Exeter City and Liverpool were handed the responsibility of kicking off the third round ties. At the time of publishing the full-time result is not known, will the Reds have made a safe passage through or will the underdogs won against all odds?
Today will be the main focal point with 26 ties taking place. Whilst Sheffield United will have to wait until just have to tea time to kick-off their tie at Manchester United, Aston Villa will have hoped that they don't become a cropper in High Wycombe live on BT Sport. Many neutrals will cast their eyes to the attention of Eastleigh - the only Non-League side remaining in the competition. They were handed a home tie against struggling Championship side Bolton Wanderers.
When the draw was made, it is always quite interesting to see which Premier League sides are pitted together. As the competition unfolds all top-flight clashes will be too familiar but in this third round draw, four fixtures will be played out. Cup holders Arsenal will host Sunderland whilst rival North London side Tottenham Hotspur will face a on-fire Leicester City tomorrow. Elsewhere Southampton will host Crystal Palace and Manchester City travel to Norwich City.
As far as local derbies are concerned, only two have been drawn together. Rotherham United will travel to Elland Road to face Leeds United in the White Rose Derby and, over in Northamptonshire, Northampton Town will host Milton Keynes Dons.
Despite being the home side, due to flooding, Carlisle United are forced to play their home fixtures away with the likes of Deepdale and Ewood Park being put in use until the end of January, or until Brunton Park can be made playable again. Bloomfield Road, the home of Blackpool FC had intended to host Sheffield United in League One action but owing to their progress in the cup the Tangerines have kindly offered their ground to Carlisle who will host Yeovil Town on Sunday.
On paper, this round of cup ties doesn't look the most impressive but I have a feeling that there will be a few shocks on the cards once the full-time whistle is blown up.
Friday, 8th January 2016
Exeter City vs. Liverpool (BBC1 - 7.55PM)
Saturday, 9th January 2016
Arsenal vs. Sunderland
Birmingham City vs. AFC Bournemouth
Brentford vs. Walsall
Bury vs. Bradford City
Colchester United vs. Charlton Athletic
Doncaster Rovers vs. Stoke City
Eastleigh vs. Bolton Wanderers
Everton vs. Dagenham & Redbridge
Hartlepool United vs. Derby County
Huddersfield Town vs. Reading
Hull City vs. Brighton & Hove Albion
Ipswich Town vs. Portsmouth
Leeds United vs. Rotherham United
Manchester United vs. Sheffield United (BT Sport 2 - 5.30PM)
Middlesbrough vs. Burnley
Newport County vs. Blackburn Rovers
Northampton Town vs. Milton Keynes Dons
Norwich City vs. Manchester City
Nottingham Forest vs. Queens Park Rangers
Peterborough United vs. Preston North End
Sheffield Wednesday vs. Fulham
Southampton vs. Crystal Palace
Watford vs. Newcastle United
West Bromwich Albion vs. Bristol City
West Ham United vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wycombe Wanderers vs. Aston Villa (BT Sports 2 - 12.45PM)
Sunday, 10th January 2016
Cardiff City vs. Shrewsbury Town (S4C - 6.00PM)
Carlisle United vs. Yeovil Town
Chelsea vs. Scunthorpe United (BT Sport 2 - 2.00PM)
Oxford United vs. Swansea City (BBC 2 Wales - 12.00PM)
Tottenham Hotspur vs. Leicester City (BBC1 - 4.00PM)