Barnes in the groove.
Not a classic ...
That’s it for bumper FA Cup clockwatch. I’ll leave you with a few match reports from around the country. Thanks for your company, emails and calm-inducing observations on VAR. Goodnight!
The full-time scores in the 5.31pm games
- Bournemouth 4-0 Luton
- Fleetwood 1-2 Portsmouth
- Leicester City 2-0 Wigan Athletic
- Manchester City 4-1 Port Vale
- Wolves 0-0 Manchester United
Full time: Leicester City 2-0 Wigan Athletic
Brendan Rodgers maintains his perfect record in the FA Cup third round.
Full time: Fleetwood 1-2 Portsmouth
Portsmouth hang on to reach the last 32.
Full time: Bournemouth 4-0 Luton
A comfortable evening for Eddie Howe.
Full time: Wolves 0-0 Manchester United
Life is precious, dear friend, and if you watched that game you have just wasted two hours of it.
Full time: Manchester City 4-1 Port Vale
A predictably easy victory for City. But the real winner was Tom Pope.
GOAL! Fleetwood 1-2 Portsmouth (McAleny 90+1)
Conor McAleny gets a non-consolation goal for Fleetwood.
“We don’t have any VAR problems in Scotland, Rob, largely due to the fact that we don’t have VAR,” says Simon McMahon. “I think there’s a lesson in there for all of us. Peace and love. X
“PS If we did Scotland would have won the 1978 World Cup.
“PPS Lol.”
I can’t wait for the post-match interview
1 - At 17 years & 339 days old, Taylor Harwood-Bellis is the youngest Englishman to score for Manchester City in any competition since Micah Richards did so against Aston Villa in the FA Cup back in February 2006 (17y & 240d). Talent. #FACup pic.twitter.com/0xkQGFR95t
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 4, 2020
Updated
GOAL! Bournemouth 4-0 Luton (Solanke 82)
Take that, “VAR”. After having a goal ruled out in the first half, Dominic Solanke finally scores his first goal for Bournemouth.
Updated
This is my favourite email of a very long day, the dry musings of a man ready to do time for his beliefs
“I can see how there might have been some confusion on City’s third goal,” says J.R in Illinois. “On first viewing it looked like Harwood-Bellis’s left buttcheek hairs may have been standing in an offside position when Stones’s shot went in off him. But upon closer inspection the fraying fabric on the outside of the collar lining of Leon Legge’s left boot was clearly and obviously playing Harwood-Bellis onside. Good goal.”
The latest scores
- Bournemouth 3-0 Luton
- Fleetwood 0-2 Portsmouth
- Leicester City 2-0 Wigan Athletic
- Manchester City 4-1 Port Vale
- Wolves 0-0 Manchester United
GOAL! Bournemouth 3-0 Luton (Billing 79)
A second goal for Philip Billing.
Updated
Manchester City 4-1 Port Vale “How does Katharine Tabarner know (VAR and City 3rd goal)?” says Neil Truby. “I’m in the bloody stadium and we haven’t a clue how or what was going on!”
It’s almost as if football has sold its soul to television!
GOAL! Manchester City 4-1 Port Vale (Foden 76)
Phil Foden makes the most of a rare start, scoring his third goal of the season to seal victory for City.
Updated
Wolves 0-0 Manchester United Wolves have had a goal disallowed for handball at Molineux. They have been much the better side in the second half.
GOAL! Fleetwood 0-2 Portsmouth (Marquis 76)
And John Marquis does likewise for Portsmouth.
Updated
GOAL! Bournemouth 2-0 Luton (C Wilson 67)
The substitute Callum Wilson scores with his first touch to seal victory, probably, for Bournemouth.
Updated
Wolves 0-0 Manchester United Marcus Rashford has hit the bar 27 seconds after coming on as substitute.
GOAL! Fleetwood 0-1 Portsmouth (Bolton 66)
Portsmouth, who won the FA Cup in 2008 (yes, yes, and 1939) and reached the final in 2010 (yes, yes, and 1929 and 1934), are ahead at Fleetwood thanks to James Bolton.
