- Below-par Man Utd beat Reading, West Ham ease past Birmingham
- Chelsea see off Forest, Gillingham shock Cardiff and Southampton held by Derby
- Youthful Arsenal make light work of Blackpool
- Jason Burt: Why the magic of the FA Cup should be more contagious this year
A marathon day of FA Cup action eventually claimed the scalps of two Premier League sides who may quietly consider their relegation battles their main priority this season.
Cardiff City were stunned by League One strugglers Gillingham at Priestfield, before Huddersfield Town were dumped out by Bristol City at Ashton Gate. Elsewhere, top-flight teams were largely untroubled, although some made harder work of round three than might have been expected.
Manchester United gave Ole Gunnar Solskjaer his fifth win in a row against Reading, while West Ham saw off Birmingham City thanks to goals from Marko Arnautovic and Andy Carroll.
Two goals from Alvaro Morata were enough for Chelsea to east past Nottingham Forest at Stamford Bridge, Everton were given a game by Lincoln before squeezing through 2-1, but Southampton threw away a two-goal lead at Derby and face a replay at St Mary's.
Arsenal made very light work of Blackpool, many of whose supporters boycotted the game in protest at owner Owen Oyston, while Crystal Palace needed 86 minutes to undo the ten men of Grimsby at Selhurst Park. Up at St James' Park, an 84th-minute penalty from Matt Ritchie earned a second bite at the cherry against Blackburn Rovers.
GOAL! Norwich 0 Portsmouth 1 (Green 90+4)
Late drama at Carrow Road! Portsmouth have won it in injury time!
GOAL! Norwich 0 #Pompey 1 (Green 90+4) pic.twitter.com/8FnzTW1NaA
— Portsmouth FC (@officialpompey) January 5, 2019
GOAL! Newcastle 1 (Ritchie pen, 84 min) Blackburn 1
Ayoze Perez is fouled, Matt Ritchie sends the keeper the wrong way, and Newcastle may have salvaged a replay!
84' - GOOOOOAAAAAAAAALLLLLL! Matt Ritchie draws United level from the spot! 1-1. #NUFC pic.twitter.com/f4Kgkx0Z0L
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) January 5, 2019
GOAL! Crystal Palace 1 (Ayew, 86 min) Grimsby 0
Oh no, for ten-man Grimsby! They've negotiated 84 minutes of this tie with that disadvantage, and now Palace finally lead:
JORDAN AYEW MAKES THE BREAKTHROUGH!
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) January 5, 2019
[1-0] #CPFC 🦅 pic.twitter.com/VPH5QzrLNA
GOAL! Blackpool 0 Arsenal 3 (Iwobi, 82 min)
Beyond safe for the Gunners now, and Rob Bagchi has all the details.
GOAL! Bristol City 1 (Brownhill, 72 min) Huddersfield 0
Goal at Ashton Gate! And another Premier League side are in danger...
YEEEEEEEEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!#BRCvHUD 🔴 1-0 🐶 pic.twitter.com/KZ9xYvVzpP
— Bristol City FC (@BristolCity) January 5, 2019
GOAL! Newcastle 0 Blackburn 1 (Dack, 57 min)
A shock on the cards at St James' Park? Bradley Dack has out Rovers in front!
56' - GOOOOAAAALLL!!!!
— Blackburn Rovers (@Rovers) January 5, 2019
It's that man again Bradley Dack! 0-1! pic.twitter.com/WvFz8eIoI3
GOAL! Blackpool 0 Arsenal 2 (Willock, 37 min)
Two for Arsenal, two for Joe Willock, one liveblog to read about it all on.
GOAL! Blackpool 0 Arsenal 1 (Willock, 11 min)
19-year-old Joe Willock has given the dominant Gunners the lead at a sparsely-attended Bloomfield Road - join Rob Bagchi for all the action.
Arsenal visit Blackpool...
...and my colleague Rob Bagchi will have all the action from that on his liveblog.
