It is the same in the F.A. Cup as they have been drawn against Division Two side Cheltenham Town, again at home.
It does seem appropriate that United are drawn against Cheltenham at Christmas time as Town are nicknamed 'The Robins'.
Earlier in the season United played Wycombe Wanderers in League Cup round 2 where United played them for the first time in either clubs history, its the same for Town as United have never played Robins in League or Cup.
In local draws, Rotherham United will be at home to Wimbledon at Millmoor, these two clubs will have played each other four times come May as they will have met twice in League, once in League Cup and then once again in FA Cup, though if they draw it could be five.
Next week Sheffield Wednesday face Gillingham at Hillsbrough, but in January Wednesday will play Gillingham again in Cup but at Priestfield Stadium where the Owls would prefere a victory in the league rather than trying to get into round 4.
United v Cheltenham will be played on Saturday 4 January 2003, unless it is selected for BBC or Sky TV, though it is doubtful.
The FA Cup third round draw.
Leicester City v Bristol City
Scunthorpe United or Carlisle United v Leeds United
Gillingham v Sheffield Wednesday
Chelsea v Middlesbrough
Ipswich Town v Morecambe
Preston North End v Bristol Rovers or Rochdale
Manchester City v Liverpool
Shrewsbury Town v Everton
Southend United or Bournemouth v Crewe Alexandra
Plymouth Argyle v Dagenham & Redbridge
Cambridge United or Northampton Town v Millwall
Bolton Wanderers v Sunderland
Darlington v Farnborough Town
Walsall v Reading
Fulham v Birmingham City
Stoke City v Wigan Athletic
West Ham United v Nottingham Forest
Charlton Athletic v Exeter City
Sheffield United v Cheltenham Town
Aston Villa v Blackburn Rovers
Cardiff City v Coventry City
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Newcastle United
Southampton v Tottenham Hotspur
Norwich City v Brighton & Hove Albion
Arsenal v Oxford United
Grimsby Town v Burnley
West Brom Albion v Bradford City
Rotherham United v Wimbledon
Brentford v Derby County
Blackpool v Crystal Palace
Manchester United v Portsmouth
Macclesfield Town v Watford