FA Cup Third Round Replay Preview - Wednesday

Wednesday 14 [All times GMT]

Newcastle United vs Hull City, 19:45
Newcastle United must be one of the most cursed clubs in the entire football league pyramid when it comes to injuries. After scoring with a good header at the weekend, homegrown talent Andy Carroll now joins Shola Ameobi, Mark Viduka, and Obefami Martins on the treatment table.

Both sides will be making many changes. Joe Kinnear though has been forced into his; he recently complained that he is without eleven key players. Hull boss Phil Brown is likely to name a different side from the one he usually fields in the Premier League, although his changes will be made in the name of rotation.

Neither team are in particularly great form. Hull City started their rookie season in the top-flight by stringing together a sensational run of results. But the Tigers have since started dropping points, and league places. Brown's infamous on-pitch half-time dressing down is still receiving criticism, and the flak will continue until their results are improved, and then his decisions will perhaps be justified. A win and route to the fourth round could answer some of those writing the barbed comments.

Newcastle have not won since before Christmas when they defeated Tottenham Hotspur by two goals to one. Since then they were embarrassed by Liverpool in a game that - despite conceding five goals - showed just how good goalkeeper Shay Given can be in minimising deficits.

Despite the scoreless outcome when these two sides first met in the Cup, this tie could still produce goals. Both have recently succumbed to wild concessions, and both are able to tally favourable scorelines, too.


Crystal Palace vs Leicester City, 20:00
The reverse fixture eleven days ago threw up a goalless draw in a cold and icy East Midlands encounter. Both teams are in good form which, despite a division separating the two, could suggest why they cancelled out each other's attempts last time they met.

The visiting Foxes have gone on a credible unbeaten run which has included ten wins, and seen them maintain a lofty league standing as leaders. Palace on the other hand have not tasted defeat at their Selhurst Park home since the back-end of October.

Leicester boss Nigel Pearson, 45, formerly of Newcastle United, is looking to secure passage to the fourth round by fielding the same starting eleven that beat Leyton Orient by three goals to nil (Oakley, Davies, Dickov pen) at the weekend.


Southend United vs Chelsea, 20:10
If Southend manager Steve Tilson has been doing his homework he will have had his side practicing set-pieces all week long.

Some of their best chances could arrive through either corner kicks or free-kicks, and with Chelsea's frailties from this tactic so cruelly exposed during the Manchester United game, the Shrimpers will be clever to act and take advantage of this fact.

Blues boss Luis Felipe Scolari has kept true to his "get tough" policy by dropping Didier Drogba. The reaction of Frank Lampard to Drogba towards the United game's death was telling, and dressing room factions could be apparant. In Drogba's absence Nicolas Anelka will start as a likely lone striker.

Scolari has also mentioned that the trip to Southend is the "game of the season" for both clubs - which is a far cry from Chelsea's Moscow voyage in the Champions League final last year!

Interestingly, Southend and Chelsea were both knocked out of the FA Cup last season by giant-killers Barnsley.

--Goal.com