By Ryan Moran
- West Brom need an FA Cup replay with League One Peterborough after the 2-2 draw.
- Manchester United see off Derby County in the first game of the fourth round.
- Blackburn avoid cup upset at the Kassam Stadium.
The Hawthorns, UK – League One Peterborough United force a replay against Premier League West Bromwich Albion. Louis Van Gaal’s job is safe for another week as Manchester United progress at the expense of Derby County.
West Brom need FA Cup replay to overcome Peterborough United
Peterborough United held Premier League West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthorns, twice coming from behind to draw 2-2. Saido Berahino gave the Baggies the lead, beating Ben Alnwick at the front post, only for Shaquile Coulthirst to bring Posh level with a half volley at the back post. Berahino again put the home side in front, drilling an effort across a crowded box and into the far corner but the League One side earned a replay when Jon Taylor brought the ball down to half volley past Boaz Myhill.
Nothing went Colchester United’s way as the floodgates opened late on for Tottenham Hotspur, defeating the U’s 1-4 at the Weston Homes Community Stadium. Both of Colchester’s central defenders left the field within 20 minutes, clashing heads early on with Alex Wynter going straight to hospital after the collision and Tom Eastman taken off shortly after being patched up.
Spurs’ attacks came predominantly down the right with Nacer Chadli exploiting the extra space curling into the far corner. Eric Dier doubled the lead, his long range effort taking a cruel deflection off stand in centre back Matthew Briggs. Chadli scored his second and Tottenham’s third, heading past Jake Kean. The tricky Gavin Massey caused Mauricio Pochettino’s side trouble down both wings. The winger eventually assisted the consolation goal, twisting and turning into the box before striking the post with a ricochet off Ben Davies forcing the ball into the net. Tom Carroll regained Tottenham’s three goal cushion, turning in Chadli’s cross to end Colchester’s thin hopes of a revival.
AFC Bournemouth came from behind to claim victory in a South coast derby against Portsmouth. The League Two side took the lead in the first half, Gary Roberts finding space in the box to beat Adam Federici from Marc McNulty’s pass, after Juan Iturbe had hit the post for the Cherries earlier in the half. Eddie Howe’s side dominated the second half and got their reward when Joshua King flicked Eunan O’Kane’s free kick in for the equaliser. Substitute Marc Pugh bundled in the winner after Lewis Grabban’s initial shot was saved as the Premier League side recorded a 2-1 win.
Carlisle United took to Brunton Park looking to emulate Peterborough’s fortunes against Everton. An Early goal through Arouna Kone left the Cumbrians with an uphill battle, Aaron Lennon’s low cross tapped in by the Ivorian. The Toffees found themselves 2-0 up within 15 minutes, Lennon striking after beating his defender. Ross Barkley’s deflected effort off Mark Ellis put the game out of sight, ending the week on a positive note after their League Cup exit in midweek.
The Premier League trumps the Championship
FA Cup Holders Arsenal are in the draw for the fifth round after overcoming Burnley 2-1 at the Emirates. Calum Chambers gave the Gunners the lead, curling the ball with the outside of his foot into the far corner, only for Sam Vokes to pull the Clarets level. A Counter attack from the home side regained the lead as Alexis Sanchez finished Olivier Giroud’s low cross. Laurent Koscielny nearly added a third, the defender’s header cleared off the line with debutant Mohamed Elneny also went close late on, the midfielder’s effort off target.
Manchester United were the first team to confirm their place in the next round, beating Derby County 3-1 away from home on Friday night. Wayne Rooney’s superb curling effort game United the lead as County sat deep early on. George Thorne poked County level before Daley Blind ghosted in at the front post to regain the Red Devil’s lead. Juan Mata doubled his side’s lead, Anthony Martial beating Cyrus Christie all ends up, cutting back to Mata who finished from inside the box.
Watford ended Nottingham Forest’s 13 game unbeaten run, Odion Ighalo scoring the only goal of the game. Jamie Ward missed a golden opportunity for Forest, dispossessing Ikechi Anya to go through on goal but spurned his effort wide of the Watford goal. That miss cost Dougie Friedman’s side a replay as Ighalo capitalised on Kelvin Wilson’s mistake in the box to hook the ball into the net.
Chelsea eased past MK Dons to book their place in the fifth round as the Blues dominated throughout. The Dons caused their own problems for the first goal, Kyle McFadzean’s weak back pass was pounced on by Diego Costa who found Oscar, sweeping home. However, the home side drew level when Darren Potter’s deflected strike off Nemanja Matic beat Thibaut Courtois. The Brazilian soon put Chelsea back in front, striking across goal after Ruben Loftus-Cheek played him through. Oscar’s first half hat trick was soon completed as he curled into the far corner.
The away side soon had the chance to extend their lead from the penalty spot, Eden Hazard brought down by Potter in the box. The Belgian finished from the spot before Bertrand Traore scored his first Chelsea goal, his low effort finding the far corner to end the rout as Guus Hiddink moved one step closer to a second FA Cup.
Iheanacho treble ends Villa’s unbeaten run
Kelechi Iheanacho’s first senior hat-trick helped Manchester City knock Aston Villa out of the competition as the Citizens won 4-0 at Villa Park. The striker slid his side into the lead within three minutes, Fernando’s initial header saved on the line. Iheanacho coolly doubled City’s lead from the penalty spot after Raheem Sterling was brought down by Leandro Bacuna. Idrissa Gueye’s poor back pass was pounced on by Iheanacho, calmly slotting past Brad Guzan to claim the match ball. The lively Sterling stabbed home the away side’s fourth to extend City’s advantage on the score sheet as Villa were down and now out of the FA Cup.
Wilfried Zaha scored to send Stoke City packing in the fourth round. The FA Cup is the only competition Crystal Palace have recorded a victory in in 2016. Xherdan Shaqiri twice missed the opportunity to equalise, firstly curling over the bar and blazed over after being played in by Bojan Krkic. Marc Wilson was lucky to remain on the field, a late tackle on Fraizer Campbell received only a yellow card, one Stoke’s own twitter feed disagreed with.
30- YELLOW CARD! Wilson is fortunate to be on the pitch perhaps after a late tackle on Campbell midway in the Potters half #CPFC 1-0 #SCFC
— Stoke City FC (@stokecity) January 30, 2016
Anfield played out a stalemate as Liverpool and West Ham United will have to do it all again at Upton Park in a replay. Cameron Brannagan had the Reds’ best chance, his drive pushed round the corner by Darren Randolph, while Pedro Obiang’s effort for the Hammers was just wide of the post. Michail Antonio’s header hit the post but was deemed to have fouled, Aaron Cresswell’s cross did go out of play but went unnoticed by officials.
Blackburn Rovers avoid the Oxford banana skin
Oxford United couldn’t replicate their heroics of the third round as Blackburn Rovers ran the show at the Kassam Stadium. A Ben Marshall penalty put Rovers in the driving seat after Simeon Jackson was brought down in the area. Tony Watt scored on his début to double his side’s lead before Marshall’s free kick confirmed a 3-0 victory and a place in the fifth round. The U’s return to league action as Michael Appleton’s side push for promotion.
Of the weekend’s other fixtures:
Bolton Wanderers 1-2 Leeds United
Bury 1-3 Hull City
Reading 4-0 Walsall
Shrewsbury 3-2 Sheffield Wednesday
The fifth round fixtures are scheduled to take place on the weekend of 20th February.
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