Football: Sunderland continue on the big-game trail: Villa's Roker task

SUNDERLAND'S reward for their marvellous Coca-Cola Cup victory over Leeds United is a home tie against another Premiership club, Aston Villa, on the 25 October.

Sunderland, who completed a second-round double over Leeds United on Wednesday night, winning 4-2 on aggregate, will be hoping to repeat their FA Cup run of 1992 when they reached the final.

'I am very pleased to have a home draw against a big club like Aston Villa,' Terry Butcher, the Sunderland manager, said. 'It is a great draw for us and brings back memories of the glory nights of 1992. I am pleased for our supporters who travelled to Leeds in appalling conditions.'

Arsenal, the holders, were drawn at home to Norwich City, their Highbury bogey team, in one of five ties involving Premiership teams. Arsenal, jeered off the pitch after being held to a 1-1 draw by Huddersfield on Tuesday night, lost 4-2 to Mike Walker's team at Highbury on the opening day of last season.

Liverpool, who won the competition four times in the 1980's, meet Ipswich Town at Anfield while Oldham Athletic, finalists three years ago, are at home Coventry City. The other two Premiership ties involve Kevin Keegan's Newcastle United, who make the awkward trip to Wimbledon, and Manchester City, who entertain Chelsea at Maine Road.

City's neighbours, Manchester United, the Premiership leaders who are battling for honours on four fronts, should add to inevitable fixture congestion by reaching the last 16 after being drawn at home to First Division Leicester City.

Shrewsbury, of the Third Division, who knocked out Premiership strugglers Southampton, earned a money-spinning tie at Blackburn.

COCA-COLA CUP Third-round draw: Manchester United v Leicester City; Manchester City v Chelsea; Sunderland v Aston Villa; Derby County v Tottenham Hotspur; Oldham Athletic v Coventry City; Blackburn Rovers v Shrewsbury Town; Liverpool v Ipswich Town; Everton v Crystal Palace; Middlesbrough v Sheffield Wednesday; Portsmouth v Swindon Town; Tranmere Rovers v Grimsby Town; Wimbledon v Newcastle United; Arsenal v Norwich City; QPR v Millwall; Blackpool v Peterborough United; Nottingham Forest v West Ham United (Matches to be played week commencing, 25 October).