FA Cup: Yorkshire derby highlight of fourth-round draw

That much is guaranteed with Huddersfield Town hosting Barnsley but the only other representatives in the draw, Middlesbrough, have been handed a tough away assignment at Manchester United or Aston Villa, who meet at Old Trafford in the final of a dramatic third round on Monday evening.

Barnsley are struggling in this season’s Championship, above only Derby County in the table, but are unbeaten in their last four matches against the Terriers. December’s 1-1 draw at Oakwell was the first time since October 2019 they had failed to beat them.

In four attempts, the most recent an all-Fourth Division first-round tie in November 1977, Huddersfield have never defeated their South Yorkshire neighbours in an FA Cup tie.

Despite that, they will be strong favourites in the 100th season since the only time they won the trophy. They are 26 points and 17 places better off in the table, and unbeaten in their last seven matches.

The Terriers were also much more impressive in round three, coming from behind to win 2-1 at Premier League Burnley whilst Barnsley needed extra time to beat edge past Conference side Barrow, who were reduced to 10 men after half an hour.

The 5-4 win was Poya Asbaghi’s first as coach.

Championship Middlesbrough’s reward for a hard-fought 3-2 win over in-form League Two side Mansfield Town is a glamour trip to Old Trafford or Villa Park.

If it is to be Manchester United, the game will hold fond memories for the visitors as it will be played days after the 20th anniversary of their last FA Cup win over the Red Devils. Noel Whelan and Andy Campbell scored late goals in a fourth-round tie on January 26, 2002.

The Teessiders won the last cup meeting between the pair, coming through a penalty shoot-out in the 2015-16 League Cup, but their last regulation win at Old Trafford was in 2004, Juninho scoring twice in a Premier League win which Cristiano Ronaldo played in as a substitute.

Their only FA Cup win over Villa came in 1950, a 3-0 win in a second replay played at Elland Road. Villa got their revenge five days later with a 4-0 win in the league.

Chris Wilder’s side should go into the game high on confidence. Their victory over Mansfield was their sixth in seven matches, the other being a 0-0 draw at Stoke City.

Leeds United, Sheffield United, Harrogate Town, Hull City and Rotherham United were all knocked out in round three.

Paul Warne’s Millers were the first team to go out of the third round on penalties without a replay, beaten 8-7 at Queens Park Rangers.

Kidderminster, the lowest-ranked team remaining in the FA Cup, have been drawn against West Ham in the fourth round.

The National League North outfit, who stunned Reading 2-1 on Saturday, were rewarded with a tie at home to the Premier League side, who knocked out Leeds on Sunday.

Boreham Wood, the other non-league team left in the competition, were handed a trip to Championship table-toppers Bournemouth, while League One Cambridge will entertain Luton for a place in the fifth round following their superb 1-0 victory at Newcastle.

Holders Leicester face the winners of Sunday’s late kick-off between Nottingham Forest and Arsenal at either the City Ground or the Emirates Stadium.

Chelsea, beaten by the Foxes in last year’s showpiece, will host Plymouth at Stamford Bridge.

Manchester City will play Fulham at the Etihad Stadium.

Liverpool, who survived a slight scare against League One Shrewsbury on Sunday, will take on Cardiff at Anfield.

Everton will host Brentford, Brighton travel to Tottenham and, after beating the Blades 3-0 on Sunday, Wolves will play Norwich at Molineux.

Elsewhere, League Two Hartlepool, competing in round four for the first time since 2009, have been handed a trip to Crystal Palace, while QPR head to Peterborough.

Southampton will entertain Coventry, while Stoke will play Wigan at home.

This year’s fourth round will be played slightly later than usual, on the first weekend of February, as the previous weekend falls in an international break to allow the South American countries to catch up with their World Cup qualifiers. Ties will again be played to a finish on the day.

FA Cup fourth-round draw in full: Crystal Palace v Hartlepool, Bournemouth v Boreham Wood, Huddersfield v Barnsley, Peterborough v QPR, Cambridge v Luton, Southampton v Coventry, Chelsea v Plymouth, Everton v Brentford, Kidderminster v West Ham, Man Utd or Aston Villa v Middlesbrough, Tottenham v Brighton, Liverpool v Cardiff, Stoke v Wigan, Nottm Forest or Arsenal v Leicester, Man City v Fulham, Wolves v Norwich. Ties to be played over the first weekend in February.