Updated
Manchester City 3-1 Port Vale Here’s Katharine Tabarner with a full explanation of that third City goal. “Aguero headed across the area, the ball broke for Stones and it deflected off the calf of the youngster on its way in. The VAR check took ages with lines being drawn and redrawn.”
The latest scores
- Bournemouth 1-0 Luton
- Fleetwood 0-0 Portsmouth
- Leicester City 2-0 Wigan Athletic
- Manchester City 3-1 Tom Pope
- Wolves 0-0 Manchester United
Manchester City 3-1 Port Vale I’ll be honest, I haven’t a clue what happened with that third City goal, primarily because I haven’t seen it. It sounds like there was a VAR check for offside after John Stones had scored, and then the goal was given to Taylor Harwood-Bellis because it hit him on the line.
Updated
CORRECTION: Manchester City 3-1 Port Vale (Harwood-Bellis 59)
No he hasn’t - it was the 17-year-old Taylor Harwood-Bellis who scored on his home debut! Stones got the assist.
GOAL! Manchester City 3-1 Port Vale (Stones 59)
John Stones has equalised against Tom Pope!
The latest scores
- Bournemouth 1-0 Luton
- Fleetwood 0-0 Portsmouth
- Leicester City 2-0 Wigan Athletic
- Manchester City 2-1 Tom Pope
- Wolves 0-0 Manchester United
“If there’s one thing more entertaining than seeing players give it the big one, it’s seeing players give it the big one and then delivering,” says Matt Dony. “Good on Pope. Great to see him get a goal.”
Indeed. If you haven’t heard his Undr the Cosh interview, it’s hugely entertaining. I can’t recommend Undr the Cosh enough; it’s consistently brilliant.
Wolves 0-0 Manchester United Wolves, with Raul Jimenez on as sub, have started the second half superbly at Molineux. Scott Murray has the latest.
7/7 - Tom Pope's equaliser for Port Vale against Manchester City was his seventh goal in his last seven FA Cup appearances. Soft. #FACup pic.twitter.com/xqc5GhvxSZ
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 4, 2020
The half-time scores
- Bournemouth 1-0 Luton
- Fleetwood 0-0 Portsmouth
- Leicester City 2-0 Wigan Athletic
- Manchester City 2-1 Port Vale
- Wolves 0-0 Manchester United
Bournemouth 1-0 Luton Late drama in the first half, with Luton’s Alan Sheehan smacking a penalty against the bar in the seventh minute of added time.
Updated
Wolves 0-0 Manchester United It’s half-time at Molineux. Scott Murray is following that one.
GOAL! Manchester City 2-1 Port Vale (Aguero 42)
Port Vale were level for seven minutes (not counting the mezzanine VAR check). But it doesn’t matter how many City score now; Tom Pope has already won.
Updated
GOAL! Leicester 2-0 Wigan (Barnes 40)
Harvey Barnes doubles Leicester’s lead. That should - should - be enough.
Updated
GOAL! Manchester City 1-1 Port Vale (Pope 35)
Twitter’s Tom Pope has equalised for Port Vale! It was a terrific header, apparently, though sadly it didn’t involve John Stones being left in a heap.
Just watched the highlights of the England game! I know I’m a league 2 player, I know he plays for England, I know he’s on £150k a week, I know he’s a million times better player than me but I’d love to play against John Stones every week! I’d get 40 a season! #soft #weakaspiss
— Tom Pope (@Tom_Pope9) June 7, 2019
Updated
Manchester City 1-0 Port Vale “One yard out, open goal, falling backwards,” writes J.A Hopkin. “David Silva hits the bar...”
I love this groundbreaking form of journalism, whereby the readers tell the writer what’s happening.
Wolves 0-0 Manchester United That might have been a penalty for United, with Brandon Williams apparently taken down by Leander Dendoncker. Paul Tierney, the on-field referee, was not interested and VAR backed him up. If you substitute a herbal tea such as peppermint for more stimulating drinks such as coffee and 94%ABV liquor, your ability to be calm will be enhanced many times.
