Football: Midday kick-off ordered for Chelsea v United Cup tie

Chelsea's FA Cup third round tie against Manchester United will start at noon at Stamford Bridge following Sky TV's confirmation yesterday that they will show the match live on Sunday, 4 January.

The Football Association have been in discussion with the police since the draw was made last Sunday, and it has been decided to start the tie between the Cup holders and the Premiership champions at midday.

Police were anxious to make sure the game, between rivals who are currently the top two in the League, would start and finish in daylight to assist what is sure to be a testing security and crowd-control operation.

The noon start at Chelsea will also avoid a direct clash for armchair fans with the Everton-Newcastle United tie which has been chosen by ITV as their live presentation on the same day, with a 2pm kick-off time.

With all but one of London's 10 teams in the Cup drawn at home - the only exception being Second Division Fulham, who visit Spurs - the resources of the Metropolitan Police and their specialist football control unit face being severely stretched on third-round Saturday.

But Wimbledon's match with Wrexham has already been put back to the Sunday, allowing the Dons' Selhurst Park landlords, Crystal Palace, to go ahead with their game against either Scunthorpe or non-League Ilkeston 24 hours earlier.

And Tottenham will now meet Fulham at White Hart Lane on Monday 5 January, a match also to be screened live by Sky TV.