Third tier Leeds' reward for knocking Manchester United out of the
FA Cup on Sunday was another matchup against Premier League
opposition, with a trip to high-flying Tottenham in the fourth
round.
Hours after Jermaine Beckford's strike at Old Trafford
captured a memorable victory for the League One leader, Simon
Grayson's team was last out of the draw. Having beaten the record
11-time FA Cup winner, Leeds now has to face Tottenham, which has
won the title eight times and is currently lying fourth in the
Premier League.
A top flight powerhouse less than eight years ago, Leeds
slipped two divisions in a short spell after running into crippling
debts. But Leeds is riding high at the top of League One and
appears on course for promotion.
"It's a good draw again," Grayson said. "We're up against a
top Premiership team and a top manager and we'll approach that as
we have done for the Manchester United game with the respect that
they deserve.
"But we've got a few league games in between and that's our
bread and butter. It's another fantastic draw and another game that
could have been quite easily a Premier League fixture five or six
years ago."
Spurs-Leeds was easily the most eye-catching matchup although
Arsenal, which had to come from behind to win 2-1 at West Ham on
Sunday, has to travel to another Premier League team, Stoke. The
last time they met at the Britannia Stadium, Stoke won 2-1 last
season.
Defending champion Chelsea must travel to League Championship
Preston, which crushed Colchester 7-0 on Saturday. Carlo
Ancelotti's team is top of the Premier League, however, and beat
Watford 5-0 on Sunday.
After scrambling a 1-1 draw with second tier Reading on
Saturday, Liverpool has to win a replay at home but then would have
a home game against Premier League Burnley.
Manchester City is another leading FA Cup contender after the
big spending of its new owner and should be confident of winning at
League Championship struggler Scunthorpe. Roberto Mancini's team
won 1-0 at Middlesbrough on Saturday.
Last season's runner up, Everton will host either Birmingham
or second tier Nottingham Forest, who drew 0-0 on Saturday.
