SOCCER:MANCHESTER CITY have been drawn at home against Manchester United in an FA Cup third-round tie between the Premier League's leading two clubs which will increase Roberto Mancini's concerns about a fixture pile-up in January.
City will have to play five games in the opening two weeks of next month and potentially eight games overall. If City beat United, they will then begin a run of four games in 10 days later in the month, starting against Tottenham Hotspur.
Mancini believes this will be the period that determines whether City, currently five points clear at the top of the league and facing Chelsea and Arsenal in their next two games, will go on to win the title for the first time since 1968.
However, he is also acutely aware that Yaya and Kolo Toure could be missing for potentially five weeks because of the African Cup of Nations. The Ivory Coast are likely to want both players for a two-week preparation period, and it may be that City ask for special dispensation so they can figure in the United tie, which will take place on January 7th or 8th.
“I hope that we are lucky (injury-wise) but, if not, we could have a serious problem because we are going to be playing three times each week,” Mancini said.
United defender Rio Ferdinand welcomed their clash with neighbours City. The teams will meet in a rematch of last season’s semi-final which Mancini’s side won before going on to lift the cup with victory against Stoke.
Ferdinand tweeted: “3rd round FA cup game vs mancity..great game to kick off this yrs FA cup, can’t wait.”
Manchester police are likely to request the tie is scheduled for an earlier kick-off than rights holders ITV would ideally like.
While one of the Manchester rivals face elimination, the draw was kind for the Premier League’s other leading clubs and, in a lucrative sense, for their opponents.
Chelsea will host financially troubled Portsmouth, while non-league Tamworth will go to Everton and Cheltenham have a trip to Tottenham. Liverpool will play Southend or Oldham and Arsenal also have home advantage against Leeds United.
Newcastle host Blackburn in an all-Premier League tie, while Liverpool will face the winners of the replay between Southend and Oldham at Anfield.
Tamworth, of the Blue Square Premier, can relish the prospect of a good pay day after being drawn at Everton. Manager Marcus Law admitted it will be a dream come true facing a top-flight team. He said: “I’ll be working and planning very hard come that time.” Goalkeeper Jonathan Hedge added: “It’s what dreams are made of, we’ll go there full of confidence. I’m a Sheffield United fan so I would have liked them or one of the two Manchester clubs but we will have to make do with Everton.”
Championship Peterborough will be looking to test Sunderland at London Road. Director of football Barry Fry and manager Darren Ferguson both welcomed the draw.
“I am absolutely delighted, it is a great draw,” said Fry. “It should be a sell-out and with Martin O’Neill going there it gives us half a chance of being on TV.”
Ferguson added: “It will be a full house, they are a Premier League club and it is a tie we can look forward to.”
Guardian Service
