Even in defeat, the glow of Luke Littler nonetheless hangs over the collective British sporting consciousness however issues transfer on quickly and tonight sees the beginning of an occasion which has been circled on calendars for properly over a century.
The FA Cup could have misplaced a semblance of its sheen in recent times however the third spherical remains to be a weekend to heat the cockles and stir recollections previous.
We’re at Selhurst Park this night as Crystal Palace and Everton get the third spherical underway in a conflict of considerably middling Premier League outfits. In high gear, each side possess dynamic attacking expertise however all too usually inconsistency has been an Achilles’ heel.
The house aspect had been winless in eight video games earlier than Saturday’s 3-1 win over struggling Brentford. Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze each netted to ease strain on embattled supervisor Roy Hodgson.
With their subsequent league sport not till January 20, Palace can shift full focus, and presumably a full-strength aspect, onto clearing the third spherical for only a third time within the final seven seasons.
Everton’s mini-resurgence underneath Sean Dyche has gone to a juddering halt in current weeks. After profitable seven out 9 in all competitions, Dyche’s aspect hit a wall over the festive interval, shedding 4 video games in 12 days to go away themselves hanging only a level outdoors the drop zone.
With matches towards Aston Villa, Fulham, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester Metropolis upcoming within the league, Dyche will rightly have recognized this fixture as a key one to bolster confidence heading into the brand new yr.
Whereas their current type provides little in the best way of positivity, Everton’s report towards Palace of late has been good, having received three and drawn one of many final three encounters.
There may also be aid amongst Everton followers that Palace’s important man Olise will miss tonight’s fixture with a hamstring drawback.
Full workforce information from 7pm.