The FA Cup banana skin arrived this afternoon in the form of Morecambe who are currently mid table in League Two. They corrected a very poor run of defeats yesterday when they beat Wycombe away.

The Swans have been involved in the FA Cup since the 1913/14 season. In 1926 the club made it to a semi final at White Hart Lane against Bolton Wanderers, they lost 3-0 but the game is probably more note worthy for the first ‘gang violence’ as it was described as - with one Swansea fan armed with a knife before the game. 13,000 Swans supporters were at the fixture. The likely lad said it was for protection. Then in 1964 a thirty plus thousand following at Villa Park saw the Swans undone by what was exceptionally questionable officiating. The referee was led from the field by Police.

Everyone will remember the Man City debacle in March 2019, they eventually won when this game referee Andre Marriner decided to come on as a sub for the visitors. A host of poor decisions by Marriner, and two decisions for goals that would have been ruled out by VAR won Man City the game and denied the Swans a semi final appearance. And yes, the Swans had VAR fully installed but weren’t allowed to use it as they were in the Championship ! Matt Grimes (below) and Bersant Celina scored the Swans goals.

Here are the players ratings from Sky Sports.

The full draw is here : Luton vs Bolton, Shrewsbury vs Wrexham or Yeovil, Arsenal vs Liverpool, Stoke vs Brighton, Norwich vs Crewe or Bristol Rovers, West Ham vs Bristol City, Tottenham vs Burnley, Fulham vs Rotherham, West Brom vs Aldershot or Stockport, Southampton vs Alfreton Town or Walsall, AFC Wimbledon or Ramsgate vs Ipswich Town, Peterborough United vs Leeds, Millwall vs Leicester, Watford vs Chesterfield or Leyton Orient, Sunderland vs Newcastle, Sheffield Wednesday vs Cardiff, Crystal Palace vs Everton, Middlesbrough vs Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest vs Blackpool or Forest Green Rovers, Wigan Athletic vs Manchester United, Manchester City vs Huddersfield, Gillingham vs Sheffield United, Swansea vs Morecambe, Blackburn Rovers vs Cambridge, Chelsea vs Preston North End, QPR vs Bournemouth, Coventry vs Oxford, Brentford vs Wolves, Maidstone vs Stevenage or Port Vale, Newport County or Barnet vs Eastleigh or Reading, Hull vs Birmingham.

It is expected the game will be played over the weekend of 6th January 2024.

Artwork by Swansea Independent

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