Wolves 0-0 Manchester United Half an hour gone. Manchester United have had loads of possession, and you know what that means: it’s 0-0. Harry Maguire is struggling with what looks like a hip problem. That would be a huge blow at the best of times, never mind when you have Manchester City (twice) and Liverpool to play this month.
“Nice try with this pseudo-Zen attitude you’re adopting towards that which should not be mentioned,” says Charlie. “But you’re not fooling anyone, and we both know that by the end of this round of games you’re going to be a raging, spluttering wreck because someone’s toe was offside. If you keep trying to bottle it up, at some point in the next ninety minutes there’s going to be an explosion in King’s Place that will be heard throughout the land.”
Let’s hope so.
The latest scores
- Bournemouth 1-0 Luton
- Fleetwood 0-0 Portsmouth
- Leicester City 1-0 Wigan Athletic
- Manchester City 1-0 Port Vale
- Wolves 0-0 Manchester United
“Last season I followed the Coupe de France and to these foreign eyes it seems to have oodles of romance,” says Kári Tulinius. “A story like today’s, a team traveling to mainland France from an island in the Indian Ocean and emerging victorious, just couldn’t happen in any other national competition I know of. The Magique of the Coupe.”
Apart from Wolves v Man Utd, which is live on BT Sport, we can’t see the goals from the 5.31pm games, hence the Pulitzer-bothering entries below.
GOAL! Leicester 1-0 Wigan (Pearce 18 og)
It’s also there!
Updated
GOAL! Manchester City 1-0 Port Vale (Zinchenko 19)
It’s there!
Updated
NO GOAL! Bournemouth 1-0 Luton
As well as being a boor and a bore, VAR has now been exposed as heartless swine: Dominic Solanke’s goal has been ruled out for an offside in the build-up.
Updated
GOAL! Bournemouth 2-0 Luton (Solanke 16)
A year and a day after joining the club, Dominic Solanke finally scores his first goal for Bournemouth!
Updated
Wolves 0-0 Manchester United Sergio Romero has just made an outstanding reaction save at Molineux. Manchester United don’t have much to boast about these days, but they can claim one of the best reserve goalkeepers in the world.
Updated
“I once won a lifetime supply of Marmite in a newspaper competition, Rob,” says Simon McMahon. “I’ve still got the jar; I can send it to you if you’re interested.”
“In my opinion, match broadcasts should be labelled to indicate whether or not VAR is in use,” says Peter Oh. “Kind of like the ‘gluten-free’ and ‘non-GMO’ labels on food products.”
VAR, you say? Well, most worries are future-based. They revolve around things that, in most cases, will never happen. Concentrate on the present and the future will take care of itself.
GOAL! Bournemouth 1-0 Luton (Billing 9)
Bournemouth have been struggling of late, but Philip Billing has given them an early lead against occasional giant-killers Luton.
Updated
“Port Vale NOT Preston,” says Anne Oakes of an earlier mistake that has now been corrected so there’s no point me linking to it because it’s no longer there. “I am a Burslem ex-pat in France enjoying the end of the festivities so I have nothing better to do than point out your mistake...”
Ach, I thought nobody has spotted.
Peep peep! The 5.31pm games are under way. Scott Murray is also following Wolves v Man Utd.
“Hi Rob,” says Grant Tennille. “Wading in ill-advisedly, I feel certain, but re: jinxing/tempting fate at Watford, how early is too early to deem something a ‘consolation’ goal? If this question has shades of the whole ‘what makes a foul ”tactical”’ discussion, then please accept my apologies.”
Consolation goals, like beauty and Marmite, are in the eye of the beholder. I suppose the events of 4 February 2004 should have taught us there is no such thing as a foregone conclusion.
