NON-LEAGUE Blyth Spartans have been handed a home tie in the FA Cup third round against Championship club Birmingham City.

The Northern Premier League side’s reward for beating Hartlepool on Friday night in front of the TV cameras is to face City at Croft Park on the weekend beginning January 3.

Spartans’ midfielder Stephen Turnbull, who scored a free-kick against his former club Pools, said: “It was a bit of an anti-climax to be honest because we were hoping for Manchester United or somebody like that.”

Premier League opposition will provide the test for Conference side Gateshead. The Heed, who overcame Warrington, will be up against top-flight side West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthorns.

Sunderland have to win a re-run of the 1973 FA Cup final if they are to reach the fourth round – only this time Championship club Leeds United will be the underdogs at the Stadium of Light.

There will be a tricky trip for Newcastle United to Premier League strugglers Leicester City, while Middlesbrough must travel to a lower league club depending on who wins the second round replay between Barnsley and Chester.

Former Newcastle and England striker Alan Shearer helped carry out the draw and there are a number of other intriguing battles to look forward to.

Last year’s Wembley finalists, Arsenal and Hull City, will go head-to-head at the Emirates, while AFC Wimbledon have been handed a dream tie at home to Liverpool which brings back memories of the Reds’ 1988 defeat to the Crazy Gang.

Manchester United will be travelling to the winners of the replay between Accrington Stanley and Yeovil Town, while non-league club Dover Athletic will face Crystal Palace at home.

FA Cup third round

Arsenal v Hull City;

Southampton v Ipswich Town;

Stoke City v Wrexham;

Charlton Athletic v Blackburn Rovers;

Dover Athletic v Crystal Palace;

AFC Wimbledon v Liverpool;

Manchester City v Sheffield Wednesday;

Aldershot/Rochdale v Nottingham Forest;

West Bromwich Albion v Gateshead;

Blyth Spartans v Birmingham City;

Aston Villa v Blackpool;

Rotherham v AFC Bournemouth;

Huddersfield Town v Reading;

Oxford United/Tranmere Rovers v Swansea City;

Cardiff City v Colchester United;

Bolton Wanderers v Wigan Athletic;

Sunderland v Leeds United;

Burnley v Tottenham;

Millwall v Bradford City;

Derby County v Southport;

Brentford v Brighton;

Fulham v Wolves;

Leicester City v Newcastle United;

Scunthorpe/Worcester City v Chesterfield;

Everton v West Ham;

Cambridge United/Mansfield v Bury/Luton Town;

Chelsea v Watford;

Barnsley/Chester v Middlesbrough;

QPR v Sheffield United;

Accrington/Yeovil v Manchester United;

Preston v Norwich;

Doncaster v Bristol City

* Ties to be played weekend beginning January 3.