Aston Villa will have the chance to end 50 years of hurt after being handed a trip to Manchester United in the FA Cup third round.
While Birmingham City have been drawn at home to Newcastle United and West Bromwich Albion face Leeds United in an all-Championship tie at The Hawthorns, Villa will step into the full glare of the Cup spotlight at Old Trafford.
It is 50 years next spring since Johnny Dixon became the last Villa captain to lift aloft the Cup — then making the club the most successful Cup victors with seven wins — after beating United 2-1.
But since then Villa have played the Reds four times in the Cup and lost each time, with United going on to win the famous pot three times to become the record 11-times winners.
Villa skipper Gareth Barry, however, says it's about time to change their fortunes.
"We'll be going up there in a positive frame of mind and, while the draw could have been kinder to us, we're certainly not heading to Old Trafford to make up the numbers," he said.
Blues will be hoping to make matches with Newcastle a regular occurrence in the Premiership by winning promotion but they will relish the first FA Cup meeting between the sides since 1905-06 when the Toon won 3-0.
Albion will face Leeds United in Cup action for the first time since defeating the Yorkshiremen in a replay in 1978-9 though they crossed swords in league action two months ago, with the ten-man Baggies winning 4-2.
Wolverhampton Wanderers and Coventry City have been paired with League One opposition, with Wolves entertaining Oldham Athletic and the Sky Blues travelling to Bristol City.
Non-League Tamworth had been dreaming of playing a Premiership side after reaching the third round for the second successive season.
But Championship side Norwich City will be their guests at the Lamb.
Having missed out last season when neighbours Burton Albion and Nuneaton Borough were paired with Manchester United and Middlesbrough, Lambs manager Mark Cooper had hoped their number would come up in the draw in London for a jackpot tie. Norwich might not be United but he believes his underdogs, who only bowed to Stoke City in a penalty shoot-out last season, can grab the headlines.
"We would have loved a Premiership club but at least we are at home and it's a winnable tie," said Cooper.
"Norwich are in a similar position to Stoke in terms of their league position and we gave Stoke a good game last season.
"I'm sure Norwich won't fancy coming to the Lamb. The surroundings certainly won't be as salubrious as they used to and I'm sure we will have a passionate crowd at the Lamb. Then it's all on the day."
Fortune — figuratively and financially — certainly smiled on Paul Ince, however, when the Macclesfield Town manager saw his team given a plus draw against Premiership champions Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
FA Cup, third round draw:
Blackpool v Aldershot or Basingstoke
Barnet v Colchester United
Sheffield United v Swansea City
Reading v Burnley
Portsmouth v Wigan Athletic
Mansfield Town or Doncaster Rovers v Bolton Wanderers
West Ham United v Brighton and Hove Albion
Leicester City v Fulham
Derby County v Wrexham
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Oldham Athletic
Bury or Chester City v Ipswich Town
Manchester United v Aston Villa
Sheffield Wednesday v Manchester City
Tamworth v Norwich City
Salisbury or Nottingham Forest v Charlton Athletic
Cardiff City v Tottenham Hotspur
Preston North End v Sunderland
Liverpool v Arsenal
Bristol Rovers or Bournemouth v Hereford United
Watford v Stockport County
Crystal Palace v Swindon Town
Bristol City v Coventry City
Peterborough v Plymouth Argyle
Queens Park Rangers v Luton Town
Southend United v Barnsley
West Bromwich Albion v Leeds United
Hull City v Middlesbrough
Birmingham City v Newcastle United
Torquay United or Leyton Orient v Southampton
Everton v Blackburn Rovers
Chelsea v Macclesfield Town
Stoke City v Bradford City or Millwall
Ties to be played on January 6 or 7