And here’s your hot-off-the-press report on Watford’s spectacular capitulation Tranmere’s heroic comeback at Vicarage Road:
And these are the late kick-offs
- Bournemouth v Luton
- Fleetwood v Portsmouth
- Leicester City v Wigan Athletic
- Manchester City v Port Vale (aka John Stones v Tom Pope)
- Wolves v Manchester United
Updated
And our take from the south coast, where Brighton came unstuck against Sheffield Wednesday:
Our match report from Fulham:
The biggest cup shock of the day has come in France:
Updated
“Way to go Rob,” says Ivar Laanen. “You really jinxed Watford with your little speech, in which you said, ‘They’ve played four home games under Nigel Pearson, including today, and it’s probably not tempting fate to suggest they have won all four.’ It’s your fault Tranmere came back. Well done.”
You make a fair point. I suppose I would say there is seldom any rational reason for having regrets about past deeds or events. Because the past does not exist in any other way than in your memory. When you recognise this lack of reality, you can be calm.
Peep peep! That’s it for the 3.01pm matches. I’m going to take a short break, but will be back for the 5.31pm kick-offs.
The full-time scores
- Brentford 1-0 Stoke
- Brighton 0-1 Sheffield Wednesday
- Cardiff 2-2 Carlisle
- Fulham 2-1 Aston Villa
- Oxford 4-1 Hartlepool
- Preston 2-4 Norwich
- Reading 2-2 Blackpool
- Southampton 2-0 Huddersfield
- Watford 3-3 Tranmere
Full time: Brentford 1-0 Stoke
A dog of a game, by all accounts, but Brentford are through.
Full time: Southampton 2-0 Huddersfield
Two teenagers, Will Smallbone and Jake Vokins, scored to give Southampton a comfortable victory.
GOAL! Oxford 4-1 Hartlepool
Non-league Hartlepool threatened a shock when they led in the first half, but Oxford were too good after the break.
Full time: Fulham 2-1 Aston Villa
Two brilliant goals from Anthony Knockaert and Harry Arter give Fulham victory over Premier League Aston Villa.
Full time: Cardiff 2-2 Carlisle
Cardiff come from 2-0 down at half-time to avoid a shock defeat.
Full time: Reading 2-2 Blackpool
That was a cracking game, and included a Panenka that hit the bar from Armand Gnanduillet.
Full time: Watford 3-3 Tranmere
Peep peep! League One Tranmere come from three goals down at half-time to earn a replay.
Full time: Preston 2-4 Norwich
The Irish teenager Adam Idah’s accomplished hat-trick puts Norwich through without alarm.
Full time: Brighton 0-1 Sheffield Wednesday
Peep peep! Sheffield Wednesday have put Premier League Brighton out of the FA Cup.
GOAL! Southampton 2-0 Huddersfield (Vokins)
Another teenager, Jake Vokins, seals Southampton’s place in the last 32 with a deflected shot.
Updated
GOAL! Oxford 4-1 Hartlepool (Taylor 87 pen)
Only Liverpool and Manchester City have scored more goals in all competitions than Oxford this season.
Updated
“The way it’s used at the moment, VAR is not conducive to anyone’s mental health and well-being, I reckon,” says Simon McMahon. “The powers that be should try the more mindful approach to decision making pioneered by the MBM. Seriously. Just ask the MBM. It’d be quicker, and more accurate.”
I agree. Add a dab of lavender to milk, leave town with an orange and pretend you’re laughing at it.
GOAL! Oxford 3-1 Hartlepool (Fosu-Henry 84)
Tariqe Fosu-Henry scores an open goal to seal an impressive comeback from Oxford.
RED CARD: Pereyra sent off for Watford
Watford 3-3 Tranmere He kicked out at a Tranmere player, and he’s off.
GOAL! Watford 3-3 Tranmere (Mullin 87 pen)
Paul Mullin hammers it down the middle! Tranmere, who were lucky to be 3-0 down at half-time, are level!
Updated
GOAL! Preston 2-4 Norwich (Harrop 84)
Blah blah, Tranmere have a penalty!
PENALTY TO TRANMERE!
Oh my days.
