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The game will be played on Saturday 4th January at Roots Hall should the Shrimpers come through the replay with the Cherries at Dean Court on Tuesday 17th December. Any replay would be played at Gresty Road on either Tuesday 14th or Wednesday 15th January.
Crewe are currently lying fifth in the Second Division, and beat Mansfield Town 3-0 yesterday to secure their place in the draw. United have not faced the Railwaymen for nearly twelve years, the last meeting being in the old Third Division on January 12th 1991, which Southend won 2-0. The last match at Roots Hall was a 3-2 win for the Seasiders on 1st September 1990. The Shrimpers hold the advantage overall, winning 14 games to Crewe's six, with six draws, although the two sides have never met in any Cup competition. The north-westerners have only lost three matches away from home all season, with one of those being a close-fought 3-2 defeat against Manchester City in the Worthington Cup.
Should Blues prevail through the Second Round, the Third Division clash with Carlisle United at Brunton Park would have to be rearranged. This match could also moved if the Cumbrians beat Scunthorpe United in nine days time, since they have been handed a lucrative home tie against Leeds United in Round Three.
Other Third Division clubs were handed money-spinning games. Oxford United, who beat local rivals Swindon Town 1-0 on television earlier today, were awarded a tie at Highbury against current holders Arsenal whilst Shrewsbury Town will tackle high-flying Everton at Gay Meadow. Finally, Exeter City will travel to Premiership Charlton Athletic.
The non-League sides remaining in the competition were not so fortunate. Dagenham & Redbridge, who became the first non-Football League team to reach the Third Round three years in a row for twenty years, go to Home Park to take on Plymouth Argyle, Farnborough go to Feethams and Darlington, although Morecambe were handed an excellent tie at Portman Road against Ipswich Town.
Third Round Draw in full:
Leicester City vs. Bristol City
Scunthorpe United or Carlisle United vs. Leeds United
Gillingham vs. Sheffield Wednesday
Chelsea vs. Middlesbrough
Ipswich Town vs. Morecambe
Preston North End vs. Bristol Rovers or Rochdale
Manchester City vs. Liverpool
Shrewsbury Town vs. Everton
Southend United or AFC Bournemouth vs. Crewe Alexandra
Plymouth Argyle vs. Dagenham & Redbridge
Cambridge United or Northampton Town vs. Millwall
Bolton Wanderers vs. Sunderland
Darlington vs. Farnborough
Walsall vs. Reading
Fulham vs. Birmingham City
Stoke City vs. Wigan Athletic
West Ham United vs. Nottingham Forest
Charlton Athletic vs. Exeter City
Sheffield United vs. Cheltenham Town
Aston Villa vs. Blackburn Rovers
Cardiff City vs. Coventry City
Wolverhampton Wanderers vs. Newcastle United
Southampton vs. Tottenham Hotspur
Norwich City vs. Brighton & Hove Albion
Arsenal vs. Oxford United
Grimsby Town vs. Burnley
West Bromwich Albion vs. Bradford City
Rotherham vs. Wimbledon
Brentford vs. Derby County
Blackpool vs. Crystal Palace
Manchester United vs. Portsmouth
Macclesfield Town vs. Watford.
Third Division sides in italitics
Ties to be played on the weekend of the 4th and 5th of January
Robert Craven
www.thelittlegazette.com