FA Cup third round draw detailspublished at 13:45 GMT 8 December 2025
13:45 GMT 8 December 2025
Image source, Getty Images
The draw for the third round of the FA Cup will take place on Monday, 8 December at around 18:40 GMT, before the broadcast of Brackley Town v Burton Albion - the final game of the Second Round.
Former England internationals Joe Cole and Peter Crouch will conduct the draw that will consist of 64 teams on TNT Sports.
The 20 winners of the second-round ties will be joined by all 20 Premier League clubs and 24 Championship teams in the third round.
All matches will be played around the weekend commencing Saturday, 10 January 2026.
Unlike in previous years, there are no replays if matches end as a draw. All ties will go to extra-time and if necessary, a penalty shootout.
Wolves fans urged to leave Molineux empty in early protestpublished at 11:22 GMT 8 December 2025
11:22 GMT 8 December 2025
Nick Mashiter Football reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Angry Wolves fans have been urged to boycott the opening 15 minutes against Manchester United to protest against Fosun's running of the club.
Several supporters groups including the Old Gold Pack, Wolves 1877 Trust, Talking Wolves, Wolves Fancast, The Wolves Report, Wolves 77 Club, Always Wolves, Punjabi Wolves and The Wolfpack have backed the plans.
Ahead of Monday's game with United at Molineux winless Wolves are bottom of the Premier League with just two points - 13 points adrift of 17th - and have lost 12 of their 14 games.
A statement read: "A club built on rich history and tradition. Few teams have shaped the game like ours. But today that legacy is being eroded - not by the fans, not by the players but by the continued negligence and incompetence of Fosun.
"If you want to make a real impact, join us in staying outside the ground for the first 15 minutes against Manchester United.
"A visibly empty stadium speaks louder than any chant, banner or slogan ever could.
"We all care. We all hurt. We all want better for Wolves.
"But this only works if the majority of us stand together and take part. This is our club. Make it count."
Fosun have no current plans to sell Wolves but are looking for minority investment into Fosun Sports Group.
They spoke to former Crystal Palace co-owner John Textor in October but did not find an agreement.
Sutton's predictions: Wolves v Man Utdpublished at 08:45 GMT 8 December 2025
08:45 GMT 8 December 2025
The Rob Edwards bounce hasn't happened at Wolves and it's no surprise, either. They are still the same group of players who struggled under Vitor Pereira.
I cannot get a Manchester United result right this season, but surely that changes this week, because they have to win this game.
I thought they would have too much firepower for West Ham on Thursday, but that was not the case.
One positive for Ruben Amorim is that I don't ever feel like they are going to concede a load of goals, but they are still not very convincing whoever they play against.
This should be a different story, which is why I am backing them to win - but I wouldn't actually be that surprised if they went to Molineux and ended up getting another 1-1 draw.
Wolves haven't even managed a goal, let alone a point, for five games, which probably means they are due to score, but I am going with United to keep a clean sheet too.
Wolves v Manchester United: Key stats and talking pointspublished at 12:29 GMT 7 December 2025
12:29 GMT 7 December 2025
Henry Cowling BBC Sport journalist
Wolves welcome Manchester United to Molineux for the first time since they defeated Ruben Amorim's side 2-0 last Boxing Day. BBC Sport looks at some of the key themes ahead of Monday night's match (20:00 GMT).
Goal-shy Wolves
Winless Wolves have now gone five consecutive league games without a goal, equalling their longest barren run in the Premier League set back in 2003. Their last league goal came on 26 October when Marshall Munetsi struck in a 3-2 home defeat by Burnley.
The bottom-of-the-table side entered December without any player reaching two goals in the league this season. The last top-flight team to do that were Leicester in 1977. Six Wolves players share the top league goalscorer mantle at the club - including striker Jorgen Strand Larsen, who missed out on a move to Newcastle in the summer after a £55m bid was rejected.
Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen finds himself on the list too. His own goal at Molineux in October provided one of Wolves' seven league goals.
Encouraging omens for bottom side?
