Chelsea learn FA Cup 4th round fate, set to make history after Northampton Town and MK Dons replay

In last week's draw, we learned that Chelsea will be hitting the road for the FA Cup 4th round after an easy 3rd round tie against Scunthorpe United at Stamford Bridge.

Northampton Town, who sit just below the top of League Two, and MK Dons, who sit just above the relegation zone in the Championship, had played out a 2-2 draw in the 3rd round and thus had to contest a replay for the opportunity to host Chelsea in the 4th round.  That replay was held today, with MK Dons running out 3-0 winners against the less fancied visitors.

The Dons are through to the fourth round of the @EmiratesFACup where they will face Premier League champions @ChelseaFC at stadiummk.

— MK Dons FC (@MKDonsFC) January 19, 2016

So it will be MK Dons vs. Chelsea on January 31st in the FA Cup 4th round.  Given the Dons' short history -- they, unlike the tired jokes about Chelsea's history, have in fact only existed since 2004 -- it's not surprising that this will be the first competitive match ever* between the two sides.  Chelsea had faced Wimbledon many times of course, but that history was returned to their rightful owners in 2006.

* Chelsea have faced Northampton Town three times; twice in 1965-66 (on consecutive days!) during the Cobblers' one and only season in the top flight and once the season before in the FA Cup.  Chelsea won all three games.

The Dons are struggling in a bit in their first season in the Championship, after achieving promotion last season in no small part thanks to their collection of young and exciting and mostly on-loan talent like Dele Alli, Lewis Baker, Benik Afobe, and Samir Carruthers, only one of whom (Carruthers) remains at the club.  But you always have to be on the lookout for The Magic of the FA Cup™, so we'll have to take this one seriously.