Cup still has the power to shock

The only certainty about the FA Cup third round is that there will be a shock somewhere.

Incredibly, there isn't a single all-Premiership third-round tie. But William Hill are still offering 66-1 to punters who believe all 20 top-flight clubs will reach round four.

The bookies aren't daft. Despite the supposed huge gap between the Premiership and the rest, Crystal Palace, Norwich, Bolton, West Brom and Blackburn all look vulnerable away to Championship opposition.

Southampton's Harry Redknapp, who once led Bournemouth to victory over Manchester United, won't relish a visit to Northampton either, and unpredictable Manchester City won't take a trip to Oldham for granted.

BBC commentator John Motson began his career by watching Ronnie Radford and Hereford beat Newcastle United in 1972.

He said: "I can see potential problems for Bolton at Ipswich, Southampton, and West Brom at Preston. I'm going to Home Park to see Plymouth and Everton but I don't foresee an upset there."

William Hill's Graham Sharpe said: "A lot of the top-flight clubs have difficult draws but the majority will make it through."

However, FA.com historian David Barber thinks the draw favours the minnows.

"If you look at the number of Premiership sides from the bottom half of the table drawn away, it makes it unpredictable," he said.

"Any Premiership club who takes their game for granted should talk to Charlton. They will treat Rochdale like Real Madrid thanks to a woeful FA Cup record in recent years."