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The Cumbrians already having a huge task in front of them next Tuesday when they face Championship outfit Sheffield Wednesday at Brunton Park in a 7pm kick-off in the third round. United facing a side though who are having a particularly hard time of it this season in their regional section of the FA Premier Academy League.
The Owls sitting third bottom in a ten-team table having won only two of their fifteen league games to date as they ship goals at the rate of over two per match. With Kosovan-born brothers Rocky and Leon Lekaj, Rocky having represented Norway of all places at under-19 level, in their ranks though Wednesday will certainly be a tough nut for an in-form United side to crack on the night.
With the greatest of respect to Brighton, it's hard not to look ahead at a evening at Old Trafford though, and the Carlisle lads should need little persuasion to try their hearts out and give it their all against Wednesday on Tuesday with such a carrot dangling in front of them. The Owls youngsters will be thinking just the same thing though and it is likely to be the side that copes with the pressure best on the night that makes it through to the fourth round stage.
Manchester United perhaps aren't as good as you'd expect them to be in the world of youth team football as they currently sit third, behind rivals City and Everton, in a ten-team table in their regional section of the FA Premier Academy League. The Red Devils having won ten, drawn one and lost five of their sixteen league games played to date.
Meanwhile Brighton have reached the third round stage with a 4-3 win at home to MK Dons and an excellent 3-0 victory on the road at Bristol Rovers. The Seagulls ply their trade in the same Puma Youth Alliance system as Carlisle, with Albion being in the South-East section compared to United in the North-West region. Brighton, at the moment, slap bang in mid-table, in seventh, in a 13-team division.
Fourth Round Proper Draw In Full :
Portsmouth v Plymouth Argyle (22/01), previously postponed on 15/01
Bristol City v Leeds United (16/01)
Manchester United v Carlisle United (16/01), at Northwich Victoria FC
Swindon Town v Middlesbrough (16/01)
Southend United v Stoke City (17/01)
Sunderland v Macclesfield Town (16/01)
Bolton Wanderers v Port Vale (08/01)
Colchester United v Aston Villa (16/01)
Ipswich Town v Watford (16/01)
Charlton Athletic v Sheffield United (16/01)
Leicester City v Crystal Palace (08/01)
Birmingham City v Preston North End (16/01), at Solihull Moors FC
Tottenham Hotspur v Chester City (08/01)
Liverpool v Arsenal (29/01)
Reading v Manchester City (23/01)
Chelsea v Shrewsbury Town (17/01), at Brentford FC
*Ties to be played by Saturday the 19th of January
Youth Team Results : Click here
Youth Team Table : Click here
Youth Team Reports : Click here
Youth Team Squad : Click here