Macclesfield handed Premier League tie as reward for greatest upset
Macclesfield’s reward for the greatest FA Cup upset is a home draw with another Premier League side, Brentford, in the fourth round.
The National League North team, who famously knocked out the holders Crystal Palace 2-1 at Moss Rose on Saturday, will get the chance for another scalp when they welcome Keith Andrews’s in-form Bees in February.
The Macclesfield manager John Rooney, who is a former Everton youth player and brother of former Manchester United and England star Wayne, was hoping to face one of the real Premier League giants but admitted he was happy enough with another top-flight target.
“We said before that we would have liked to get Liverpool, Chelsea or Arsenal, but another Premier League side is incredible,” Rooney said. “I’ve enjoyed every minute of it [the media attention]. I haven’t set eyes on the lads since the game against Palace. I don’t know what they’ve been up to but let’s hope they didn’t party too hard.”
Non-league Macclesfield were the lowest-ranked team in the draw but it also offered up some fascinating ties. Seven Premier League clubs will be visiting lower-league opposition with Chelsea’s new head coach, Liam Rosenior, returning to his former club Hull City while Sunderland are heading to Oxford United.
West Ham, who desperately needed a result in the previous round against Queens Park Rangers will take the trip to League One Burton Albion while Wolves will not fancy an away-day at Blundell Park to face a Grimsby side who have already knocked out Manchester United in the Carabao Cup this season. Leeds United were handed a potentially difficult trip to St Andrew’s and Birmingham City. League Two’s Salford City will be dreaming of visiting Manchester City, if they can overcome Swindon Town in their rearranged third-round game.
With promotion to the Premier League the obvious priority for Wrexham and Ipswich, the two in-form Championship sides will come together at the “world’s oldest international football stadium” for what is sure to be an entertaining tie with some Hollywood glitz thrown in. Co-owner Ryan Reynolds watched on as his team beat Premier League Nottingham Forest on penalties in round three and could be joined by celebrity Ipswich fan Ed Sheeran for the STōK Cae Ras clash.
One of the most eye-catching all Premier League ties is Aston Villa’s home clash with Newcastle United. If Liverpool can overcome the challenge of League One Barnsley at Anfield, then they will welcome the conquerors of Manchester United – Brighton – in the next round. The Premier League leaders will welcome Wigan to the Emirates. The fourth-round ties will be played from 13-16 February.
All eyes on Liverpool v Barnsley now, so will point you towards Michael Butler’s MBM where the teams are in!
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