LONDON, Dec 9: Manchester United’s faltering form will be put to a severe test in the third round of the FA Cup when they travel to Aston Villa.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s men, who needed a late equaliser to salvage a point at Villa Park in August, have been handed an all-Premiership clash on the first weekend of the New Year as the big guns entered Sunday’s draw.

Giantkillers Canvey Island, who knocked Northampton out in round two, have earned themselves a trip to first division leaders Burnley.

And the only other non-league side still in the tournament, Dagenham and Redbridge, will play host to Premiership strugglers Ipswich if they can defeat Exeter in their second-round replay.

Third round draw: Stockport v Bolton; Wimbledon v Middlesbrough; Watford v Arsenal; Manchester City v Swindon; Halifax or Stoke v Everton; Wycombe v Fulham; Charlton v Blackpool; Sheffield United v Nottingham Forest; Leicester v Mansfield; Chesterfield or Southend v Tranmere; Derby v Plymouth or Bristol Rovers; Brighton v Preston; Grimsby v York; Rotherham v Southampton; Burnley v Canvey Island; Millwall v Scunthorpe; Cheltenham v Oldham; Darlington v Peterborough; Walsall v Bradford; Norwich v Chelsea; Macclesfield v West Ham; Exeter or Dagenham and Redbridge v Ipswich; Portsmouth v Leyton Orient; Liverpool v Birmingham; Coventry v Tottenham; Cardiff v Leeds; Barnsley v Blackburn; Sunderland v West Brom; Newcastle v Crystal Palace; Aston Villa v Manchester United; Crewe v Sheffield Wednesday; Wolves v Gillingham.

Ties to be played on Jan 5, 6, 7.—AFP