BARNSLEY, last season's FA Cup campaign sensations, have welcomed a trip to West Ham in this year's third round.
"It's a good draw," said manager Simon Davey.
"We'd have liked to have been at home but the players can look forward to testing themselves against a Premier League team, something they did quite well last season."
Barnsley knocked out Liverpool at Anfield and beat Chelsea at Oakwell on their way to a Wembley semi-final with Cardiff.
"West Ham are a good footballing side, especially under new manager Gianfranco Zola.
"I've never been to West Ham, either as a player or to see a game, even. It will be a first for me," said Davey.
"Last season I'd never been to Liverpool so maybe this is a good omen."
Said Zola: "It is a good start to the FA Cup playing at home.
"It was very important to play at home but we know with Barnsley that it will not be an easy game.
"They go to the semi- finals last year so we know it will be tough.
"The FA Cup is a fabulous competition. Winning the FA Cup as a player was one of the best moments of my career. The FA Cup third round is specials for everyone and we are going to be up for it."
The tie will is on the weekend of January 3.
Barnsley's last match at Upton Park was 10 years ago in the Premier League. They were thumped 6-0 that day.
The teams met in the FA Cup fourth round in 1993 at Oakwell and Barnsley won 4-1, with Andy Rammell scoring a hat-trick.
Before that Barnsley had won 5-2 at Upton Park in a replayed League Cup tie 21 years ago.
Meanwhile, Barnsley skipper Stephen Foster left Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest with his head bandaged after suffering a gash in the second half. He was expected to train as usual today.
Click here for full FA Cup Third Round DrawWhat do you think? Post your comments below. READ MORE Blades Watch 08-09 - The Season So FarOwls Watch 08-09 - The Season So FarWatch Premiership highlights, international football, golf, tennis, darts and much moreFootball headlinesMore BladesMore OwlsMore SpireitesMore RoversMore RedsMore MillersMore Ice HockeyMore rugby leagueMore rugby unionMore boxingSports columnistsAll sport categoriesThe full article contains 411 words and appears in Sheffield Star newspaper.
