastleigh on Saturday, who compete in their second successive third-round tie.

Match details: Griffin Park, Saturday 7th January, K.O 3pm (Highlights on Match of the Day)

MANCHESTER UNITED V READING

Another manager returns to an old home on Saturday, as Jaap Stam brings his Reading team to Old Trafford for the lunch-time kick-off. Stam was a rock in the defence of Man United’s treble-winning side in 1999, and went on to win two more Premier League titles with the club before being controversially sold to Lazio in 2001.

Stam and United are on good terms these days, and the Dutchman worked as a scout for the club following his retirement in 2008. He is now making his mark in England as a manager, as Reading sit 3rd in the Championship and have won eight of their last ten games. Despite United’s own good form, an upset here would not be unfathomable.

This will be Stam’s first competitive return to the Theatre of Dreams, but he did help to shut out United for AC Milan at the San Siro in the last-16 of the Champions League in 2005. He will be hoping for a similarly gutsy performance from The Royals on Saturday.

Match details: Old Trafford, Saturday 7th January, K.O 12.30pm (Live on BT Sport 2)

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