Although Wolves' current struggles loom large, there may be some encouragement to take from last season's meetings with the Red Devils.
Wolves did the double over United last season, winning 2-0 at home and 1-0 away. The two wins equalled as many as they had managed in their previous 14 games against them.
Whilst United have only ever lost eight Premier League games against sides who have started the day bottom of the table, two of those – 25% – have been against Wolves at Molineux.
United relinquishing leads
Manchester United followed up their win last weekend at Crystal Palace with a disappointing 1-1 draw at home to West Ham. A win would have put United into the top five.
"Frustrated, angry, that is it." That was the assessment from head coach Ruben Amorim, whose substitutions in the West Ham game have been questioned. After Diogo Dalot's opener in the 58th minute, Amorim seemingly tried to shore up his side rather than push for a second goal.
The most defensive of the changes came when combative midfielder Manuel Ugarte replaced attacker Matheus Cunha in the 77th minute. The creative Kobbie Mainoo and 18-year-old winger Shea Lacey both stayed on the bench.
The stats around Ruben Amorim's use of attacking substitutes make for grim reading. United are one of just three clubs in the Premier League to have no goals from substitutes so far this season.
The attempts to stop United conceding didn't succeed. Soungoutou Magassa tapped in at the back post from a West Ham corner – the 16th corner the Red Devils have conceded from since the start of last season. Only West Ham have conceded more.
It means they have now dropped eight points from winning positions in the league this season, the joint third highest in the league.
Not a jolly season for Wolvespublished at 08:54 GMT 5 December 2025
08:54 GMT 5 December 2025
Sophie Brown BBC Sport journalist
It is certainly not the season to be jolly if you are a Wolves fan.
No league wins this campaign, no points since the start of October and no goals in any of their past five matches.
It is the first season since 1983-84 that Wolves have failed to win any of their first 14 matches, while their current five-game streak without a goal is their longest since their debut Premier League campaign in 2003.
After Wednesday's home defeat by Nottingham Forest, Wolves have just two points from 14 matches this season, the joint-fewest at this stage of any top-flight season.
If Wolves lose an eighth league game in a row against Manchester United on Monday, it would equal the club's worst-ever run - set in 1981-82 - and would also guarantee they are bottom at Christmas.
And a failure to take any points from their next two festive fixtures - at Arsenal and home to Brentford - would see Wolves equal Sheffield United's Premier League record for the lowest points tally on Christmas Day (two, in 2020-21).
"We don't want to go out with a whimper," said Rob Edwards following the Nottingham Forest defeat.
It is a message his players need to heed, or some other unwanted records could come into view - including the lows of Derby's infamous 2007-08 campaign.
The Rams were relegated from the Premier League with just 11 points, in the worst season in the history of Europe's big five leagues.
Derby's tally averaged out at just 0.29 points per game over the full 38-match campaign.
While we are just over a third of the way through this season, Wolves are currently averaging 0.14 points per game.
Carrying on at that pace would earn them just five points from 38 matches.
Edwards on Munetsi's fitness, January plans & pressure to get first winpublished at 14:31 GMT 4 December 2025
14:31 GMT 4 December 2025
Wolves boss Rob Edwards has been speaking to the media before Monday's Premier League game against Manchester United at Molineux (20:00 GMT).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Edwards confirmed Marshall Munetsi has had a scan today, adding "we think he's pulled his calf but we don't know the full details yet".
Joao Gomes was booked in Wednesday's defeat against Nottingham Forest so will be unavailable for the visit of United: "It's frustrating that it wasn't even a foul and now he's suspended."
Reflecting on the latest loss, Edwards said: "If we're going to lose, how do we want to lose? Speaking to the players and getting feedback was good - we don't want to lose in that manner again. That lack of consistency is one of the reasons we're here. The disappointment was that we saw a really good level on Sunday and three days later, it was different."
On pressure to record Wolves' first win of the season: "It's the life of what we do. Everyone is under pressure. Mikel [Arteta] will for different reasons. How do we lift it? By being consistent. We have to be living like we're a winner on and off the pitch."
