Many Leeds United fans have been left “fuming” on social media, after the club announced that BBC Sport have chosen our FA Cup Third Round trip to Arsenal for broadcast on a Monday night.
The Third Round tie will take place on Monday, January 6 and will have a 19:56 kick-off, while being played in-between Championship fixtures away to promotion rivals West Bromwich Albion and Garry Monk’s Sheffield Wednesday.
It will also be our first encounter with Arsenal since losing at the Emirates Stadium through a Thierry Henry goal in the FA Cup back in 2012, and at a ground where we are yet to win in any competition.
Our trip to North London is one of six FA Cup games selected for live TV broadcast, with West Ham United’s journey to Gillingham set to be shown on BT Sport on Sunday, January 5.
Tottenham Hotspur’s clash with Middlesbrough is also set to be played on the Sunday, while Saturday will see Rochdale or Boston United vs Newcastle and Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Manchester United played out in front of BT Sport’s cameras.
BBC, meanwhile, will be covering Liverpool vs Everton at 16:01 on Sunday, January 5 along with our encounter with Arsenal in North London.
Can we cause an upset in the FA Cup?
Yes, Arsenal are there for the taking
We might be able to force a replay
No, the Gunners will be too strong
All FA Cup Third Round ties will be kicking off one minute late, with fans urged to use the delay to think about their mental health as part of the Heads Up campaign.
Here are some of the messages shared as fans reacted to news of our confirmed kick-off time…
What a joke, would of been a great day our Saturday or Sunday
— JR (@JDog95x) December 5, 2019
This is everything that’s wrong with football in this country, all about the armchair audience and no care whatsoever for the REAL fans without whom the game wouldn’t exist! Absolutely disgraceful!😡🤬
— Phil B 🇮🇨+🏴🦁🦁🦁🇬🇧 (@LUSCarborough) December 5, 2019
Fuming, can’t go now it’s on a Monday. Leave games on a weekend!
— Darren (@Watersgate) December 5, 2019
What about playing local games on a Monday night ? No thought about traveling fans #lufc
— Danny Ireland (@DannyIreland7) December 5, 2019
Nothing says the magic of the FA cup like the first Monday night of 2020 doing a 400 mile round trip 🙄
— Wayne (@wayneleedsfan) December 5, 2019
Thanks @BBCSport. Home at 2:30 on a week night, having to pull my son out of school so we can travel 400 miles whilst you put Liverpool and Everton on a Sunday afternoon so the can walk over the road at a leisurely pace! #lufc #facup
— JamieUK (@JamieLee76) December 5, 2019
Typical, that rules out taking the kids, my lad was desperate to go as well… a bit of thought from @BBCSport wouldn’t go amiss!
— Bob Rover (@BobRover_LUFC) December 5, 2019
That’s no good to me and kids. Was looking forward to taking them down there but not on a Monday night! Shame, going to have to be armchair fan and watch on BBC then 😔
— PαυʅBҽιʅႦყ 💙💛 (@PaulBeilby) December 5, 2019
In other Leeds United news, the club are plotting a January swoop for a 5 ft 9 forward winning 33.3% of his ground duels this term.