Never-say-die York City have been granted the plum of a clash against Premiership surprise package Leicester City after their stirring FA Cup comeback against Reading.

City's reward for their stirring rally to force a 2-2 draw with the Royals - and a replay a week tomorrow - is a lucrative third round trek to the Filbert Street lair of the Foxes.

That will pit York boss Terry Dolan in a battle of wits against Leicester manager Peter Taylor, presently in charge of the full England team.

It will also mean a reunion with one-time York hot-shot Richard Cresswell, who joined Leicester in an £800,000 deal from Sheffield Wednesday just six weeks ago, while York schemer Steve Agnew spent three seasons at Filbert Street in the mid-90s when he figured in 76 League games for the Midlands club.

Enthused Dolan of the third round draw: "Leicester are riding high and so the chance just to play against a Premiership club is a great incentive. I am sure Reading will be thinking the same thing.

"However, while Reading are a formidable team at home we pushed them all the way on Saturday and there's no reason why we can't do it again."

Of the prospect of trying to outfox Taylor, Dolan conceded his Leicester counterpart was one of the sharpest talents around.

"I don't know him personally, but it's good to see young managers like him being given an opportunity. Previously he wasn't high-profile, but he certainly is now with the England set-up, and his record with the Under-21s was very impressive."

Taylor, who guided Gillingham to the First Division before taking over from Martin O'Neill at Leicester in summer, is currently coaching England in the interim before Lazio coach Sven-Goran Eriksson takes command of the national job.

His reign as England Under-21 manager was drenched in success and it was during that spell that he gave Cresswell his first international cap while the young striker was starring in the York front-line.

The Minstermen have never played against the Foxes either in the FA Cup or in League action.

However, the two sides have clashed twice before in the League Cup.

In 1961 York beat Leicester 2-1 at Bootham Crescent in a second round match, Peter Wragg and John Stainsby on target.

Then in City's more recent Coca-Cola Cup exertions they lost 2-0 at home to Leicester four years ago in a third round match after earlier despatching Everton.

City manager Dolan meanwhile hailed his side's stickability after the Minstermen fought back from two goals down.

"We have shown a lot of character and determination," he said.

FA Cup third round draw

Newcastle United v Aston Villa, Blackburn Rovers v Chester City, Morecambe v Ipswich Tow, Leeds Utd v Barnsley, Derby County v West Brom, Watford v Everton, Carlisle Utd v Arsenal, Walsall v West Ham Utd, Swindon Town v Coventry City, Bolton v Yeovil Town, Southend Utd v Kingstonian, Huddersfield Town v Bristol City, Leicester City v YORK CITY or Reading, Charlton Athletic v Dagenham & Redbridge, Bournemouth v Gillingham, Chelsea v Peterborough or Oldham, Wimbledon v Wigan Athletic or Notts County, Northwich or Leyton Orient v Tottenham Hotspur, Burnley v Scunthorpe Utd, Preston North End v Stockport County, Manchester City v Birmingham City, Portsmouth v Tranmere Rovers, Bradford City v Middlesbrough, Sunderland v Crystal Palace, Cardiff City v Crewe Alexandra, Southampton v Sheffield Utd, Fulham v Manchester Utd, Liverpool v Rotherham Utd, Millwall or Wycombe v Grimsby Town, Nottm Forest v Wolverhampton Wanderers, Darlington or Luton Town v Queens Park Rangers, Sheffield Wednesday v Norwich City

Matches to be played on the weekend of January 6 and 7.

dave.stanford@ycp.co.uk