Final scores on the doors:
Accrington 1 Ipswich 0
Aston Villa 0 Swansea 3
Bolton 5 Walsall 2
Brentford 1 Oxford 0
Chelsea 2 Nottingham Forest 0
21 - Chelsea have progressed from the FA Cup third round in each of the last 21 seasons since losing to Manchester United in 1997-98. Routine. pic.twitter.com/2VKITQ26Rk
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 5, 2019
Derby County 2 Southampton 2
Everton 2 Lincoln 1
Fleetwood 2 AFC Wimbledon 3
Gillingham 1 Cardiff 0
Middlesbrough 5 Peterborough 0
GOAL! Fleetwood 2 AFC Wimbledon 3 (Appiah, 89 min)
And Kwesi Appiah has surely won it for the Dons!
He's done it! @kwes1appiah with a cracker to put #AFCW 3-2 up in the @EmiratesFACup! Get in there! @ahotherdesign pic.twitter.com/wtLv1gP49t
— AFC Wimbledon (@AFCWimbledon) January 5, 2019
GOAL! Bolton 5 (Magennis, 87 min) Walsall 2
Hat-trick!
GOAL!!! ⚽️ Wanderers 5-2 @WFCOfficial (Magennis 87)
— Bolton Wanderers FC (@OfficialBWFC) January 5, 2019
It's a hat-trick for the big man! Played through, his first shot came back off the post, but he buried the re-bound. Get in there!!!#BWFC 🐘🏰 pic.twitter.com/kLNNJS9IUF
GOAL! Middlesbrough 5 (Fletcher, 87 min) Peterborough 0
Big Ashley Fletcher has made it FIVE at the Riverside, to put his side firmly into round FOUR
BORO RUNNUNG RIOT!
— Middlesbrough FC (@Boro) January 5, 2019
🔴 5-0 🔵
➡️ https://t.co/xQWHxkIgGv ⬅️ #UTB pic.twitter.com/clUyWqFbJu
GOAL! Brentford 1 (Maupay pen, 80) Oxford 0
Breakthrough at Griffin Park! Neal Maupay converts from 12 yards...
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL @BrentfordFC 1 @nealmaupay18 @OUFCOfficial 0 #BREOXU pic.twitter.com/KirD2PUYU8
— Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC) January 5, 2019
GOAL! Gillingham 1 (List, 81 min) Cardiff 0
Shock at Priestfield! The Gills have a late lead against the Premier League club thanks to Elliott List!
81' 1-0 ELLIOTT LIST SCORES!!!! #Gills
— Gillingham FC (@TheGillsFC) January 5, 2019
GOAL! Bolton 4 (Magennis, 80 min) Walsall 2
Is that finally that up in Bolton? Josh Magennis makes it 4-2 with ten to go...
GOAL! ⚽️ Wanderers 4-2 @WFCOfficial (Magennis 80)
— Bolton Wanderers FC (@OfficialBWFC) January 5, 2019
The two-goal cushion has been restored! @craignoone has been outstanding on the left-hand side, and his cross is thumped into the back of the net by the head of Josh Magennis for his second of the afternoon!#BWFC 🐘🏰 pic.twitter.com/VhZLr2aDb3
GOAL! Aston Villa 0 Swansea 3 (Fulton, 78 min)
Villa Park presumably emptying now: Jay Fulton has made it three for Swansea...
78' | FULTON!!! It's three! 👏
— Swansea City AFC (@SwansOfficial) January 5, 2019
💻 Match Centre LIVE! 👉 https://t.co/7lHRzIqcfz #AVFC 0 - 3 #Swans | @EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/OD8UV7xfAw
GOAL! Accrington 1 (Kee, 76 min) Ipswich 0
It gets worse for Ipswich. Billy Kee has given Accrington a late lead!
76' pic.twitter.com/xxCjyrLFR0
— Accrington Stanley FC (@ASFCofficial) January 5, 2019
GOAL! Fleetwood 2 (Evans pen, 72 min) AFC Wimbledon 2
Ched Evans converts a penalty and it's even stevens at Highbury!
⚽ GOOOOOAALLLL!!!!
