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As I arrived in Manchester today, scuttling under the persistent drizzle, a number of fans were exiting a nearby hotel establishment with their scarves tightly applied. 

They've probably made the short walk to Old Trafford now and consumed a morning matchday burger or pie, as you do on such days.

Both sides are warming up, Reading doing some basic jogging. Some players opt for t-shirts, some jumpers, others wear jackets. The only uniformity is the blue and white hooped socks.

Today could go a number of ways:

- Giantkilling (big story)

- Routine home win (nothing to see here)

- Giantkilling including a Wayne Rooney goal (confusing)

- Routine home win with Rooney goal (nothing to see here becomes interesting)

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A single Rooney goal will move him level with Sir Bobby Charlton but he will have reached the tally four seasons quicker than the club legend.

So will he do it today? And if so, how would that place Rooney among English football's greats? Tweet me on #bbcfacup with your view.

You will notice that within that Manchester United starting XI is a certain Wayne Rooney. He looks happy judging by this photo.

Rooney is of course on the brink of history. More on that next.

Image source, Getty Images

Simon Stone
BBC Sport at Old Trafford

If it all goes wrong for Manchester United today, manager Jose Mourinho can absolve himself from blame.

Of the 10 players in his starting line-up bought by the Old Trafford club, Sir Alex Ferguson and Louis van Gaal both bought four, with David Moyes responsible for Juan Mata and Marouane Fellaini.

Van Gaal gave home-grown Marcus Rashford his debut.

Manchester United have made nine changes for today's match, with Marcos Rojo and Michael Carrick the only survivors from the team that beat West Ham.  

Team: Romero, Young, Smalling, Rojo, Blind, Carrick, Fellaini, Mata, Rooney, Martial, Rashford. Subs: Pereira, Fosu-Mensah, Jones, Schweinsteiger, Mkhitaryan, Pogba, Ibrahimovic

Visitors Reading are without defender Paul McShane because of a hand injury. United old boy Tyler Blackett starts against his former employers.

Team: Al-Habsi, Gunter, Blackett, L.Moore, Van den Berg, Evans, Williams, Kelly, Beerens, McCleary, Kermorgant Subs: S.Moore, Cooper, Swift, Obita, Samuel, Meite, Watson

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The FA Cup evokes many a memory. 

I recall sitting on a wall watching the great Merthyr Tydfil overcome higher-league opposition in Yeovil Town back in the day. A pal of mine had just bought a fresh cup of tea from the tuck shop when the Martyrs scored their winner, needless to say his 50p brew hit the deck as things went a little wild.

I'm sure you have your memories too, so send them to me and generally keep in touch on #nogutsnoglory. Now though, it's team news.

That was one of the great sign-off entries from Ms Lewis there, any live-text image featuring Shawshank Redemption's Andy Dufresne is a winner in my book. A magical film.

Now for a magical first tie on FA Cup third-round Saturday.

It's now time for me to escape and pass on the FA Cup live text baton to Mr Luke Reddy, who will be handcuffed to his desk for the next 10 hours, or a lifetime if there are any grammatical mistakes in his copy. Thanks for reading, it's been a pleasure. Until next time... 

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Final Score

Around the grounds as usual on Final Score, on what will be a frenetic afternoon of FA Cup football. Jason Mohammad is in the chair, and from 14:30 GMT ex-Leicester City forward Dion Dublin and former West Ham defender Matthew Upson bring you updates and reaction on the BBC Red Button.

The show flips over to BBC One from 16:00 GMT as all the games draw to a close, and runs until 17:20 GMT.

Simon Stone
BBC Sport at Old Trafford

Still waiting for the team news at Old Trafford.

But in his programme notes, Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho is promising changes.

"I will be making some changes to the team today after their incredible efforts over the last few weeks.

"It is never nice to leave players on the bench so I will be giving some of them a chance to get out there and enjoy themselves."

If you like moving pictures, goals galore and plenty of football action, watch this video to catch up with the best of the FA Cup second round. 

I'm a little bit crazy too, says Bobby Gould's goalkeeper grandson. 

It is now 29 years since Bobby Gould's Wimbledon 'Crazy Gang' beat Liverpool in the final at Wembley and now there's another Gould hoping to add more FA Cup history glory into the family vaults - Stourbridge goalkeeper Matt Gould.

As well as having a famous grandfather, Matt is also the son of former Coventry and Celtic goalkeeper Jonathan Gould, now a coach at West Brom.

"I've got quite a good pedigree, but I'm just trying to set my own little pathway. Hopefully I can go on to be as successful as they were," says the goalkeeper. 

Match of the Day

With 25 ties taking place today you can expect an action-packed Match of the Day this evening. Gary Lineker is in the chair for the show, which starts at 22:30 GMT and finishes at midnight.

Terry Monkton, Stourport-On-Severn

This week Lawro is up against a trio of YouTubers - Manchester City fan Alex from Blue Moon Rising TV,, external Tottenham supporter Barnaby from Spurred On, external and Arsenal fan Reev., external Can Lawro get the better of the youngsters? 

See their FA Cup predictions here.

Image source, Getty Images

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Jonathan Stevens: Greatest moments obviously got to be Alan Shearer rifling into the top corner vs Spurs in 99 to send us to Wembley #NoGutsNoGlory

Lewis Robinson:#barnsleyfc, external vs Liverpool at Anfield. Then defeating Chelsea at Oakwell in the next round #nogutsnoglory, external

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BBC Sport looks at some third-round ties whose influence stretched far beyond progression to the next stage.

Read Gary Rose's piece. It is worth a read. 

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