The draw has been made for the Fourth Round of the FA Cup, featuring non-league giantkillers Maidstone United.
The Stones – the lowest-ranked side left in the competition – missed out on landing any of the Premier League big guns and have been handed a trip to Ipswich Town, who sit second in the Championship.
Maidstone’s Paul Appiah carries the ball forward against Stevenage on Saturday. Picture: Steve Terrell
National League South Maidstone have gone through six rounds already to get this far. They beat Steyning Town 4-1 in the Second Qualifying Round in September and followed that up with a 2-0 success at Winchester City and then a 2-0 win at Torquay in the Fourth Qualifying Round.
In the First Round, Maidstone won 2-0 at Chesham United and they then knocked out League 2 Barrow at the Gallagher, 2-1 in the Second Round, before seeing off League 1 Stevenage at the weekend courtesy of Sam Corne’s first-half penalty.
Maidstone took their prize money earned so far this season to £231,375 after banking £105,000 for progressing against Stevenage. Winning teams in round four will collect a further £120,000 in prize money.
Kieran McKenna’s Ipswich booked their place in round four on Saturday with a 3-1 win at League 2 AFC Wimbledon, who knocked out Ramsgate earlier in the competition.
An own goal broke the deadlock before AFC Wimbledon equalised from the spot. Axel Tuanzebe then headed in his first senior goal to put Ipswich ahead before the hosts were reduced to 10 men when Harry Pell was shown a second yellow card. Jack Taylor scored in the last minute to seal Ipswich’s progress.
Sheffield United, who knocked out Gillingham at the weekend, were paired at home to Brighton while the only other non-league side still in the competition, Eastleigh, could host Manchester United if both teams get through their respective Third Round ties.
Ties are due to be played across the weekend of Saturday, January 27 with fixtures being selected for television coverage in due course.
Lamar Reynolds in the thick of the action during Maidstone’s FA Cup win over Stevenage. Picture: Helen Cooper
FA Cup Fourth Round draw (January 27-28):
Watford v Southampton
Blackburn Rovers v Wrexham
AFC Bournemouth v Swansea City
West Bromwich Albion v Brentford or Wolverhampton Wanderers
West Ham United or Bristol City v Nottingham Forest or Blackpool
Leicester City v Hull City or Birmingham City
Sheffield Wednesday v Coventry City
Chelsea v Aston Villa
Ipswich Town v Maidstone United
Liverpool v Norwich City or Bristol Rovers
Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City
Leeds United v Plymouth Argyle
Crystal Palace or Everton v Luton Town or Bolton Wanderers
Newport County or Eastleigh v Wigan Athletic or Manchester United
Sheffield United v Brighton & Hove Albion
Fulham v Newcastle United
All Kent Sport Football Kent Maidstone Sport Maidstone United Malling Sport Non League Weald Sport Matthew Panting
