Jermaine Beckford
Ex-Leeds Utd striker on BBC One

The FA Cup is about creating dreams for yourself and the giant killers, anybody can beat anybody on their day and that is exactly what these Crawley players will be thinking today.

There's no better place for them to do that.

We have players out on the pitches.

It's almost show time in six FA Cup third round ties.

Stephen Warnock
Ex-Leeds and Liverpool defender on BBC iPlayer

Manchester City are on the crest of the wave.

They are so fluid in the way they are playing, and very organised out of possession, which is something that has been labelled at them in the last 18 months that they haven't been.

This will be the first FA Cup meeting between Manchester City and Birmingham since a third-round tie in January 2001, which Man City won 3-2 at Maine Road.

Man City last failed to reach the FA Cup fourth round in the 2011-12 campaign, losing at home to Manchester United at this stage in that season.

The Citizens have won their last five third round ties by an aggregate score of 23-2.

Crawley boss John Yems on BBC One: "It's exciting to see the cameras here, let's hope we put on a show that's worthy of the cameras."

Mark Schwarzer
Former Fulham & Chelsea keeper on BBC TV

Chelsea's form has been very concerning.

Today is a great example of how concerned Frank Lampard is because he's gone with a very strong side - he is trying to get players to find their way into form.

Image source, Getty Images

There may be 66 places between Chelsea and Morecambe but there's no doubting who comes to Stamford Bridge in better form.

While Frank Lampard's team have suffered four defeats in their last six, the Shrimps head to London after four straight victories and riding high in League Two.

Derek Adams's side will surely look to prey on Chelsea's fragile confidence.

Image source, Rex Features

Morecambe's ground has been closed to fans for the best part of 10 months but the League Two club have still found ways to reach out to their fans.

On the way to Newport County for a match in December, the team coach pulled up outside the bungalow of Cliff Crabtree, who was celebrating his 90th birthday.

Manager Derek Adams and midfielder Aaron Wildig got off to surprise the life-long Shrimps fan , externalwith a card signed by the team, along with a centenary scarf and mug.

"We haven't had fans inside our ground since last February. It's about giving people that little bit of hope," says co-chairman Rod Taylor, a former NHS nurse.

Read more about how Morecambe have coped without fans here.

Chris Bevan
BBC Sport at Etihad Stadium

Image source, Getty Images

The FA Cup has given us many great tales of heroics down the years and they don’t come any braver than legendary Manchester City goalkeeper Bert Trautmann’s exploits against Birmingham when these clubs met in the 1956 final.

Trautmann, a German Prisoner of War who remained in England when World War II finished, was completely knocked outwhen he collided with Birmingham striker Peter Murphy’s knee (in the incident pictured above) after 75 minutes at Wembley.

But he stayed on the pitch to make some key saves to preserve his side’s 3-1 lead and had to be helped off afterwards. Astonishingly, he found out three days later that he had broken his neck.

Trautmann passed away aged 89 in 2013 but I was lucky enough to speak to him in 2011, before City won the FA Cup that year and embarked on a glittering decade of multiple trophy successes.

He talked with vigour and authority on many subjects but he was particularly pertinent when it came to how the game had changed since his day. "It's sad because, for me, football is about glory and winning thing,” he said. "That is not the case so much for others anymore. It is all about the money."

Image source, Getty Images

The scene of the biggest FA Cup shock of all time?

Maybe.

Image source, Getty Images

It's an all-League Two affair between Cheltenham Town and Mansfield Town today. Though the Robins are fourth, 11 places above Mansfield, the in-form Stags have won their last three games while Cheltenham are winless in six in all competitions.

“If it was a league game, you’d be right in saying we are the form side going into the game. But cup games throw up anything," said Mansfield manager Nigel Clough.

"We’ll be putting out the strongest team that we can. We’ll do everything we can to get through.

“I wish we’d been drawn at home. The incentive is the potential of what it [Fourth Round] could bring for either one of the sides.”

Image source, Getty Images

Tranmere boss Keith Hill is looking forward to the challenge against Championship side Barnsley this afternoon and insists they are going there with confidence, despite a rocky recent run.

"It is an opportunity for us to go there and prove what a good side we are," he said, external. "We are going there with a smile on our face and with intent.

"It is a magnificent occasion to represent Tranmere and we want to become a giant-killer again."

League One Portsmouth head to Bristol City this afternoon for their first game in three weeks, having seen fixtures postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Bristol City are without a number of first-team players because of injuries and availability, but Pompey boss Kenny Jackett says he has a full squad to choose from.

"We are looking forward to the game, all of us are. The anticipation is building in training, the players are enthusiastic in training. They look as if they are ready to get playing again as well," he told Hampshire Live, external.

"Bristol City are a genuine top half of the Championship team, they’ll be chasing the play-off positions and ultimately, a Premier League place. That’s the type of club and the level of club that we will go to on Sunday."

Manchester City will pay tribute to the late Colin Bell who died on Tuesday at the age of 74.

Arguably their greatest ever player he helped transform the club in the late 60s and made over 500 appearances for the blues.

A banner covering the seats at the Etihad Stadium looks across to the stand that is named after him.

Mark in Stockport: I would have thought that Guardiola might have rested a few of his star players against a team in a desperate run of form, however the fact that he hasn't may well produce a score where words are required

Chris Bevan
BBC Sport at Etihad Stadium

Image source, Getty Images

Birmingham are 18th in the Championship with one point from their past six league games, so not many people are giving them a chance against Manchester City today - but their boss Aitor Karanka has good reason to think differently.

The Spaniard, an old adversary of City boss Pep Guardiola when they both worked in Spain, was in charge of Middlesbrough when they came here as a Championship side in 2015 and got a shock 2-0 win in the FA Cup fourth round, and he also escaped with a draw in a Premier League match the following year.

Mind you, Karanka has not enjoyed himself every time he’s played City. Boro had home advantage against them in the FA Cup quarter-finals in 2017 - they lost, and he was sacked five days later.

The Only Way Is Crawley...

At least it is for Mark Wright, and his dreams of playing professional football.

Wright had a promising start as a teenage Tottenham Hotspur youth team captain but failed to break into the first team, eventually playing non-league before focusing on a career outside of football.

Now he wants make it as a pro at 33, and BBC Sport is following his every move.

Wright is named on the bench for the hosts this afternoon

BBC One

A reminder that you have the option of watching three 13:30 GMT kick-offs on the BBC - and coverage is about to start!

Leeds against Crawley is on BBC One now, while Morecambe's trip to Chelsea and Manchester City's meeting with Birmingham City can both be watched via the iPlayer and on the BBC Sport website in about five minutes.

BBC Radio 5 Live also have you covered with live commentary of Crawley v Leeds, plus Manchester City v Birmingham City can be followed on 5 Live Sports Extra.

Image source, Getty Images

Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa just gets it, doesn't he?

"For me it [the FA Cup] represents English football in its purest form. It allows you to link with the history of the clubs in England," said the Argentine.

"The sole fact that we have to analyse the opponent we're going to face, it allows you to take a look into League Two, the stadiums and style of play.

"Crawley are a team that responds to a direct approach and their defensive organisation is also a tradition."