Rovers entered the 3rd round of the 2018-19 FA Cup courtesy of their Championship status, on Monday and were among 43 other teams who were coming into the competition, for this campaign at this stage.
The draw for the 3rd round occurred live on the BBC as the 44 sides from the Championship and the Premier League entered the draw, alongside all the 2nd round victors from League 1, League 2 and the rest of the English footballing pyramid.
With the draw seeing Level 6 Woking being the ‘most wanted’ side to face, Rovers – ball #5 in the draw – were drawn away from home against Premier League outfit, Newcastle United, who reached the 4th round of this competition, last season, before being brushed aside by current holders, Chelsea. The clash is set to take place at St James’ Park, between the 4th and 7th of January, with a confirmed date to be set in the near future, along with ticket information.
Rovers and the Geordies have been no strangers to each other over the past couple of years, with Rovers getting the better of their future hosts during their last couple of meetings, which came during the 2016-17 Championship season, as Rovers – courtesy of Charlie Mulgrew striking in both games – twice beat Rafa Benítez’s side by a 1-0 scoreline, as the Blues completed an unlikely double over the future league winners.
The pair do have history against each other in this competition, with their last FA Cup meeting, coincidently also being in the 3rd round, falling in 2012, where a wondergoal by Hatem Ben Arfa and a stoppage-time winner by Jonás Gutiérrez cancelled out a 35th minute goal by former Rovers forward, David Goodwillie, to send the Magpies into the next round, before they were knocked out by Brighton and Hove Albion in the 4th round. With the clash coming off the back of an undoubtedly tough festive period, it will be intriguing to see how both sides approach the competition, considering their main focuses this season, rely on consolidation in their respective leagues.
