On Friday night, Harrogate Town will host Skelmersdale United, the lowest ranked side left in the FA Cup, live on BT Sport.
The Sulphurites lost 1-0 to Tranmere Rovers on Tuesday and gaffer, Simon Weaver, insists his side are “still learning”.
Minnows, Skelmersdale United, have had to come through five rounds to get this far, starting in the preliminary round beating Congleton Town, then Bootle FC, followed by Lancaster City, all 2-1.
The Blueboys then beat Longridge Town 1-0 before travelling to Stafford Rangers, where Skelmersdale comfortably dispatched of the hosts 4-1, placing them in the hat for the first round of the FA Cup.
Skelmersdale find themselves 16th in the North West Counties Football League Premier Division (five tiers below League Two) but do have up to four games in hand on most teams.
Harrogate will be hoping to go one step further than they did last year when they were knocked out by Portsmouth at this stage.
Bradford City will travel to National League South side Tonbridge Angels in the FA Cup on Saturday.
The Bantams won 3-0 in midweek against League Two strugglers Southend United.
Hosts, Tonbridge Angels, finished comfortably in mid-table last season based on the points per game ratio used.
The Angels started their FA Cup journey in the second qualifying round, winning 1-0 away to Farnborough, followed by Chichester City, who they beat 2-1.
Tonbridge cruised into the first round beating ten-man Taunton Town 5-0.
Bradford were knocked-out in the first round last season via a replay defeat to Shrewsbury Town.
City will be wanting to repeat their 2014/15 FA Cup run where they reached the sixth round and famously knocked-out Chelsea, 4-2, at Stamford Bridge.
Also, in the FA Cup, Hull City will take on Fleetwood Town in an all-League One tie in the FA Cup at the KCOM Stadium on Saturday.
Last time out, the Tigers lost 2-1 to Swindon Town, despite Keane Lewis-Potter getting the away side off to the perfect start.
Hull’s opponents, Fleetwood, lost 3-2 away to Charlton Athletic in midweek with Ched Evans on the scoresheet for the Trawlermen.
The last time Hull City played at this stage of the FA Cup was in the 2004/05 season when they beat Morecambe 3-2 in the first round, and went on to reach the third round, losing to Colchester United 2-0.
In the Premier League, Leeds United travel to Selhurst Park on Saturday as they look to bounce back from a disappointing defeat on Monday night.
The Whites were comfortably beaten 4-1 by Leicester City with Stuart Dallas grabbing a consolation goal at Elland Road.
Visitors, Crystal Palace, lost 2-0 to Wolverhampton Wanderers last time out with Luka Milivojevic also receiving a red card in the latter stages.
A win for either side will likely see the victor rise into the top half of the table.
One of the surprise packages in the Championship so far, Middlesbrough, face Brentford in the capital on Saturday.
Boro were forced to settle for a point in midweek at Ewood Park after a goalless draw.
Hosts, Brentford, also drew in midweek after Ivan Toney continued his excellent goalscoring form to put the Bees a goal up against Swansea City.
However, they were later denied the three points thanks to a strike from Andre Ayew late in the game.
Middlesbrough could go second with a victory but a win for Brentford will see them leapfrog Boro in the table.
Lastly in the Championship, Huddersfield Town host Luton Town on Saturday afternoon.
The Terriers could not build on last weekend’s victory in midweek, losing 2-1 at home to Bristol City.
Josh Koroma put Huddersfield a goal up before two late goals for the Robins stole the three points from the grasps of the Terriers.
The visitors, Luton Town, won away in Yorkshire on Wednesday night, beating Rotherham United 1-0 thanks to a James Collins volley.
Huddersfield Town will move ahead of the Hatters with a win, but defeat will give Luton a chance of reaching a playoff position in the league.
Comments