On his discussions with the club's board about January transfers: "It was good. There is going to be a lot going on between now and January, with certain plans for different scenarios. It was a positive meeting. We were able to give feedback on the group we have and potential targets. That stuff will all be live and evolve as we go throughout the month."
On fatigue in the squad: "There will be some tired bodies but you expect that. They're all right but there's a lot of disappointment. We reviewed things this morning and left the room with some clarity to go forward with."
On the challenge posed by Ruben Amorim's Red Devils: "They have loads of really good players and a clear way of playing, which we will have a really good look at. I have to focus on us and we have to turn up. I don't want to see what we saw in the first half last night."
Brian: Johnstone pulled out a couple of good saves but cost us tonight. We have only got two players of Premier League level, Andre and Joao Gomes. That's why we are bottom of the pile. Well done Fosun, please sell us.
Jez: Clearly a team who have given up, no fight, no passion, no quality. Apathy has also set in now on the terraces which is more dangerous than anger. This is a direct result of systematic dismantling of a football team over the last four or five years. You can't continue to sell the crown jewels every summer and replace them with Christmas baubles. I worry for the future as this squad will struggle in the Championship.
David: Despair. That final touch of quality in the box was missing again. So near and yet so far. We sold out again last year…Cunha and Ait-Nouri, the main source of goals. You keep lowering your level of ability and the boat will eventually sink. Will it be another 30 years of pain? This stuff is serious.
Philip: Manager summed it up: no energy and no commitment and no width in attack. Why have Tchatchoua standing on the right wing with his hands in his pockets? Every aspect was poor. At least I'll be able to get tickets next season!
Nottingham Forest fans
John: We ground out a result which we deserved . The lack of firepower is still a bit worrying but mostly, we defend really well and we're strong in midfield. Sometimes I just wish we'd have a go at goal instead looking for someone else in the box. The organisation, fight and flair is back though, so things are looking up.
Dave: I am happy to take the three points, but overall a very below-par performance. Pleased for Jesus. Ndoye has been very poor for a while. We will need to play much better to get anything at Everton.
Tony: I suppose the three points are what matters, but the performance wasn't good. On this display against a poor side the rest of the season is going to be hard. Let's hope some of the injured players make a return soon.
Nick: A scrappy 1-0 away win with no injuries was all that was required. Great that Jesus got his first goal and we kept a clean sheet.
Watch Premier League highlights and analysispublished at 08:12 GMT 4 December 2025
08:12 GMT 4 December 2025
Pundits Danny Murphy and Shay Given join host Gabby Logan to bring you the action and talking points from Tuesday and Wednesday's Premier League fixtures.
Wolves 0-1 Nottingham Forest: What Edwards saidpublished at 22:24 GMT 3 December 2025
22:24 GMT 3 December 2025
Media caption,
Rob Edwards spoke to BBC Match of the Day after Wolves' defeat against Nottingham Forest: "Not a good night for us. Performance level was poor. The levels we set against Villa [on Sunday] we didn't get near that. Really frustrating.
"It's a mentality thing and a physical thing. We have to fight to win a game of football. In the first half we were very passive, back and sideways too much, didn't run forward enough. Physically we looked weak. Really frustrating. There was a reaction in the second half but we need more if we're going to win matches. The fans want to get behind this team I can feel that but tonight it was hard to get behind this team."
When asked how he can turn things around: "It's just working every day. We saw a good week of training and a good performance at the weekend. For whatever reason tonight they haven't turned up. We have to try and find the right way. That's only done with hard work and doing the right things every day.
"One or two half chances, we were fairly solid and we didn't give loads of chances away. There's some solidity there but the overriding feeling is that I don't want to see that again.
"I haven't felt a lack of belief, there is a fighting spirit. It was a different team that turned up today. We go away and try to turn things around."
Did you know?
Wolves have picked up just two points from their 14 matches this season (D2 L12), the joint-fewest ever at this stage of a top-flight season (when adjusting 3pts/win) along with Sheffield United in 2020/21, whilst this is the first time Wolves have failed to win any of their first 14 of a season since 1983/84.
