Final score: Ivory Coast 1-1 Mali
The final whistle blows in Malabo, bringing to an end both that game, and this Clockwatch. Cheers for being there with me, it’s been memorable. Bye!
They’re halfway through six minutes of stoppage time in Malabo, still 1-1.
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Ludicrous. Magical, but ludicrous.
@Simon_Burnton As of now Crystal Palace are the highest placed Premiere League team through to the 5th round.
— Rohit (@rohithedevil) January 24, 2015
GOAL! Ivory Coast 1-1 Mali
A pull-back from the right, and Max Gradel slides it into the back of the net with his left foot from 15 yards or so.
Some more match reports, if you’re still hungry for more:
Some match reports for your perusal:
- Chelsea 2-4 Bradford City
- Manchester City 0-2 Middlesbrough
- Southampton 2-3 Crystal Palace
- Tottenham 1-2 Leicester City
Enjoy!
Jose Mourinho has just been in an ecstatic away dressing room to congratulate every City player and staff member. A real touch of class.
— Bradford City AFC (@officialbantams) January 24, 2015
Aitor Karanka, the Middlesbrough manager, says this:
It was amazing for me, because you know how important the FA Cup is here. I’m very proud of my players. I think we deserved it. We had more options to score. When the score was 1-0 we had another two or three options to score more.
He could have sounded more excited, to be fair.
José Mourinho has been speaking to the BBC:
It’s the first time that happened with me in a few years in English football. In this moment I can feel really happy for them. I was in their dressing-room and I can feel really happy for them, but at the same time I repeat the word I used yesterday, it is a disgrace for us to lose this game. A disgrace.
There are some great celebration photos floating around.
I’ve been ignoring the Africa Cup of Nations, what with this being the greatest day in the history of domestic football (or something), but Mali are still 1-0 up against Ivory Coast. I’ll let you know about any goals as and when they fly in.
Staring humiliation in the face:
Meanwhile, Barry Glendenning is all over Liverpool v Bolton. Has the Cup got one more shock in it? A Bolton win would surely make this the greatest weekend of FA Cup giant-killing (or holding) in the entire history of humanity (probably).
Incredible scenes. “Here am I thinking Man United should hang their heads in shame for not beating plucky little Cambridge, but then Chelsea, Man City!?!” splutters Thabo Mokaleng. “Oh, how I love the FA Cup! Completely messed my betting, mind.”
WAGE BILLS MUFC: £215m MCFC: £205m CFC: £193m Boro: ~£21m Bradford City: ~£2m Cambridge: £1.25m Money talks, but sometimes football shouts.
— Jake Cohen (@JakeFCohen) January 24, 2015
Final score: Southampton 2-3 Crystal Palace
That’s the Premier League’s third-place side following the first and second out of the FA Cup. Whoever picked the televised matches fouled up, big time – what drama we’ve had this afternoon, and none of it broadcast live (in the UK, at least).
The last 24 minutes at Vicarage Road sound pretty boring, featuring as they did zero goals. Final score: Watford 7-2 Blackpool.
Final score: Chelsea 2-4 Bradford City
From 2-0 down, Bradford have grabbed the win. Verily, it’s a great day to be alive.
@Simon_Burnton Goal! Chelsea 2-4 Bradford City. Game Over. Long Live FA Cup!
— Everythingfootball (@LukkaSamir) January 24, 2015
Final score: Birmingham 1-2 West Bromwich Albion
There has been no second-half goalscoring at St Andrews, and West Brom march into round five!
Final score: Manchester City 0-2 Middlesbrough
The referee blows his whistle, and Manchester City are out of the FA Cup!
GOAL! Chelsea 2-4 Bradford City
I’m not sure who scored. I’m pretty certain I’m astonished about it.
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GOAL! Manchester City 0-2 Middlesbrough!
In the third minute of stoppage time, Middlesbrough secure victory on the break! Kike with the goal.
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It’s all over at Sunderland, where the home side have drawn 0-0 against Fulham.
GOAL! Tottenham 1-2 Leicester!
Schlupp, who by all accounts has had a fine match today, has put Leicester ahead in stoppage time! As of now, Chelsea, Manchester City, Southampton and Tottenham are all on their way out of the Cup!
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They’re into stoppage time at Manchester City as well, though they’ll only have four minutes of it.
There will be seven minutes of stoppage time at Stamford Bridge. Seven!
@Simon_Burnton Bradford shutting shop. Routis on for the goalscorer Halliday.