Ther’s more football after this
“According to the commentator, Monthe is pronounced Montay,” says Mac Millings, “so I’m guessing his nickname is Burns.”
Updated
The latest scores
- Brentford 1-0 Stoke
- Brighton 0-1 Sheffield Wednesday
- Cardiff 2-2 Carlisle
- Fulham 2-1 Aston Villa
- Oxford 2-1 Hartlepool
- Preston 1-4 Norwich
- Reading 2-2 Blackpool
- Southampton 1-0 Huddersfield
- Watford 3-2 Tranmere
“How about that hat-trick for the young Cork man, Idah?” says J.R in Illinois. “Pretty sweet. And here is where I mention that if they had been using VAR his third goal would have been chalked off as he was offside before he won the penalty. Sorry. VAR is so terrible that even when it isn’t in use the mere fact that it exists is so disheartening as to ruin non-VAR games as well.”
VAR, you say? There is little doubt that those who get the most from life are those who look for the wonder in even the smallest things they do. Cultivate this skill and you’ll find peace and satisfaction as well.
GOAL! Watford 3-2 Tranmere (Monthe 78)
Crikey. A mistake from the Watford keeper Daniel Bachmann allows Emmanuel Monthe to bring Tranmere right back into the match. If his nickname isn’t Cremda, then the world is going to hell in a handcart.
Updated
“You’ve accidentally added the word ‘again’ to the end of that sentence (4.20pm),” says Matt Dony. “(Also, what could a therapist possibly offer you that you can’t get from an extensive network of well-balanced, rational, intelligent MBM correspondents?)”
I’m sorry, I thought that was a rhetorical question.
GOAL! Fulham 2-1 Aston Villa (Arter 74)
Fulham are ahead for the second time thanks to the on-loan Harry Arter.
Updated
GOAL! Oxford 2-1 Hartlepool (Baptiste 66)
Oxford have battered Hartlepool in the second half and deserve their lead. It’s a beautiful solo goal, too, from Shannon Baptiste, who moves elegantly through the defence and eases the ball into the net.
Updated
MISSED PENALTY! Reading 2-2 Blackpool
For the love of blood pressure, I can’t keep up with this. Arnand Gnanduillet has missed a penalty for Blackpool, Panenkaing it onto the crossbar.
GOAL! Reading 2-2 Blackpool (Loader 66)
Reading equalise for the second time!
GOAL! Watford 3-1 Tranmere (Jennings 65)
Connor Jennings gets a consolation goal for Tranmere.
Updated
Fulham 1-1 Aston Villa That goal came from Anwar El Ghazi, who apparently nicked it off Jonathan Kodjia.
GOAL! Brighton 0-1 Sheffield Wednesday (Reach 65)
Jack Reach’s deflected free-kick has given Sheffield Wednesday the lead at the Amex Stadium!
Updated
GOAL! Fulham 1-1 Aston Villa (El Ghazi 63)
Villa are level! But another Premier League team are in trouble...
GOAL! Preston 1-4 Norwich (Idah 61 pen)
There’s your third round fairytale! Adam Idah, the 18-year-old striker from Cork, scores from the penalty spot to complete a hat-trick on his FA Cup debut.
Updated
GOAL! Reading 1-2 Blackpool (Gnanduillet 60)
Reading were level for only four minutes. Armand Gnanduillet has restored Blackpool’s lead with a thunderbast- spectacular strike.
Updated
“The main problem with VAR isn’t the V part, it’s the AR part, the human part,” says J.R. in Illinois. “I have seen the VAR make some seriously grievous decisions but you should have seen me at the moment I realised that they were using VAR in some, but not all, FA Cup matches. I was literally shocked and my mouth involuntarily hung open for several moments in disbelief. What rocket scientists came up with that plan? And why am I surprised even though I know I shouldn’t be?”
I wish I could reply, but my therapist says I need to stop talking about VAR and start loving myself again.
