ITV and football. Does anybody think the two are compatible? With each passing season, their cringeworthy attempts to give the game a wider audience only succeed in encouraging more and more fans to look for alternatives in their droves. The FA Cup third round draw is usually a highlight of the season for hundreds of thousands of us, but the embarrassing and stomach churning choices of "celebrities" to carry out the draw are turning the event into a complete nonsense. I'm not interested in the guy from Kasabian's one-word answers as to why he supports Leicester. Nor do I wish to hear his fawning over Noel Gallagher, or Jim Rosenthal's "embarrassing dad attempts to appear cool" act. I just want to know who my team are going to draw. I suppose it was at least a slight improvement on the second round draw, though, when complete non-entities Dan Lobb and Kate Garraway from ITV's disastrous ratings flop "Daybreak" were the choices with absolutely no relation to the game foisted upon us to carry out the draw. As my team never wins a Cup tie, I probably won't be watching the fourth round draw, but no doubt whoever wins X Factor will be heavily involved, alongside Ann Widdecombe drawing the away teams.

Before the third round of the FA Cup is upon us, we have a few more matches to go in an increasingly competitive Premier League, so here's a look at the coming weekend's games:

1) Arsenal v Fulham: 24 matches over 106 years. That's how long Fulham have been trying to win at Arsenal, and the current side, who have been seriously struggling for goals since the broken leg suffered by Bobby Zamora, will undoubtedly add to that sorry record on Saturday. 

2) Birmingham v Tottenham: Just twelve goals have been scored in Birmingham's seven home games so far, but with the attacking flair on offer from Saturday's visitors, that total may well get a significant boost during this match. Tottenham have again proved rather erratic away from home this season, but their current run of four consecutive victories in League and Cup has seen them score twelve goals, so I feel it may be asking too much of Birmingham's usually solid defence to hold firm here. This has been quite a difficult fixture to predict over recent seasons with a win apiece and a draw in the last three renewals, but I think that Tottenham will still be feeling the benefit in terms of confidence from their win at Arsenal, and may just prevail here in a more entertaining match than the St.Andrew's regulars are used to experiencing.

3) Blackburn v Wolves: Wolves gave themselves a little hope with their hard-earned win over Sunderland, but it is their away form that has been most hopeless so far, with just one point gained and five goals scored from six matches. I am happy to totally ignore Blackburn's mauling at Old Trafford last weekend, and instead concentrate on their recent record in this fixture, which they have won on the last three occasions it has taken place, the last two of them by very convincing scorelines. Only Chelsea and Arsenal have prevailed as an away side at Ewood Park this season, and another nail in Wolves' coffin awaits.

4) Chelsea v Everton: I was amazed by the level of vitriol being spouted towards David Moyes by some Everton fans following their side's poor display against West Brom, as I remain an admirer of a manager who can consistently keep his side competitive in the top half of the table despite having little money available to him. Everton's form over the last few years has been far better than their fans have a right to expect in the circumstances, and now is not the time to start getting at a manager who would no doubt be snapped up instantly by a club with greater resources if he were to be dismissed. As for this game, Everton are a rare breed in that they appear to have discovered the secret of avoiding defeat regularly at Stamford Bridge, having drawn on their last four League visits, but it is rumoured that John Terry may return for this match, which would be a huge relief to Carlo Ancelotti, who has seen his side concede some uncharacteristically sloppy goals recently, none more so than Newcastle's comedic opener last Sunday. So, it is worth waiting until the line-ups are announced before placing your bets, but it is not out of the question for Everton to stretch their unbeaten run at Chelsea to five.

5) Man.City v Bolton: Like the Blackburn/Wolves fixture, this has also gone the way of the home side in the last three renewals, but the current Bolton side look to be far more capable than the ones who featured in those previous matches, and City still seem unable to string a succession of victories together. Bolton have lost just once away, and have scored fifteen goals in their last five matches, while City have won fewer than half of their home matches so far, and only Wigan have scored fewer goals at home, so this represents far from the banker home win that many might expect. I expect goals and a close scoreline, but I certainly wouldn't be confident of City extending their run of home wins over Bolton.

6) Wigan v Stoke: Wigan's goalscoring problems seem to be hampering them more with each passing game, and they have to date recorded just eleven goals in fifteen games so far. They will, however, be able to call on one of their more influential players, Hugo Rodallega, after suspension, and that fact alone gives me some confidence that they may be able to take a point here. Stoke are unbeaten in four in the League, and in their last three visits to the DW, so all the evidence points to a scrappy draw that may still leave Wigan floundering in the bottom three.

7) Blackpool v Man.United: I'm sure this would have been the first fixture most Blackpool fans would have looked out for once they had secured promotion, and if I tell you that Lou Macari scored the opener the last time this fixture was played, it will give you some idea of just how rare a treat it is for Tangerines' fans. The only worrying aspect for United is that they have drawn six of their seven away matches so far, but they should still have too much ability for a Blackpool side who will certainly not just sit back and try to contain their visitors. 

8) West Brom v Newcastle: The other two newly-promoted sides meet on Sunday, and given how closely the teams' fortunes have followed each other recently, I was quite surprised to discover that the Baggies haven't won this fixture in the League since 1984. They did manage to convincingly halt a recent slide that would have been most concerning for Roberto di Matteo with a fine win at Everton last weekend, while Newcastle were grateful to Chelsea for an inexplicable defensive lapse for their draw on Sunday that keeps them level with West Brom on 19 points. Joey Barton will return for this one, but I am rather more concerned at the way his teammates crumbled at Bolton on their last awayday, so while it may be taking a chance on last weekend's result being more than a flash in the pan, I think West Brom may be able to confirm their recovery with a narrow win here.

9) Sunderland v West Ham: Wins for West Ham and Wolves last weekend increased the pressure on those above them, and if Sunderland continue to allow the seemingly more straightforward fixtures to slip from their grasp, it may not be long before they are dragged down into the relegation scrap as well. The visitors won this fixture in the League Cup back in September, and while I am usually reluctant to take Cup form into account when analysing League matches, it is also a fact that West Ham lost just one of their five visits to the SOL prior to that Cup tie, so it is a ground that has proved quite fruitful for them recently. The win over Wigan will surely have given the whole club a much needed boost of confidence, and I think they may be able to defy their hosts here and take a point back home with them.

10) Liverpool v Aston Villa: I'm sure Gerard Houllier will get a rousing reception on his return to Anfield, but his young side are still showing far too much inconsistency to reinstate themselves in the top ten. Despite their own patchy form, Liverpool have won their last four at home in League and Cup, and with Villa having managed to find the net just five times in seven away matches so far, five of which they have lost, I would favour the hosts to extend their fine home form with a narrow win here.

Despite having noted the success we have had with trebles so far this season, I can't narrow down my selections to fewer than four this week. However, I am sure the weather will play its part in whittling away the number of selections for me, particularly as two of them are due to take place in Scotland, but in any case, the four teams in question are Arsenal, Cardiff, Dunfermline and Brechin. A successful £10 accumulator would return £48.15 with bet365.com.

Good luck!