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January 5, 2010

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Leeds earns a date with Tottenham


THIRD-TIER Leeds' reward for knocking Manchester United out of the FA Cup on Sunday was another matchup against Premier League opposition, this time a trip to high-flying Tottenham in the fourth round.

Hours after Jermaine Beckford's strike at Old Trafford captured a memorable victory for the League One leader, Simon Grayson's team was last out of the draw. Having beaten the record 11-time FA Cup winner, Leeds now has to face Tottenham, which has won the title eight times and is fourth in the Premier League.

A top flight powerhouse less than eight years ago, Leeds slipped two divisions in a short spell after running into crippling debts. But Leeds is riding high at the top of League One.

"It's a good draw again," Grayson said. "We're up against a top Premiership team and a top manager and we'll approach that as we have done for the Manchester United game with the respect that they deserve.

"But we've got a few league games in between and that's our bread and butter. It's another fantastic draw and another game that could have been quite easily a Premier League fixture five or six years ago."

Spurs-Leeds was easily the most eye-catching matchup although Arsenal has to travel to another Premier League team, Stoke.

Defending champion Chelsea travels to League Championship Preston, which crushed Colchester 7-0 on Saturday.

After a 1-1 draw with second-tier Reading on Saturday, Liverpool has to win a replay at home but then would have a home game against Premier League Burnley.

Manchester City is another leading FA Cup contender and should be confident of winning at League Championship struggler Scunthorpe. Roberto Mancini's team won 1-0 at Middlesbrough on Saturday.

Everton will host either Birmingham or Nottingham Forest.

 

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