The latest scores
- Brentford 1-0 Stoke
- Brighton 0-0 Sheffield Wednesday
- Cardiff 2-2 Carlisle
- Fulham 1-0 Aston Villa
- Oxford 1-1 Hartlepool
- Preston 0-3 Norwich
- Reading 1-1 Blackpool
- Southampton 1-0 Huddersfield
- Watford 3-0 Tranmere
GOAL! Reading 1-1 Blackpool (Baldock 56)
Another equaliser, this time at the Madejski Stadium, thanks to a stinging shot from Sam Baldock.
GOAL! Cardiff 2-2 Carlisle (Whyte 55)
Cardiff have scored twice in the first 10 minutes of the second half, with Gavin Whyte grabbing the equaliser.
Brighton 0-0 Sheffield Wednesday Steven Fletcher has been stretchered off with what sounds like a very bad injury. He landed awkwardly on a straight leg, and the BT Sport pundits think it could be a cruciate-ligament injury. At the age of 32, that’s especially worrying.
GOAL! Oxford 1-1 Hartlepool (Hall 52)
Robert Hall scores a fine goal, not dissimilar to Knockaert’s, to equalise for Oxford against non-league Hartlepools.
GOAL! Fulham 1-0 Aston Villa (Knockaert 54)
Aston Villa could be the first Premier League side to go out of the FA Cup. Anthony Knockaert moves infield from the right and whips a beautiful curling shot into the top corner. That’s a lovely goal.
Updated
GOAL! Cardiff 1-2 Carlisle (Paterson 50)
Cardiff are back in the game thanks to Callum Paterson. Yep.
Updated
GOAL! Southampton 1-0 Huddersfield (Smallbone 47)
The impressive teenager Will Smallbone marks his debut with an accomplished finish to give Southampton the lead.
Updated
GOAL! Preston 1-3 Norwich (Bodin 48)
Preston pull one back at the start of the second half. A corner bounces around the Norwich area before Billy Bodin does the necessary.
Updated
“Albion Rovers 0-3 Stirling Albion is the half time at Cliftonhill,” writes our unpaid etc. Simon McMahon. “This year is the 100th anniversary of Rovers’ solitary appearance in a major cup final, the 1920 Scottish Cup. Having beaten Rangers in a second replay to reach the final, they lost 3-2 to Kilmarnock in front of 95,000 at Hampden. Apparently their goalkeeper arrived at Hampden direct from the cells, having been somewhat ‘tired and emotional’ the previous evening.”
And some people have the effrontery to say football has never been better.
“Watford cruised to a 3-0 lead at the break,” writes our unpaid intern American Watford correspondent Mac Millings. “The Hornets really didn’t create an awful lot, but when they did, they made it count, with three beautifully taken goals. Tranmere have worked hard, and their travelling support have been tremendous, but Watford simply have too much quality for them. Dele-Bashiru in particular has looked sharp.”
The half-time scores
- Brentford 1-0 Stoke
- Brighton 0-0 Sheffield Wednesday
- Cardiff 0-2 Carlisle
- Fulham 0-0 Aston Villa
- Oxford 0-1 Hartlepool
- Preston 0-3 Norwich
- Reading 0-1 Blackpool
- Southampton 0-0 Huddersfield
- Watford 3-0 Tranmere
GOAL! Cardiff 0-2 Carlisle (McKirdy 45+2)
There’s a shock on in Wales. Harry McKirdy has put Carlisle, who sit 21st in League Two, a couple of goals ahead against the Championship side Cardiff.
VAR! Southampton 0-0 Huddersfield
Shane Long has a goal disallowed for an unclear and unobvious offside.
Updated
GOAL! Brentford 1-0 Stoke City (Marcondes 43)
Emiliano Marcondes scores for 2021’s hipster favourites.
Updated
Brighton 0-0 Sheffield Wednesday “Steven Fletcher’s barnet looks magnificent,” says John Hartson on BT Sport. “He had less hair than me 12 months ago. Now he looks like Rod Stewart!”
