Newcastle United get Rochdale or Boston in FA Cup Third Round Draw

The FA Cup Third Round has taken place on Monday night.

Newcastle were ball number 28 and are away to Rochdale or Boston.

Fingers crossed we make it into the fourth round draw…

Then there is that admittedly all but impossible dream of one day making the FA Cup fourth round.

First things first though, the FA Cup third round tie will take place on Saturday 4 January 2020, or somewhere around there anyway if chosen for Live TV.

Rochdale drew 0-0 with Boston on Sunday and the replay takes place at Boston on Monday 16 December, when Newcastle will find out their opponents.

Rochdale are currently 16th in League One.

Whilst Boston are on the brink of an FA Cup upset, playing three levels below Rochdale in National League North where they are seventh.

That division is also home to the likes of Blyth Spartans, Spennymoor and Gateshead.

Must be a decent bet Newcastle will be on Live TV, certainly if it is Boston who go through.

After the NUFC Head Coach was appointed in July, both Mike Ashley and Steve Bruce were promising they would throw everything at the domestic cup competitions.

Steve Bruce promising it is all different now with cup ambition – July 2019:

‘I’ve put my neck on the line immediately! I’m not really bothered what’s been done before. Surely as a club we can win five games? Can we win a cup tie, can we do well in the League Cup or the FA Cup? That’s got to be an aim. It’s not just about staying in the division and being happy with that – that would be wrong.’

As for Mike Ashley, after Bruce’s appointment he said it was great that now Rafa Benitez had gone, he at last had a manager (head coach…) who would be now throwing everything at winning the cups – July 2019:

‘And now I’ve got a manager saying, “Let me get on with it. Just let me get on with it – I won’t let you down”. I’m thinking, “I’m definitely having that”. He gets it. He comes in: “The cups? Yeah, we go for them”.’

Sadly, the reality was a little different only a month later, Steve Bruce changing almost the entire team, only four players staying in from the previous Premier League game, Newcastle  losing at home to Leicester and ending our League Cup run at the first attempt.

Interesting to see what proves to be the case in this FA Cup third round match.

Mike Ashley also of course had a laugh at our expense two years ago, refusing to allow any proper investment in the squad but offering a £20m bonus to the players if they won the 2018 FA Cup…

Mike Ashley talking to Sky Sports – 13 August 2017:

“I actually now believe that Newcastle will look to make mid-table this season and maybe we can make the cup a priority this season.

“We can get ourselves safe and then go for a cup.

“It means that in my few years at Newcastle United I might be able to win something other than a Championship trophy.”

Sky Sports – 10 September 2017:

“Mike Ashley says he will donate £20m to the players if they win the FA Cup this season.”

The full FA Cup Third Round draw:

Leicester City v Wigan Athletic

QPR v Swansea City

Fulham v Aston Villa

Chelsea v Nottingham Forest

Wolves v Manchester United

Charlton Athletic v West Brom

Rochdale or Boston United v Newcastle United

Cardiff City v Forest Green Rovers or Carlisle United

Oxford United v Exeter City or Hartlepool United

Sheffield United v AFC Fylde

Southampton v Huddersfield Town

Liverpool v Everton

Bristol City v Shrewsbury Town

Bournemouth v Luton Town

Brighton v Sheffield Wednesday

Bristol Rovers or Plymouth Argyle v Coventry City or Ipswich Town

Eastleigh or Crewe Alexandra v Barnsley

Manchester City v Port Vale

Middlesbrough v Tottenham

Reading v Blackpool

Watford v Tranmere Rovers

Preston v Norwich City

Millwall v Newport County

Crystal Palace v Derby County

Solihull Moors or Rotherham United v Hull City

Brentford v Stoke City

Fleetwood Town v Portsmouth

Arsenal v Leeds United

Gillingham v West Ham United

Burton Albion v Northampton Town

Burnley v Peterborough United

Birmingham City v Blackburn Rovers