Wolves v Nottingham Forest: Team newspublished at 18:34 GMT 3 December 2025
18:34 GMT 3 December 2025
Rob Edwards names an unchanged line up as Wolves look for a first Premier League win.
Wolves were much improved despite losing 1-0 at Aston Villa on Sunday and Edwards keeps faith with the same team, with Matt Doherty replacing the injured Hugo Bueno on the bench.
Subs: Sa, Hoever, Doherty, S Bueno, Munetsi, Chirewa, Mane, Hwang, Arokodare.
Record signing Omari Hutchinson makes his full Premier League debut for Nottingham Forest.
The £37.5m winger, signed from Ipswich in the summer, has made eight substitute appearances in the top flight this season with his only start coming in the Carabao Cup.
He replaces Nicolas Dominguez, who drops to the bench following Sunday's 2-0 defeat by Brighton.
Should Wolves 'accept their fate and limit the financial hole'?published at 15:36 GMT 3 December 2025
15:36 GMT 3 December 2025
Mike Taylor BBC Radio WM reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Moral victories never paid anyone's bills. Still, after Wolves put in their best performance of the season at Villa Park, you could discern something changing – not exactly optimism, but at least a lightening of the gloom.
Avoiding relegation still feels a near-impossibility, partly because nobody has managed it from such a miserable start in the Premier League era.
Even so, Wolves have three home games before Christmas, and in normal circumstances we would say they are against demanding but not exactly fearsome opponents.
If Sunday's performance can be repeated, it's not out of the question that Wolves could win a couple of those games and at least keep the rest of the field on the horizon.
Rob Edwards explained at his press conference on Tuesday that he was about to go into his first recruitment meeting, four weeks out from the transfer window.
"It will be a little bit on where we're at and whether we can be seen as being in touch or not," he said, while noting January can be a "challenging" time to do business even when things are going well.
On a special BBC Radio WM programme last month examining the causes and potential cures of Wolves' predicament, the Express & Star's writer Liam Keen reported that Guo Guangchang, chairman of the owners Fosun, "does still have a fascination with Wolves" despite fears from many fans that Fosun have lost interest.
He must have: the chairman came to the last home game. That's a long way to travel to inspect a club that, for all the worldwide attention of the Premier League, represents only a tiny fraction of the value of Fosun's overall business.
In recent seasons, when Wolves' top-flight status has been imperilled, the Executive Chairman Jeff Shi – presumably with the agreement of the parent company – has permitted mid-season spending to repair the damage.
The Fosun boss might have left mulling over an even bigger decision, which few clubs ever have the misery of being so far behind to contemplate.
If Wolves are still miles adrift on New Year's Eve, would it be more sensible – if humiliating – to refuse to throw good money after bad in a futile attempt to catch up, accept their fate and limit the financial hole that will have to be made good when the Premier League money stops?
On the other hand, pragmatic or not, what message would that send their already exasperated fans who have already paid to watch the rest of the season?
'We'll take anything we can' - Edwardspublished at 11:44 GMT 3 December 2025
11:44 GMT 3 December 2025
Nick Mashiter Football reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
Rob Edwards
At Christmas, Rob Edwards is hoping Morgan Gibbs-White will be Wolves' pantomime villain.
England international Gibbs-White returns to Molineux with Nottingham Forest on Wednesday.
Gibbs-White has received abuse from Wolves fans since his 2022 move to the City Ground but responded to score in Forest's 3-0 win at Molineux last season.
Edwards is looking for any edge and, if Wolves fans turn on Gibbs-White again, Edwards hopes it would galvanise Molineux as they look for a first Premier League win of the season.
"I get it. We'll take it, we'll take anything we can," he smiled, having given Gibbs-White his Under-18s debut at Wolves while a youth coach.
"But we need to do our job. If we do our job well, then the crowd will be with us and that's the bit we can try and concentrate on.