— Fleetwood Town FC (@ftfc) January 5, 2019
(2-2) #OnwardTogether pic.twitter.com/KltdsW7DIH
GOAL! Middlesbrough 4 (Assombalonga, 70 min) Peterborough 0
Britt Assombalonga once again bites the hand that used to feed him - it's a rout at the Riverside
IT'S FOUR!!!
— Middlesbrough FC (@Boro) January 5, 2019
🔴 4-0 🔵
➡️ https://t.co/xQWHxkIgGv ⬅️ #UTB pic.twitter.com/pq0IfFohx0
GOAL! Fleetwood 1 (Madden, 69 min) AFC Wimbledon 2
The tidily-named Paddy Madden has reduced the arrears for Fleetwood, with 20 minutes left:
⚽ GOOOOOAAALLLL!!
— Fleetwood Town FC (@ftfc) January 5, 2019
(1-2) #OnwardTogether pic.twitter.com/tCfasERSsJ
GOAL! Bolton 3 Walsall 2 (Dobson, 68 min)
George Dobson has given the Saddlers hope yet...
68' - Jarvis picks out Dobson on the edge of the box and his deflected effort wrong-foots Alnwick and bounces into the net!!
— Walsall FC Official (@WFCOfficial) January 5, 2019
3-2. #Saddlers 🔴⚪️
GOAL! Middlesbrough 3 (Wing, 63 min) Peterborough 0
Surely all over up on Teesside - Lewis Wing has scored a beauty to make it three:
Casual Wingy banger
— Middlesbrough FC (@Boro) January 5, 2019
🔴 3-0 🔵
➡️ https://t.co/xQWHxkIgGv ⬅️ #UTB pic.twitter.com/1C21kOSf2J
GOAL(S)! Bolton 3 (Guthrie, 63 min) Walsall 1
It's turned right round at Bolton! Moments after their equaliser, Josh Magennis put them into the lead and now Jon Guthrie has made it 3-1!
GOAL! ⚽️ Wanderers 3-1 @WFCOfficial (Donaldson 64)
— Bolton Wanderers FC (@OfficialBWFC) January 5, 2019
Another fabulous @craignoone cross causes problems and the ball goes into the net, either via @ClaytonThedon's touch or a touch from Jon Guthrie. Who cares? We've turned the game on its head!#BWFC 🐘🏰 pic.twitter.com/1PJIX0wBDv
GOAL! Derby 2 (Lawrence, 61 min) Southampton 2
All square at Pride Park! Tom Lawrence has dragged Derby level against the Saints!
61' | WHAT A GOALLLLLLLLL!!! 🤩
— Derby County (@dcfcofficial) January 5, 2019
[2-2] #DCFCvSFC pic.twitter.com/cbLpSWx1rq
GOAL! Bolton 1 (Donaldson, 58 min) Walsall 1
Bolton are level! Clayton Donaldson has the equaliser:
GOAL! ⚽️ Wanderers 1-1 @WFCOfficial (Donaldson 58)
— Bolton Wanderers FC (@OfficialBWFC) January 5, 2019
Wanderers are level! After Will Buckley was denied, from the resulting short corner, the ball came to @ClaytonThedon who fired into the roof of the net from close range. Get in!#BWFC 🐘🏰 pic.twitter.com/2eycxelGRe
GOAL! Chelsea 2 (Morata, 58 min) Nottingham Forest 0
Goodness me. Moments after missing an open goal from two yards - seriously - Morata gets his head on to a superb cross from the very impressive Hudson-Odoi to make it 2-0!
2-0! Morata again! 🔥#CHEFOR pic.twitter.com/n6gAZCDtWc
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) January 5, 2019
GOAL! Derby 1 (Marriott, 58 min) Southampton 2
Goal back for the Rams! Jack Marriott scores:
58' | YES! The Rams have got one back! 🙌
— Derby County (@dcfcofficial) January 5, 2019
[1-2] #DCFCvSFC pic.twitter.com/6t273xkjp2
GOAL! Fleetwood 0 AFC Wimbledon 2 (Hartigan, 55 min)
Anthony Hartigan has doubled the Dons lead against Fleetwood!