— Everythingfootball (@LukkaSamir) January 24, 2015
Manchester City hit the post! Incredible, Lampard with a 20-yarder that slaps the inside of the frame!
It’s half time in the Africa Cup of Nations, and Mali still lead the Ivory Coast 1-0.
But Real Madrid have just scored anyway! They’re 2-1 up, Gareth Bale scoring from the spot.
CORRECTION: Ronaldo wasn’t sent off for punching, he was sent off for kicking. He actually got away with the punching.
Meanwhile in Spain, Cristiano Ronaldo has been sent off for punching.
GOAL! Tottenham 1-1 Leicester
Ulloa equalises for Leicester, after Schlupp’s shot, following a half-cleared corner, was blocked.
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If I lose against Bradford, I say it’s a disgrace.
This could be coming back to haunt him, it seems.
GOAL! Chelsea 2-3 Bradford!
Incredible scenes! Remarkable! Astonishing! Andy Halliday has put Bradford ahead at Chelsea, with eight minutes (plus stoppages to play).
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Watford 7-2 Blackpool. Ighalo with a fourth. Probably Blackpool’s best 45 minutes away from home this season, and they follow it with this …
We haven’t heard much from the Spurs v Leicester game, but here’s a titbit:
79 - SCHWARZER! Brilliant flying save from the Australian denies Lamela. #TotLei
— Leicester City (@OfficialFOXES) January 24, 2015
Morais seems to be quite the Cup specialist – he’s only scored once in the league all season.
5 - Filipe Morais now has three goals and two assists in his last five FA Cup games. Prodigal.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 24, 2015
Brentford are now 2-1 up at Norwich, Alex Pritchard scoring from the spot.
GOAL! Chelsea 2-2 Bradford
Filipe Morais, another Chelsea reject, draws Bradford level at Chelsea! Fabulous stuff!
The visitors draw level on 74 minutes when Morais buries a loose ball after a long throw into the area. #CFCLive
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) January 24, 2015
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Middlesbrough have had some phenomenal chances. Caballero’s just pulled off a stonking save to beat away Vossen’s lightning volley. City could be out of this.
Ighalo now has seven goals in five games, having completed a hat-trick for Watford, who are 6-2 up now.
Here’s that missed Tomlin chance. What a first touch!
Goalflashes from the Cup games I’ve criminally ignored thus far: Sheffield United have equalised at Preston, Diego De Girolamo with the goal, and Reading have equalised at Cardiff, through Oliver Norwood. Both games are currently at 1-1.
It’s all gone a bit flat at St Mary’s, where from 2-2 after 21 minutes and 2-3 after 39, there have been no further goals. Boring!
Peter Crosby has emailed over his take on that Tomlin chance: “Holy s*** lower league journeyman Lee Tomlin just Bergkamped Vincent Kompany and almost scored goal of the season!”
Watford, 0-2 down in the 46th minute, are 5-2 up in the 66th.
Sunderland’s Jack Rodwell has been booked for a second time, and is off! It’s still 0-0 there, with Fulham the visitors.
Lee Tomlin comes oh so close to doubling MIddlesbrough’s lead at Manchester City. It was a great chance, and he sent his shot against the post, the ball rolling back across goal and away to safety, with the keeper very much beaten.
West Brom are bringing Ben Foster on at St Andrews, presumably (given that West Brom are about to take a throw-in) the result of an injury to Myhill.
@Simon_Burnton Bradford look dangerous at set-pieces and put Chelsea under pressure. Same could be said about Bradford fans. Buzzing!
— Everythingfootball (@LukkaSamir) January 24, 2015
It would be great if Manchester United, Chelsea and Manchester City could all be, to a greater or lesser extent, inconvenienced by lower-division opposition this weekend.
Meanwhile at Vicarage Road, it’s 4-2! Matej Vydra with it.
There was also, to be fair, a push on Aguero in the box goes unpunished, despite the striker going flying.
Oooh! And Middlesbrough have a very decent chance to extend their lead in Manchester, but with the goalkeeper stranded, the low shot from the edge of the area is blocked.
Watford are now 3-2 up. Odion Ighalo – on great form at present, but what a prospect he looks – with his second of the game. Three goals in eight minutes for the home side at Vicarage Road.
GOAL! Manchester City 0-1 Middlesbrough
What a muddle. Fernando, chasing a ball played over the defence, hits a back-pass that plays Caballero into all sorts of trouble. His control is charged down, and with the ball bobbling towards the goal Bamford bundles it in! Absolutely calamitous defending there.
