It's not often that a team a league below another is favourite for a cup tie but that was the case today as Nottingham Forest welcomed an injury-hit West Ham United to the City Ground.
The hosts showed why they were fancied by annihilating their Premier League opposition by five goals to nil, with Jamie Paterson scoring a hat-trick.
Read how it all unfolded in our minute-by-minute updates below.
Morning all! There are six third round ties today and the first comes at the City Ground as Forest host the Hammers at midday.
Team news is just emerging in the East Midlands and West Ham manager Sam Allardyce has made a number of changes with his injury-ravaged squad...
WEST HAM XI: Adrian, Jarvis, Maiga, Morrison, Diarra, Downing, Potts, Whitehead, Lletget, Driver, Moncur
FOREST XI: Darlow, Jara, Lascelles, Hobbs, Lichaj, Moussi, Lansbury, Reid, Abdoun, Paterson, Halford
Blimey, Allardyce really has little of his first-choice XI to work with because of injuries and suspensions. Kevin Nolan is suspended for the next four matches while the likes of Jussi Jaaskelainen, Mark Noble, Andy Carroll, James Tomkins, Winston Reid and Ricardo Vaz Te all miss out.
Modibo Maiga is the only Hammer to keep his place in the starting XI from the New Year's Day defeat at Fulham.
Forest manager Billy Davies tinkers with his side much less as he makes just two changes to the side that drew at Reading on Wednesday. Guy Moussi and Djamel Abdoun come in for Nathaniel Chalobah and Jamie Mackie.
FOREST SUBS: Evtimov, Harding, Mackie, Majewski, Miller, Derbyshire, Cox
WEST HAM SUBS: Spiegel, Lee, Turgott, Fanimo, Maguire, Gordon, Burke
You look at the Forest bench and you see mainly attack-minded players like Mackie, Simon Cox and Matt Derbyshire while you look at the West Ham bench and realise just how thin Allardyce's squad must be at the moment as many of those names are youngsters who may just get a chance to impress today.
In fact, Allardyce hands full debuts to four of his youngsters today. George Moncur, Danny Whitehead, Callum Driver and Sebastian Lletget are the ones who make their bows and what an occasion. Forest will want to cause an upset and it is some game to make your debut.
For Forest, Greg Halford continues in his recent role in attack after scoring three goals in three games. Usually a right-back famed for his long throw, Halford's transition to a striker is a peculiar one but it's working well at the moment.
REFEREE WATCH! The man in charge today is Martin Atkinson and his presence might be a welcome sight for the Hammers. He has refereed one game involving them this season and it was their last victory over Fulham back in November.
Since that victory over Fulham, West Ham have lost five and drawn two of their seven Premier League games since. They are still in the League Cup though and face Manchester City in the first leg of their semi-final this week.
FORM: Here are the two sides' last six games in all competitions going into this match. West Ham sit in the relegation zone of the Premier League while Forest are in the Championship playoff places, meaning that just six places separate the two in the Football League.
FOREST: DWWDDW
WEST HAM: LDLLWD
"The younger professionals will be tested. They were all tested in the summer when we took them away [on pre-season] and we've got to make the squad up with at least seven or eight Under-21 players, who will get the opportunity to play against Nottingham Forest and show us what I can do. We'll ask them 'Are you good enough to play for West Ham?'," said Allardyce ahed of this game. Will his youngsters step up?
Last time these two sides met in the FA Cup was in the fourth round in 2011. That day West Ham won 3-2 at Upton Park. They were also both in the Championship in 2011-12, when West Ham also won both league games.
PREDICTION TIME! Just 10 minutes separates us from the first whistle and kickoff at the City Ground. Despite the West Ham players' lack of experience, I fancy the Hammers to earn a draw and a replay against Forest. 1-1.
Allardyce has just told ITV Sport that the FA Cup is currently third priority behind the Premier League and League Cup.
Here come the two sides out of the tunnel. West Ham are in their away kit of white tops and light blue shorts. Forest in red and white.
KICKOFF! Off we go at the City Ground.
Very little to speak of in the opening few moments. The atmosphere is a little flat, perhaps it's too early for the fans on Sunday! The football on the pitch is doing little to help.
The ball almost breaks for Paterson on the left of the area but debutant Driver recovers after his initial mistake broke Paterson's way.
Stewart Downing is the stand-in captain for West Ham today and he's just sent over a good cross but is was cleared by Forest.
PENALTY TO FOREST!
GOAL! FOREST 1-0 WEST HAM (ABDOUN, PEN.)
It's a first goal in England for the winger as he cheekily dinks his penalty straight down the middle. Atkinson pointed to the spot after Moncur clearly tripped Paterson, whose clever turn foxed the debutant.
Forest on the attack again as Abdoun lays it off for Reid but he slices his shot well wide from 20 yards.
Forest look to be happier on the counter. They're happy to let West Ham have the ball in the middle third of the pitch but then look to streak away when they win it back.
Morrison is the West Ham player who looks most like creating something. He's just been brought down by Lansbury on the edge of the area. Great position for the Hammers to perhaps equalise...
SAVE! Morrison dusts himself down and takes the free kick, curling it over the wall but it's a bit too central and Darlow is able to acrobatically tip it over the bar.
Jara just overhits a through-ball to Lansbury, who had found a tunnel of space between the two West Ham centre-backs.
*Note, Andrea Pirlo is not the only person to have taken a panenka penalty. Good picture though.