The Dons have doubled the advantage! A lovely finish by @anthartigan. Get in there! Fleetwood 0-2 Dons. #AFCW @ahotherdesign pic.twitter.com/88JNCnYCY6
— AFC Wimbledon (@AFCWimbledon) January 5, 2019
GOAL! Middlesbrough 2 (Friend, 50 min) Peterborough 0
Another for Boro! George Friend has doubled their lead at the Riverside:
ANOTHER ONE!!!
— Middlesbrough FC (@Boro) January 5, 2019
🔴 2-0 🔵
➡️ https://t.co/xQWHxkIgGv ⬅️ #UTB pic.twitter.com/wugK1LO3Ke
GOAL! Aston Villa 0 Swansea 2 (Dyer, 47 min)
Double trouble for Villa: Nathan Dyer has made it two for Swansea!
47' | GET IN!!! Nathan Dyer nets the #Swans' second. 💪
— Swansea City AFC (@SwansOfficial) January 5, 2019
💻 Match Centre LIVE! 👉 https://t.co/7lHRzIqcfz #AVFC 0 - 2 #Swans | @EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/Vg0FY6ejrX
GOAL! Chelsea 1 (Morata, 49 min) Nottingham Forest 0
Chelsea finally have the lead, four minutes into the second half, and it's Alvaro Morata whose afternoon has taken a turn for the better! He meets a Hudson-Odoi cross at the near post.
1-0 to the Blues!!! 🙌#CHEFOR pic.twitter.com/lbsrZQYDIH
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) January 5, 2019
GOAL! Derby 0 Southampton 2 (Redmond, 48 min)
Two for Southampton, two for Nathan Redmond, and what a goal this sounds:
GOAL: #DCFC 0-2 #SaintsFC (@NathanRedmond22 48)
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) January 5, 2019
Redmond cuts onto his right foot 25 yards out and picks out the far top corner with a stunning strike for his second of the game! 🙌
GOAL! Middlesbrough 1 (Assombalonga, 47 min) Peterborough 0
Breakthrough at the Riverside! And Britt Assombalonga has given the home side the edge in the clash of the Boros:
#BORO TAKE THE LEAD!!!
— Middlesbrough FC (@Boro) January 5, 2019
🔴 1-0 🔵
➡️ https://t.co/xQWHxkIgGv ⬅️ #UTB pic.twitter.com/1Bn5Ym3dna
GOAL! Everton 2 Lincoln 1 (Bostwick, 28 min)
Hope for the Imps! Michael Bostwick has halved the deficit before the half-hour mark!
BOZZZZZYYYYYY!
— Lincoln City FC (@LincolnCity_FC) January 5, 2019
(2-1) #EveImps pic.twitter.com/aiextm32qB
GOAL! Bolton 0 Walsall 1 (Cook, 19 min)
The Saddlers have the lead at the [checks Wikipedia] University of Bolton Stadium! Andy Cook breaks the deadlock:
19' - ANDY COOK DOES IT AGAIN!!!!!!!!!
— Walsall FC Official (@WFCOfficial) January 5, 2019
WHAT A MAN HE IS!!!!
0-1!!!! pic.twitter.com/bRJ4GE2aFw
GOAL! Fleetwood 0 AFC Wimbledon 1 (Barcham, 17 min)
The Dons are in front! Andy Barcham with the goal:
The Dons are in front in the @EmiratesFACup! A brilliant goal from Andy Barcham. #AFCW pic.twitter.com/JjfuiOJcbU
— AFC Wimbledon (@AFCWimbledon) January 5, 2019
GOAL! Everton 2 (Bernard, 14 min) Lincoln 0
Could be a long afternoon for the Cowley brothers: their side are now 2-0 down at Goodison, and the chances of a cupset there are fading by the minute:
IT'S TWO!! MAGIC FINISH FROM BERNARD! #EFCmatchday pic.twitter.com/3XWJAkl5ct
— Everton (@Everton) January 5, 2019
GOAL! Everton 1 (Lookman, 12 min) Lincoln 0
The Imps' resistance has lasted less than quarter of an hour at Goodison: Ademola Lookman has headed Everton into the lead!