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And Watford, 0-2 down at half-time, are all square seven minutes later, Troy Deeney with their equaliser.
More from Chelsea. I’m always grateful for contributions from people actually at matches. Keep ‘em coming.
@Simon_Burnton Back Underway at Bridge after a presentation at HT in respect to the imminent 30th anniversary of the Bradford City fire.
— Everythingfootball (@LukkaSamir) January 24, 2015
GOAL! Ivory Coast 0-1 Mali
What a start for Mali! Just six minutes into the game, a cross from the right and a super half-volley at the far post sends the ball flying back across goal and into the corner. A fabulous finish from Bakary Sako of Wolves. Superb.
Watford have pulled a goal back against Blackpool, moments after half-time. Ighalo with it. They’ve also brought new signing Ben Watson on for a debut.
The match between the Ivory Coast and Mali is now two minutes old, and still 0-0. These are the teams:
Ivory Coast: Gbohouo, Kanon, Tiene, Aurier, Kolo Toure, Bailly, Tiote, Yaya Toure, Diomande, Bony, Doumbia. Subs: Barry, Viera, Roger, Doukoure, Tallo, Akpa Akpro, Gradel, Traore, Die, Sayouba.
Mali: Soumbeyla Diakite, Drissa Diakite, Tamboura, Salif Coulibaly, Wague, Sylla, N’Diaye, Keita, Sako, Sambou Yatabare, Mustapha Yatabare. Subs: Berthe, Diawara, Idrissa Coulibaly, Doumbia, Mohamed Traore, Diarra, Ousmane Coulibaly, Diaby, Konate, Maiga, Abdou Traore, Samake.
Referee: Bouchaib El Ahrach (Morocco).
A couple of updates from Chelsea:
@Simon_Burnton Could have easily been level if not for a save from Cech.
— Everythingfootball (@LukkaSamir) January 24, 2015
@Simon_Burnton Cahill scored from a set-piece, Ramires sent keeper the wrong way while Stead's goal was just beautifully struck.
— Everythingfootball (@LukkaSamir) January 24, 2015
Real Madrid go into the break against at 1-1 in Cordoba, Benzema with their equaliser.
GOAL! Birmingham 1-2 West Bromwich
Shortly before half-time a low ball across the penalty area is turned in by Jonathan Grounds, standing on the penalty spot.
Manchester City, still goalless at home to Middlesbrough, looked to have a half-decent penalty shout when the ball hit Daniel Ayala on the arm. The referee did not agree.
Here’s an update from our voluntary Chelsea correspondent:
@Simon_Burnton Ramires snuck in the 2nd with Stead pulling one back. Chelsea 2-1 Bradford City. Commentators howling "banters gone bonkers"
— Everythingfootball (@LukkaSamir) January 24, 2015
The day’s big upset may not come in the FA Cup: Blackpool, without an away win all season and absolutely miserably hopeless on their last visit to Vicarage Road (I was there), are 2-0 up at Watford!
GOAL! Chelsea 2-1 Bradford
Chelsea’s two-goal lead didn’t last long, Jon Stead putting the visitors back into contention! Billy Knott, who spent three years at Chelsea without ever playing for them, with the assist.
Updated
GOAL! Chelsea 2-0 Bradford
Ramires extends Chelsea’s lead, surging towards the penalty area, playing a one-two with Salah and then scoring off the post.
He didn’t even look particularly happy about it …
39 - #lcfc continue to create. Vardy robs Dembele to find Kramaric, before getting the ball back and curling over from 18. #TotLei
— Leicester City (@OfficialFOXES) January 24, 2015
GOAL! Southampton 2-3 Crystal Palace
A fifth goal of the half in Southampton, Ward setting up Chamakh, who goes round the keeper and scores!
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GOAL! Birmingham 0-2 West Bromwich Albion
Anichebe with his second of the game, collecting the ball with his back to goal just outside the penalty area, spinning to his right and then hitting left-footed back across the goalkeeper and in at the far post. I think the ball must have deflected off a desperate defender’s flying leg, because it bounced towards its target slowly and a little bit sadly.
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GOAL! Chelsea 1-0 Bradford
Gary Cahill snuck in a goal for Chelsea about 15 minutes ago without me noticing.
