FA Cup Third Round Fixtures 2nd January Part 1

Aston Villa v Blackburn Rovers
Aston Villa’s third match in a week offers the opportunity for them to play James Collins. Particularly as Villa lost their last two games without him. Blackburn sometimes allow reserve goalkeeper Jason Brown to play in Cup matches but not usually against the good teams.

Blackpool v Ipswich Town
Blackpool aren’t exactly short of Welsh players and with David Vaughan returning from suspension they will be even better. Daniel Nardiello has returned from his loan spell to Bury, where he did very well, and Neal Eardley and Rob Edwards are also options.
Ipswich might put Troy Brown on the bench again but Roy Keane is considering sending him out on loan.

Bolton Wanderers v Lincoln City
If Sam Ricketts is ever going to play for Bolton again, you’d expect him to play against struggling League Two’s Lincoln. Anthony Pulis plays for Lincoln on loan from Southampton. It was reported on Christmas Day that he’d recovered from an ankle injury (nice present for him) and that he had a chance of playing on Boxing Day. He didn’t play – but he might do at the weekend. His next match isn’t until next year…

Brentford v Doncaster Rovers
Brentford have been doing well since their Derby loanee goalkeeper, Lewis Price, was restored from the starting line-up. James Wilson has returned to Bristol City and he’s injured so there’s no way he’s going to play for Brentford.
Brian Stock was on the bench for Doncaster’s last game in his first outing for three months. But the good news is, he will probably be fit enough to start but he might not be risked in a Cup game. Or who knows, maybe he’ll be playing for Cardiff instead – they are rumoured to have expressed an interest.
Gareth Roberts and John Oster should also start but I hope they’ll forgive me for not being quite as excited about them as I am about Brian. But I do love them too of course.