"If we we can build on what we saw on Sunday then I'm pretty sure the crowd will be with us."
Wolves are nine points from the safety line as they search for their first top flight win since April.
Edwards has overseen improved performances in his two games, despite defeats to Crystal Palace and Aston Villa, but they remain winless in their 13 top flight games.
"We owe it to ourselves and to everyone connected to the football club to leave it all out there and give everything every day, no matter what situation we're in," he said.
"That is always my message from minute one to 98 or whatever it is. We leave it all out there whether we're 2-0 up or 2-0 down. We have to keep fighting right until the end. We've shown that so far in the two games and we've just got to continue to do that.
Wolves v Nottingham Forest: Key stats and talking pointspublished at 10:28 GMT 3 December 2025
10:28 GMT 3 December 2025
Henry Cowling BBC Sport journalist
Wolves will continue their search for a first league win of the season when they host Nottingham Forest in a fixture they lost 3-0 last season.
Wolves fell to a sixth straight Premier League defeat away at Aston Villa on Sunday and are now winless in 17 top-flight matches, while Forest's run of five games unbeaten in all competitions came to an end with a 2-0 home defeat by Brighton.
Bad omens
The unwanted records keep piling up for Wolves, and a tally of two points from their 13 games means they have the second-fewest number of points at this stage of the season in Premier League history.
To further contextualise their struggles, the 2007-08 Derby County side who finished on a record-low 11 points had six at this stage of the season - four more than Wolves.
New boss Rob Edwards felt his side's encouraging performance against Villa on Sunday "was a step in the right direction". Nonetheless, they are nine points from safety and eight adrift of 19th-placed Burnley at the start of the midweek round of fixtures - it is the biggest gap at the bottom in the top flight since three points for a win was introduced in 1981.
Hutchinson's time?
Forest boast a wealth of options in wide areas after compensating for the exit of Anthony Elanga to Newcastle by signing Dan Ndoye from Bologna, Dilane Bakwa from Strasbourg and Omari Hutchinson from Ipswich, the latter for a club-record fee.
Hutchinson was omitted from Forest's Europa League squad and he is yet to make a Premier League start for the club.
However, that is surely likely to change soon after a string of positive performances from the bench. Hutchinson caught the eye in Forest's first league win under Sean Dyche when they beat Leeds 3-1 at the City Ground in November, assisting Morgan Gibbs-White for the second goal and winning the penalty from which Elliot Anderson converted the third.
Despite that performance, Dyche opted to stick with the industrious Nicolas Dominguez on the left-hand side at Anfield against Liverpool. That decision is difficult to question, given his side's 3-0 dismantling of the champions, but Hutchinson again staked his claim for more minutes with a positive showing - topped off with his involvement in the third goal when Alisson parried his effort to Gibbs-White who scored.
Perhaps Sunday's 2-0 defeat by Brighton is the watershed moment in Hutchinson starting games for Forest, with the side much improved when both he and Callum Hudson-Odoi were introduced for Ndoye and Dominguez at half-time.
In the wake of that performance, Dyche said of selection: "It's close calls now. We want that, a group that's producing, there's a really good competitive element in the squad. Everyone is competing for a shirt."
Sutton's predictions: Wolves v Nottingham Forestpublished at 08:06 GMT 3 December 2025
08:06 GMT 3 December 2025
Wolves actually played all right against Aston Villa on Sunday but they still lost again.
There are six months of the season left to play but, let's face it, they've had it.
They still only have two points from their first 13 games, and there is no way Rob Edwards can rescue them from here.
They could bring in Pep Guardiola, Sir Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourinho - three of the great Premier League managers - and they still wouldn't keep them up.
Wolves do have something to play for, though. I didn't think any team could be as bad as Robbie Savage's Derby County side that went down with a record Premier League low of 11 points in 2007-08, so beating that total is maybe their only aim now.
Nottingham Forest's defeat by Brighton on Sunday was a bit of a sickener for Sean Dyche, because he had made such a good start there.
His team should be too streetwise for Wolves, though.
Image source, Getty Images