@Simon_Burnton Chelsea lead at Bridge with a goal from Cahill. Bradford's Liddle and Mcardle pocket a yellow each. #GoodOldRadio
— Everythingfootball (@LukkaSamir) January 24, 2015
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Norwich have equalised against Brentford, Nathan Redmond’s deflected shot drawing them level.
“He’s scored them both, so it seems churlish of me to complain,” writes Peter Raleigh, “but as a Spurs fan I’m unclear why Townsend is taking our penalties of late. I know Soldado penalties have become a running joke, but he’s rather good at them, and the confidence boost couldn’t possibly hurt him. Have we perhaps implemented a ‘penalty winner doesn’t take the kick’ rule?” It does indeed seem churlish to complain. Kane’s also taken at least one penalty this season (he missed it, as I recall).
GOAL! Birmingham 0-1 West Bromwich Albion
Victor Anichebe puts his side in front. Apparently it went down like this:
25' Anichebe drives the ball inside the left upright from Berahino's throughball #BIRWBA
— West Bromwich Albion (@WBAFCofficial) January 24, 2015
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GOAL! Derby 1-0 Chesterfield
Darren Bent scores his first goal for Derby, where he’s on loan from Aston Villa, on his full debut, to put the Rams ahead.
In the Championship, Brentford have taken the lead at Norwich – a very lovely curling left-foot finish (mainly lovely because there’s a camera perfectly placed behind the goal to capture the bend on the ball) from Jota at the end of a smart break.
GOAL! Southampton 2-2 Crystal Palace
Sanogo gets the credit for now, but Sky insist it’ll end up going down as an own goal, the Palace player’s shot taking a hefty deflection on its way netwards.
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GOAL! Tottenham 1-0 Leicester
… and he takes it! Leicester had, by all accounts, been on top until then.
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Tottenham have a penalty! Moore fouls Soldado and Townsend, who scored from the spot in midweek, has another chance.
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GOAL! Southampton 2-1 Crystal Palace
Crikey. Goal-hogs. Scott Dann turns Bertrand’s cross into his own net, and Southampton are back in front.
Another decent Sanogo effort at Southampton, but this time Forster just about holds.
Meanwhile in Spain, Cordoba have gone ahead against Real Madrid, Ghilas scoring from the spot.
GOAL! Southampton 1-1 Crystal Palace
Palace have already equalised! Chamakh follows up after Sanogo’s low shot was saved but not held.
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It’s a fair cop guv (if you’re late to the blog, I’ve corrected the mistake now. Talking of which, there was no mistake. Nothing to see here).
@Simon_Burnton Man city is playing middlesbrough not sunderland. Its better if you keep both eyes on the same game.
— onward n upward MUFC (@karan_Sood_313) January 24, 2015
GOAL! Southampton 1-0 Crystal Palace
After eight minutes, Graziano Pelle scores the first 3pm-start FA Cup goal to put Southampton ahead, from James Ward-Prowse’s corner.
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Home-made FA Cupwatch
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Hearts are a goal up at home to Falkirk. Genero Zeefuik with the goal. Genero Zeefuik. There’s a name to relish.
So I’m keeping an eye on the game between Manchester City and Middlesbrough, and half an eye on the match between Birmingham and West Bromwich Albion. Otherwise, I’m relying on others. If you’re somewhere interesting, perhaps even at a football ground, let me know.
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Peeeeep!
They have kicked off at Manchester City! And, I’m guessing, at some other grounds too.
Players are emerging from tunnels across the country. Deep breath now …
I believe the David Webb refereeing Derby v Chesterfield is not the same David Webb who is wearing the FA Cup lid in the photograph at the top of this page.
The final FA Cup teams are now in. Just eight minutes before kick-off.
Derby v Chesterfield
Derby: Roos, Albentosa, Keogh, Buxton, Christie, Hendrick, Mascarell, Hughes, Forsyth, Martin, Bent. Subs: Warnock, Bryson, Dawkins, Ward, Russell, Shotton, Mitchell.
Chesterfield: Lee, Darikwa, Hird, Raglan, Jones, Clucas, Morsy, Ryan, O’Shea, Gnanduillet, Doyle. Subs: Gardner, Humphreys, Evatt, Banks, Talbot, Dieseruvwe, Wright.
Referee: David Webb.
More FA Cup teams …
Cardiff v Reading
Cardiff: Moore, Da Silva, Morrison, Turner, Malone, Harris, Gunnarsson, Whittingham, Noone, Jones, Revell. Subs: John, Macheda, Connolly, Adeyemi, Ralls, Wilson, O’Sullivan.