Forest scream for a penalty after Paterson's shot deflected the way of Halford and Driver slid in on the Forest striker. Atkinson wasn't interested and replays show that it was a great tackle by the young Hammer.
SHOT! Forest centre-back Lascelles lets fly from 30 yards and it's a good hit that has Adrian worried but the Spanish stopper makes the save.
CHANCE! By far the best chance for West Ham as Moncur cuts inside from the right and cleverly reverses into Maiga. It looks like the West Ham striker has a clear shot at goal until Lichaj slides in to put him off. Great defending but Maiga dilly-dallied for too long.
CLOSE! Patient buildup from Forest almost pays off as Abdoun's excellent cross from the left is met by Halford but he plants his header too close to Adrian who holds well.
CHANCE! How are Forest not more than one up? Reid plays in Lichaj and he just has Adrian to beat but strikes it straight at the West Ham keeper. The ball breaks to Lansbury who curls for the top corner but puts too much on it.
Downing is found on the left by Maiga and has his first shot of the game but it's blocked by Jara.
BOOKING! The first man to be cautioned is Lletget for blatantly hauling over Abdoun, who stole the ball from him and was looking to break away.
HALF TIME: FOREST 1-0 WEST HAM
Allardyce suggested before the match that today's game didn't really matter. His team is certainly playing like that's the case.
If you're just joining us and want a quick update on the opening 45, read our half-time report here.
Forest have had 61% possession and seven shots to West Ham's five. They should have scored at least two while West Ham might have grabbed one had they been a tad more clinical, with Maiga especially culpable for taking too long when presented with a chance.
West Ham are out nice and early for the start of the second half. No changes as yet from either manager.
KICKOFF! Forest get the second half underway. They will want to make their dominance pay and grab a second goal as soon as possible.
Forest goalscorer Abdoun looks to grab his second by cutting inside and shooting but it's a weak effort that Adrian stops easily.
Abdoun now carelessly gives the ball away to Downing who has acres of space to drive into. Lascelles is the defender who comes across to meet him and does well to stand up and block his shot.
WEST HAM SUBS: Allardyce brings on two more relatively unheard of players in Matthias Fanimo and Reece Burke for Moncur and Diarra. It's a debut for Burke.
FOREST SUB: Forest make a straight swap at left-back as Dan Harding replaces Lichaj.
CHANCES! West Ham pile on the pressure out of nowhere and they're almost level. First Lletget's deflected shot was saved by Darlow before Maiga and Potts failed to make contact with crosses in the middle.
Lansbury blushes are spared by the offside flag after he headed over unchallenged at the back post from Reid's free kick.
SHOT! Lansbury blasts a shot just past the upright after breaking forward from midfield.
GOAL! FOREST 2-0 WEST HAM (PATERSON)
Forest get the second goal they deserve as Paterson finds the bottom corner after Halford had won the ball against Burke. Surely that's game over as West Ham have shown little fight today.
WEST HAM SUB: Moments before the goal, Allardyce made his final substitution by taking off Downing for Blair Turgott.
CHANCE! Paterson's goal was his first for Forest and he almost has a second as he slices his shot wide after being picked out by Abdoun.
Jarvis is now captain for West Ham and he almost halves the deficit but his shot is blocked by Burke.
Today's attendance at the City Ground is pretty low at 14,397. Fair play to West Ham fans as 2,977 travelled North but they must wish they didn't.
GOAL! FOREST 3-0 WEST HAM (PATERSON)
Paterson does double his tally as his prodded shot from the penalty spot takes a deflection to beat Adrian. Awful defending from West Ham, who just aren't trying at all.
SAVE! Turgott almost scores a spectacular goal for West Ham as his 25-yard swerving drive is tipped wide by Darlow. Great stop.
FOREST SUB: Halford is taken off after working hard all game, with Simon Cox on in his place.
Here's a great photo from the first half of Abdoun's 'panenka' penalty:
CHANCE! Almost four for Forest as Cox meets Abdoun's cross but heads straight at Adrian.
GOAL! FOREST 4-0 WEST HAM (PATERSON, HAT-TRICK)
A lovely way to complete his treble as Paterson drives inside after a pass from Reid and feints to shoot twice to open up space before actually taking aim and finding the bottom corner.
Not a happy West Ham dugout this afternoon:
CHANCE! Close to five for Forest as Reid dinks to the back post where Cox can't jump high enough to head under the crossbar.
FOREST SUB: Paterson is rightly given a standing ovation by the Forest fans as he is taken off a few minutes early with Matt Derbyshire coming on.
Paterson, Abdoun and Lansbury celebrate Forest's second goal:
BOOKING! Derbyshire picks up a stupid yellow card for pulling at West Ham goalkeeper Adrian.
Three minutes more for of pain for West Ham to endure.
GOAL! FOREST 5-0 WEST HAM (REID)
Forest have five as Abdoun is played through on goal but decides not to shoot, instead laying it back for Reid who strokes the ball into the roof of the net.
CHANCE! Almost six for the hosts as Abdoun cuts back for Cox but his shot is blocked. That should be that.
FULL TIME: FOREST 5-0 WEST HAM
A simply dreadful performance from West Ham. Yes, Allardyce put out a hugely inexperienced side but still it looked like they couldn't be bothered. Forest were up for it and tore them apart with ease.
Forest will go into the hat for the fourth-round draw which takes place very soon. Keep an eye out on Sports Mole to see who your team gets. I now recommend that you follow this link for our live text coverage of the match at the iPro Stadium between Derby County and Chelsea.
