The FA Cup is for lower league football fans

Leeds striker Jermaine Beckford lit up a dull FA Cup weekend

The only romance of the third round of the FA Cup came in former giants Leeds United knocking out current Premiership holders Manchester United on their home turf.

Otherwise depleted teams, poor attendances and match postponements undermined the oldest domestic football competition in the world.

A lowly 5335 people turned up to Wigan’s DW Stadium for the all Premier League clash against Hull City.

BBC journalist Paul Rowley was among the few attending and on BBC London yesterday he put this poor turn-out down to the extra cost of the tickets to season ticket holders, the managers putting out second string sides and icy roads.

The so-called ‘magic of the cup’ was left to lower league fans to embrace. 2,000 more Barrow fans attended their away game against Sunderland than the whole of the turn out at the DW Stadium.

A mighty 6,000 Swindon Town fans packed out Fulham’s away stand and 8,000 Leeds United fans witnessed their historic victory at Old Trafford.

Fourth-round fixtures

The issue of a congested fixture list is set to influence the quality of the fourth round ties too.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was left fuming yesterday after ITV scheduled the Gunners away tie to Stoke City for Sunday 24th January, three days before their difficult Premier League away game at Aston Villa.

Perhaps it is time for the FA to re-consider the idea of a Christmas break, like they practice in Spain, Italy and Germany to allow managers and fans to take these Cup games more seriously.