Reading: Federici, Gunter, Pearce, Hector, Obita, McCleary, Norwood, Chalobah, Williams, Blackman, Pogrebnyak. Subs: Stephen Kelly, Robson-Kanu, Cox, Karacan, Taylor, Andersen, Cooper.
Referee: Lee Probert.
Chelsea v Bradford
Chelsea: Cech, Christensen, Zouma, Cahill, Azpilicueta, Ramires, Oscar, Mikel, Salah, Drogba, Remy. Subs: Fabregas, Ake, Hazard, Courtois, Willian, Terry, Loftus-Cheek.
Bradford: Williams, Darby, McArdle, Davies, Meredith, Knott, Liddle, Morais, Halliday, Hanson, Stead. Subs: Sheehan, Clarke, Zoko, Yeates, Kennedy, Routis, Urwin.
Referee: Andre Marriner.
Preston v Sheff Utd
Preston: Stuckmann, Woods, Clarke, Huntington, Buchanan, Welsh, Kilkenny, Humphrey, Gallagher, Reid, Ebanks-Blake. Subs: Laird, Wiseman, Kevin Davies, King, Brownhill, Browne, Hudson.
Sheff Utd: Howard, Alcock, McGahey, Kennedy, Davies, Dimaio, Basham, De Girolamo, Reed, Baxter, Higdon. Subs: Harris, Doyle, Murphy, Scougall, McNulty, Campbell-Ryce, Long.
Referee: Keith Stroud.
Tottenham Hotspur v Leicester
Tottenham Hotspur: Vorm, Chiriches, Fazio, Kaboul, Rose, Capoue, Dembele, Townsend, Paulinho, Lamela, Soldado. Subs: Adebayor, Dier, Kane, Eriksen, Friedel, Stambouli, Davies.
Leicester: Schwarzer, Simpson, Moore, Morgan, De Laet, King, Drinkwater, Schlupp, Kramaric, Ulloa, Vardy. Subs: Konchesky, Albrighton, Hamer, Cambiasso, Knockaert, Wasilewski, Nugent.
Referee: Robert Madley.
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino made nine changes for Saturday’s FA Cup fourth-round tie against Leicester.
Goalkeeper Michel Vorm and Andros Townsend were the only two players retained from the midweek Capital One Cup semi-final win over Sheffield United. Erik Lamela and Roberto Soldado provided the attacking threat, with Younes Kaboul captain as Harry Kane and Emmanuel Adebayor were on the bench.
Leicester manager Nigel Pearson – who captained Middlesbrough in the 1997 FA Cup final defeat against Chelsea at Wembley – handed a debut to goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer after his move from Stamford Bridge. There were several other changes from the last Barclays Premier League side, including Ritchie de Laet, Jeff Schlupp and recent arrival Andrej Kramaric.
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The Press Association’s take on the Manchester City v Middlesbrough teams:
Manchester City made just four changes after returning from their Abu Dhabi training camp for their FA Cup fourth-round tie against Middlesbrough. Willy Caballero, Dedryck Boyata, Aleksandar Kolarov and Stevan Jovetic were the players to come into the side, meaning star names such as Vincent Kompany, David Silva and Sergio Aguero all featured. Frank Lampard, after a midweek injury concern, was on the bench. Middlesbrough, second in the Sky Bet Championship, also made four changes as goalkeeper Tomas Mejias, Jelle Vossen, Albert Adomah and Dean Whitehead all came in.
Southampton v Crystal Palace
Southampton: Forster, Clyne, Gardos, Fonte, Bertrand, Cork, Steven Davis, Ward-Prowse, Elia, Tadic, Pelle. Subs: Kelvin Davis, Long, Isgrove, Reed, McCarthy, Targett, Seager.
Crystal Palace: Hennessey, Ward, Dann, Delaney, Kelly, Zaha, Ledley, McArthur, Campbell, Chamakh, Sanogo. Subs: Speroni, Mariappa, Hangeland, Gayle, Murray, Bannan, Puncheon.
Referee: Jon Moss.
Tottenham have made nine changes to the team that played Sheffield United in the Capital One Cup in midweek. Michel Vorm and Andros Townsend are the players concerned. Harry Kane is on the bench. Leicester give Mark Schwarzer a debut. Full teams to follow shortly.
Sunderland v Fulham
Sunderland: Mannone, Vergini, O’Shea, Coates, Jones, Larsson, Bridcutt, Rodwell, Van Aanholt, Fletcher, Defoe. Subs: Pantilimon, Wickham, Gomez, Graham, Alvarez, Giaccherini, Buckley.
