The world’s oldest football competition has got a rich tradition of giant-killing. It’s one of the things that makes it special. Tonight, a small club will get a chance to slain the best team in the land as the Third Round of the English FA Cup kicks off. It’s Swindon Town against Manchester City under the Friday night lights!Beating the champions of England, a team that’s currently 71 places above them in the English football system, would be one of the biggest upsets this competition has ever seen in its 151-year-long history. But even though they are facing a tough challenge, the Robins’ head coach Ben Garner wants a win.”No one gives us a chance so we’ve got nothing to lose. We’re nice and positive and we go into the game and just give it everything we’ve got. They’ve got a fantastic team, so we know it is going to be a huge challenge but we’ve prepared the same way we always do ahead of every game. I watch the opposition, identify what their strengths are and how they are going to play but then come up with how we’re going to play and how we think we can win the game. That is no different for Friday night.”Six months ago we were on the brink of oblivion. Nobody gave us a chance.Now we’re here, about to take on the best of the best.Time to lay it all on the line and give it our best shot, and who knows what might happen.This is it.#STFC 🔴⚪️ pic.twitter.com/ees9ls2fqp— Swindon Town FC (@Official_STFC) January 7, 2022 The club from Swindon, a town located around 100 kilometres west of London were last in the same division as the Citizens in the 1993/94 season – when both clubs have been competing in the Premier League. That year, City won both games as Swindon tumbled out of the division. It was to prove their first and also the last campaign they’d spend in the top flight. The last time they ever met, in another FA Cup tie in 2002. City won that one too.Obviously, the fortunes of the two clubs have been vastly different since then, but anything can happen over 90 minutes – especially with Manchester City being weakened by a wicked Covid outburst. That’s why Pep Guardiola won’t be able to lead the team in front of a packed 15,720-capacity County Ground.There has been an incredible buzz around the EFL League Two team ever since the draw pitted them to host the champions, but Garner has insisted that it’s been like business as usual for his players.”I’ve not seen any nerves this week and it has been a normal week for us. I’m sure there will be butterflies and nerves before the game for a lot of the players, but it is fantastic having that pressure and it is an honour to be able to represent this club and go into this game on Friday night.”Swindon’s first-choice goalkeeper Joe Wollacott has earned a call-up to the Ghana squad for the Africa Cup of Nations and will not be available here, so Lewis Ward could get the nod in between the sticks.The charade continues: Pep to miss his team’s FA Cup opener on FridayWith Guardiola and assistant Juanma Lillo both out with Covid, assistant coach Rodolfo Borrell will take charge of the City team from the dugout. There are seven players infected and there are injures as well. Phil Foden and Oleksandr Zinchenko both missed the win at Arsenal after testing positive, while Riyad Mahrez is at AFCON and John Stones is a doubt due to a knock. Nathan Ake could earn another start at left-back as CJ Egan-Riley and Luke Mbete vie for opportunities in the heart of defence. Zack Steffen and Fernandinho will also expect to come into the first XI for this encounter, while in the final third, Cole Palmer, James McAtee and Kayky could all earn some valuable minutes.Swindon Town’s Owner Clem Morfuni & CEO Rob Angus wishing Pep Guardiola, his backroom staff and his players a speedy recovery – and also a safe journey to all #MCFC fans. Clem inviting Pep to enjoy a future game at the County Ground. 👏 @Official_STFC @TrustSTFC @STFCSupClub pic.twitter.com/XZJkyQUFcK— Chris Hull (@mrchrishull) January 6, 2022 It’s Town against City in the FA Cup. Let the magic begin!FA CUP – Third RoundFriday23.00: (10.0) Swindon (6.50) Man.City (1.25)Saturday15.15: (5.50) Mansfield (3.80) Middlesbrou. (1.65)15.30: (1.75) Burnley (3.60) Huddersfield (4.90)15.30: (4.90) Hartlepool (3.60) Blackpool (1.75)15.30: (1.93) Coventry (3.45) Derby (4.10)15.30: (4.60) Bristol City (3.60) Fulham (1.80)15.45: (3.45) Millwall (3.25) Crystal Palace (2.20)18.00: (3.60) Boreham Wood (3.45) Wimbledon (2.05)18.00: (5.50) Kidderminster (3.80) Reading (1.65)18.00: (1.63) Leicester (3.80) Watford (5.70)18.00: (1.30) Newcastle (5.20) Cambridge (11.0)18.00: (3.15) WBA (3.30) Brighton (2.30)18.00: (8.50) Port Vale (4.50) Brentford (1.40)18.00: (1.97) QPR (3.45) Rotherham (3.90)18.00: (2.95) Wigan (3.25) Blackburn (2.45)18.00: (1.40) Peterborough (4.50) Bristol Rovers (8.50)18.00: (1.50) Barnsley (4.20) Barrow (6.75)20.30: (3.60) Hull (3.45) Everton (2.05)20.30: (1.05) Chelsea (14.0) Chesterfield (35.0)20.30: (2.00) Birmingham (3.45) Plymouth (3.80)20.30: (3.35) Swansea (3.35) Southampton (2.20)20.45: (8.50) Yeovil (4.50) Bournemouth (1.40)Sunday15.30: (1.40) Luton (4.50) Harrogate T. (8.50)17.00: (2.35) Cardiff (3.25) Preston (3.10)17.00: (4.20) Charlton (3.50) Norwich (1.90)17.00: (1.37) Stoke (4.70) Leyton (9.00)17.00: (1.08) Tottenham (12.0) Morecambe (23.0)17.00: (1.23) Liverpool (7.00) Shrewsbury (10.5)17.00: (1.70) Wolverhampton (3.70) Sheffield Utd (5.20)17.00: (1.87) West Ham (3.50) Leeds (4.30)20.10: (5.50) Nott.Forest (3.80) Arsenal (1.65)Monday22.55: (1.68) Man.Utd. (3.70) Aston Villa (5.30)***odds are subject to change
