SUNDERLAND are heading back to Teesside for a second time this season after being handed a third round trip to Middlesbrough in the FA Cup.
The two North-East neighbours will play each other on the weekend beginning January 5 at the Riverside – and the Black Cats will look to avoid a second defeat there since falling out of the Premier League.
It should be an intriguing fixture between two teams struggling for different reasons in the Championship, and FA Cup rules state Sunderland would be within their rights to request 15 per cent of the 35,000 Riverside capacity for away tickets.
It would also be no surprise if the tie didn’t take place at the traditional 3pm kick-off time on a Saturday afternoon on the advice of police, even if it isn’t selected for TV.
Sunderland lost to Boro on Bonfire Night when Marcus Tavernier stroked in an early winner to seal the points in Sunderland’s first game after Simon Grayson lost his job.
Now Chris Coleman will be looking to guide Sunderland into the fourth round at the expense of Middlesbrough, whose manager Garry Monk has also seen pressure grow on him since that victory. Middlesbrough have lost three of their four matches since.
Newcastle United will be playing at St James’ Park against lower league opposition over the same weekend – when the sons of Rob Lee will be taking on their dad’s former club.
Olly and Elliot Lee both found the net as the Hatters overcame Gateshead in the second round on Sunday, contributing to a 5-0 victory.
Lee was in the stands at the International Stadium to see Luton cruise past his former team-mate Steve Watson’s Heed and now he will be at St James’ Park early in the New Year to see his boys face the Magpies.
Liverpool and Everton face an all-Merseyside FA Cup showdown next month after being drawn out together in the draw.
The pair, who last met in the tournament in the 2012 semi-final which Liverpool won 2-1, will play each other at Anfield.
Non-league Hereford will welcome 2016 Premier League champions Leicester to Edgar Street provided they win their replay against Fleetwood.
Premier League leaders Manchester City are at home to Burnley, while potential upsets include West Ham's trip to League One high-flyers Shrewsbury, and Championship leaders Wolves at home to ailing Swansea.
FA Cup third-round draw in full:
Ipswich v Sheffield United
Watford v Bristol City
Birmingham v Burton
Liverpool v Everton
Brighton v Crystal Palace
Aston Villa v Woking or Peterborough
Bournemouth v AFC Fylde or Wigan
Coventry v Stoke
Newport v Leeds
Bolton v Huddersfield
Port Vale or Yeovil v Bradford
Nottingham Forest v Arsenal
Brentford v Notts County
QPR v MK Dons
Manchester United v Derby
Forest Green or Exeter v West Brom
Doncaster v Slough Town or Rochdale
Tottenham v AFC Wimbledon
Middlesbrough v Sunderland
Fleetwood or Hereford v Leicester
Blackburn or Crewe v Hull
Cardiff v Mansfield
Manchester City v Burnley
Shrewsbury v West Ham
Wolves v Swansea
Stevenage v Reading
Newcastle v Luton
Millwall v Barnsley
Fulham v Southampton
Wycombe v Preston
Norwich v Chelsea
Gillingham or Carlisle v Sheffield Wednesday
* Ties to be played January 5-7
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