Fulham: Bettinelli, Stafylidis, Hutchinson, Bodurov, Grimmer, Christensen, Dembele, Tunnicliffe, Fofana, Ruiz, Woodrow. Subs: Kiraly, Kacaniklic, Zverotic, Roberts, Rodallega, Burn, McCormack.
Referee: Anthony Taylor.
So Manchester City, who returned from a warm-weather break just last night, field a strong line-up against Middlesbrough, making four changes to the side that played Arsenal last week.
OK, here are some teams …
Birmingham v West Bromwich Albion
Birmingham: Randolph, Caddis, Morrison, Robinson, Grounds, Davis, Gleeson, Cotterill, Shinnie, Dyer, Novak. Subs: Donaldson, Thomas, Reilly, Zigic, Doyle, Spector, Gray.
West Brom: Myhill, Wisdom, Dawson, McAuley, Lescott, Sessegnon, Gardner, Yacob, Brunt, Berahino, Anichebe. Subs: Foster, Baird, Morrison, Ideye, Pocognoli, Gamboa, Dorrans.
Referee: Mark Clattenburg.
Manchester City v Middlesbrough
Man City: Caballero, Zabaleta, Kompany, Boyata, Kolarov, Fernando, Milner, Jesus Navas, Silva, Jovetic, Aguero. Subs: Hart, Sagna, Dzeko, Lampard, Clichy, Fernandinho, Demichelis.
Middlesbrough: Mejias, Adomah, Gibson, Ayala, Friend, Clayton, Leadbitter, Tomlin, Bamford, Whitehead, Vossen. Subs: Garcia, Ripley, Husband, Reach, Omeruo, Wildschut, Woodgate.
Referee: Phil Dowd.
Will this prove the day’s best picture of a young fan looking at horse poo? Time alone will tell.
There are lots of teams spinning around Twitter, but I’ve been waiting for the Press Association to file them. If they don’t get into gear in the next 10 minutes I’ll embed some tweets, so help me I will.
“Hello Simon,” writes our volunteer Scottish correspondent Simon McMahon. Hello. “No cup but plenty of league action in Scotland today. Celtic currently lead Ross County 1-0 with half an hour to go in the early kick off, while St. Johnstone and Aberdeen played out a 1-1 draw last night. Game of the day, though, is at Tannadice where Dundee United make seven changes from the team that drew at Paisley midweek as they take on Motherwell. Other matches include Hamilton v Inverness and St. Mirren v Dundee. In the Scottish Championship four of the top five play each other as it’s Hearts v Falkirk and Queen of the South v Hibs.”
That 1980s Sports Blog have written a post on the FA Cup fourth round in 1984, “a round that saw Liverpool stunned by Brighton, Everton struggle to see off Gillingham, and a passionate south coast derby.” You can find it here.
Hello world!
So, today’s 3pm kick-offs in the FA Cup are as follows:
Birmingham v West Brom
Cardiff v Reading
Chelsea v Bradford
Derby v Chesterfield
Liverpool v Bolton (which kicks off at 5.30, but I’ll keep it here anyway)
Man City v Middlesbrough
Preston v Sheff Utd
Southampton v Crystal Palace
Sunderland v Fulham
Tottenham Hotspur v Leicester
There are a few decent league games on as well, with Norwich v Brentford probably the pick in the Championship. Team news should be rolling in shortly.
Simon will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s a snippet from Louise Taylor’s piece about Middlesbrough’s visit to Manchester City:
The chant was inspired by Pink Floyd. “We don’t need no Phil Scolari, we don’t need no Mourinho; hey Thaksin, leave our Sven alone,” chorused the Manchester City supporters to the tune of Another Brick in the Wall.
Beneath a bright Teesside sun the Riverside Stadium’s away end were urging Thaksin Shinawatra, City’s Thai owner, not to sack Sven-Goran Eriksson.
As football protest songs go it can rarely have been bettered but 11 May 2008 was not City’s day. Lacking even a semblance of their fans’ defiance, they concluded the season by surrendering 8-1 to Gareth Southgate’s Middlesbrough.
Almost seven years on, and having taken somewhat divergent paths, the teams reconvene in FA Cup fourth round combat at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday. Remarkably, Joe Hart, an unused substitute during what was to prove Eriksson’s final game in charge before his replacement by Mark Hughes, is the only player involved in 2008 still at either club.