GOAL!!! LOOKMAN WITH A HEADER!! #EFCmatchday pic.twitter.com/x5spQ9kWY6
— Everton (@Everton) January 5, 2019
GOAL! Derby County 0 Southampton 1 (Redmond, 4 min)
Great start for Ralph Hassenhuttl in his first taste of the FA Cup! Nathan Redmond has given the Saints the lead at Pride Park:
4: WHAT A START! #saintsfc [0-1] pic.twitter.com/iBOHJ3aO3a
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) January 5, 2019
GOAL! Aston Villa 0 Swansea 1 (Baker-Richardson, 2 min)
Early breakthrough at Villa Park, but not for the hosts! Courtney Baker-Richardson has put the Swans in front:
2' | WHAT A START! #Swans lead through @courts_B_R!
— Swansea City AFC (@SwansOfficial) January 5, 2019
💻 Match Centre LIVE! 👉 https://t.co/7lHRzIqcfz #AVFC 0 - 1 #Swans | @EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/LItFSVM3PO
Ominous at Stamford Bridge...
5 - Nottingham Forest have eliminated the FA Cup holders on five of the six previous occasions they’ve faced them, including Arsenal at this stage last season. Upset.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 5, 2019
GOAL! Burnley 1 (Wood pen, 90 min) Barnsley 0
Heartbreak for the Tykes! Vydra is fouled in the box, and this time the penalty stands! Big Chris Wood steps up, and...
— Burnley FC (@BurnleyOfficial) January 5, 2019
GOAL! West Ham 2 (Carroll, 90+1 min) Birmingham 0
That's wrapped it up at the London Stadium, and it's a first goal for West Ham since last April for Andy Carroll!
The Big Man!!! pic.twitter.com/x4cFN6g6tc
— West Ham United (@WestHamUtd) January 5, 2019
GOAL! Shrewsbury 1 Stoke 1 (Crouch, 78 min)
A tall story: Peter Crouch has brought Stoke level against the Shrews!
Outside of the boot or slice @petercrouch? 🤷♂️ pic.twitter.com/OK7qP8M4YY
— The Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) January 5, 2019
GOAL! Bournemouth 1 Brighton 3 (Andone, 64 min)
Aaaaaaaand Brighton take just nine minutes to restore their two-goal lead at the Vitality - Florin Andone gets the goal:
64: GOOOOOAAAALLLL! Get in there!
— Brighton & Hove Albion ⚽️ (@OfficialBHAFC) January 5, 2019
📻 Listen ➡️ https://t.co/befMZOMGS2
🍒 #AFCB 1-3 #BHAFC 🔵 pic.twitter.com/0YgNWT7Sf0
GOAL! Bournemouth 1 (Pugh, 55 min) Brighton 2
Cherries back in it? Marc Pugh has struck 10 minutes into the second half...
PUGHHHHHHHHHHHHH pic.twitter.com/4xQvsS2AXb
— AFC Bournemouth (@afcbournemouth) January 5, 2019
Half-time apologies to the technology
For clarification, we're not being critical of VAR with our half time post.
— Burnley FC (@BurnleyOfficial) January 5, 2019
It was meant as a light-hearted comment at a correct decision being made.
We are fully in support of its use. 👍
GOAL! Shrewsbury 1 (Norburn pen, 45+4) Stoke 0
One last goal squeezed in before the break there: Ollie Norburn's penalty has given League One Shrewsbury the lead over Stoke...
47' Goal, Shrewsbury. Norburn slams the penalty past Federici.
— Stoke City FC (@stokecity) January 5, 2019
(1-0) #SCFC 🔴⚪️
Half time scores...
