Sheffield Wednesday trip to London confirmed as remarkable Monk cup record is extended

The Owls last played at Craven Cottage on the penultimate game of last season, where an Atdhe Nuhiu second-half double threatened a comeback in a thrilling 5-3 defeat. Scott Parker’s men went on to seal promotion through the playoffs.

A first-half goal by Aleksandar Mitrovic was enough to get the Cottagers through. The clash – which will be played on Tuesday or Wednesday next week – will be the second consecutive time Garry Monk’s men will have faced off against Premier League opposition in the third round, having lost out to Everton last season.

Speaking to the media after his side’s second round win at Rochdale, Monk said he had no preference over who won last night’s tie.

“They’re both long trips,” he said. “I wanted a home draw!

“All those stats will come out, on my record in cups and that we’re always away from home. But we’ll just concentrate on ourselves, whichever one it’ll be, but if we play like tonight and on Saturday and even the Walsall game, that’s what we’ll try to do.

“We want to show that attitude, what we’ve been working on and try to build towards what we hope will be a big season for us.”

Up until the Owls’ Hillsborough defeat to Manchester City last season Monk remarkably never been drawn at home in eight FA Cup ties. Including the forthcoming trip to Fulham, of Monk’s last 15 League Cup ties, only four will have been from a home dugout.

The clash will be only the Owls’ second third round outing in five seasons, with last season’s run to the third round accelerated by a first-round bye after Bury hurtled towards financial ruin.

In the 2015/16 season, third and fourth round wins over Premier League duo Newcastle and Arsenal are looked upon as ties that saw momentum build on a run to the Championship playoff final. It is the last time the Owls, who were knocked out in the quarter-final by Stoke, progressed beyond the third round.

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