Bournemouth 0 Brighton 2
Burnley 0 Barnsley 0
HALF TIME: Burnley 0 Barnsley 0 VAR 1
— Burnley FC (@BurnleyOfficial) January 5, 2019
Sheffield Wednesday 0 Luton Town 0
Shrewsbury Town 1 Stoke City 0
West Brom 1 Wigan 0
West Ham 1 Birmingham City 0
GOAL! Bournemouth 0 Brighton 2 (Bissouma, 34 min)
The Cherries in trouble now! Yves Bissouma has doubled the Seagulls' lead...
34: GOOOOAAAALLLL! A stunner!
— Brighton & Hove Albion ⚽️ (@OfficialBHAFC) January 5, 2019
📻 Listen ➡️ https://t.co/befMZOMGS2
🍒 #AFCB 0-2 #BHAFC 🔵 pic.twitter.com/3HQn3mlQdS
GOAL! West Brom 1 (Sako, 32 min) Wigan 0
Bakary Sako has opened the scoring at the Hawthorns against the 2013 FA Cup winners!
We lead!#EmiratesFACup | #WBA pic.twitter.com/2t9VRS6ChX
— West Bromwich Albion (@WBA) January 5, 2019
GOAL! Bournemouth 0 Brighton 1 (Knockaert, 31 min)
Brighton break the deadlock in the all-Premier-League tie! Anthony Knockaert has it.
Backheel assist ✅
— The Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) January 5, 2019
Sweet strike ✅
That satisfying sound of the ball hitting the net ✅ pic.twitter.com/L9yoFDdRNl
26 min - West Ham 1 Birmingham 0
Bad news for the goalscorer at the London Stadium:
Having scored his third goal in two games Arnautovic is taken off in the 20th minute with another injury. Could be a doubt for Arsenal next Saturday. Carroll his replacement here.
— Charlie Eccleshare (@CDEccleshare) January 5, 2019
25 min - Burnley 0 Barnsley 0
VAR strikes at Turf Moor! Matej Vydra was literally beginning his penalty run-up for Burnley...as the decision was overturned for offside:
VAR has checked the penalty appeal and found that Vydra was offside when he received Defour's pass. No penalty. 0-0
— Burnley FC (@BurnleyOfficial) January 5, 2019
GOAL! Manchester United 1 (Mata pen, 22 min) Reading 0
Juan Mata goes down in the box, VAR considers the incident for what feels like an eternity, the penalty is given, Mata picks himself up and converts the spot-kick to give United the lead! Follow the action with Rob Bagchi.
WE HAVE LIFT OFF! Yes, @JuanMata8! #MUFC #EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/xQXSX5BZes
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) January 5, 2019
11 min - Manchester United 0 Reading 0
Quiet-ish start at Old Trafford, where some familiar faces have said hello:
Friends re-United. 🔴#MUFC are remaining patient in the opening stages at Old Trafford, but the atmosphere in the stadium is incredible! #EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/kmtyQyNQW4
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) January 5, 2019
GOAL! West Ham 1 (Arnautovic, 2 min) Birmingham 0
👀 @WestHamUtd aren't hanging around! First goal of the day scored by Arnautovic. pic.twitter.com/hPUzaK01rS
— The Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) January 5, 2019
Eighth goal of the season for West Ham's main man, and they lead against their owners' old club...
Good afternoon
magic
/ˈmadʒɪk/
noun
the power of apparently influencing events by using mysterious or supernatural forces.
A couple of full-strength top-flight teams having their FA Cup dreams ended by lower-league opposition
Another year, another lengthy debate about the increasingly folkloric Magic of the FA Cup™. And it is a brand, in fact; one so attractive, somehow, that the FA managed to secure £820m for its overseas broadcasting rights. Good news? Not so much for the travelling fans, who are facing some unreasonable kick-off times to satisfy the (slightly baffling) international interest in third-round day.
My colleague Rob Bagchi will have all the action from the inevitable opening TV game of Manchester United vs Reading, while I will endeavour to keep up with the Jeff Stellings of this world and bring you news of every goal, every upset and every safe passage to round four. Stay tuned, the third round is about to get going...