GOAL! Preston 0-3 Norwich (Idah 38)
The exciting Irish teenager Adam Idah gets his second, clipping the ball into an empty net from 40 yards. He looks a prospect, this lad.
Updated
The latest scores
- Brentford 0-0 Stoke
- Brighton 0-0 Sheffield Wednesday
- Cardiff 0-1 Carlisle
- Fulham 0-0 Aston Villa
- Oxford 0-1 Hartlepool
- Preston 0-2 Norwich
- Reading 0-1 Blackpool
- Southampton 0-0 Huddersfield
- Watford 3-0 Tranmere
GOAL! Watford 3-0 Tranmere (Pereyra 34)
Watford’s spectacular revival continues. They’ve played four home games under Nigel Pearson, including today, and it’s probably not tempting fate to suggest they have won all four. Roberto Pereyra has put them 3-0 up against Tranmere with a classy finish.
Updated
ICYMI, the biggest story of the early games came at Spotland, where 17-year-old Luke Matheson set up 40-year-old Aaron Wilbraham to earn a deserved replay for Rochdale against Norwich.
GOAL! Reading 0-1 Blackpool (Delfouneso 28)
Blackpool lead against the run of play. Nathan Delfouneso, the former England Under-21 striker, has scored from close range.
Updated
GOAL! Preston 0-2 Norwich (Hernandez 28)
A mistake from the Preston keeper Connor Ripley allows Onel Hernandez to double Norwich’s lead.
Updated
Southampton 0-0 Huddersfield Southampton might have had a penalty for a shirt pull on Jan Vestergaard. VAR is being used, but decided it was not a clear and obvious foul. Don’t go there, I’m on a VAR detox.
Updated
“From the photo of Millwall’s third goal,” begins Peter Littley, “it seems there were more goals than paying spectators.”
The latest scores
- Brentford 0-0 Stoke
- Brighton 0-0 Sheffield Wednesday
- Cardiff 0-1 Carlisle
- Fulham 0-0 Aston Villa
- Oxford 0-1 Hartlepool
- Preston 0-1 Norwich
- Reading 0-0 Blackpool
- Southampton 0-0 Huddersfield
- Watford 2-0 Tranmere
GOAL! Watford 2-0 Tranmere (Chalobah 14)
Tranmere try to play out from the back. It doesn’t go entirely to plan, and Nathaniel Chalobah makes it 2-0 to Watford.
Updated
GOAL! Cardiff 0-1 Carlisle (Bridge 12)
It’s haemorrhaging goals in the FA Cup. Jack Bridge wins a dodgy penalty and takes it himself. His effort is saved but he scores from the replay.
Updated
GOAL! Watford 1-0 Tranmere (Dele-Bashiru 12)
Watford Reserves take an early lead through a cracking long-range strike from Tom Dele-Bashiru.
Updated
GOAL! Oxford 0-1 Hartelpool (Kitching 9)
Non-league Hartlepool lead at Oxford! The home side faffed around in defence, allowing Mark Kitching to nip in and score.
Updated
Cork's Adam Idah scores! SCENES! Magic of the cup all over the gaff! https://t.co/TzmkjHewuS
— Cork's RedFM Sport (@BigRedBench) January 4, 2020
“No cup games in Scotland this week as the big boys take a break, but you don’t get more romantic than the Scottish lower leagues, do you?” swoons Simon McMahon. “In the Scottish Championship, runaway leaders Dundee United make the long trip to Dumfries to face Queen of the South. The Tannadice men have won nine and drawn one of their last ten in the league, establishing a 14-point lead over the chasing pack in the process. Their last defeat was at Queen of the South, though, a 4-0 shellacking at that, so they’ll be keen to take revenge today. There’s also an Albion derby as it’s Albion Rovers v Stirling Albion. You don’t get more romantic than that, eh?”
GOAL! Preston 0-1 Norwich (Idah 2)
An early lead for Norwich, with the Irish teenager Adam Idah scoring very confidently from Marco Stiepermann’s through pass. I am paraphrasing Chris Sutton on BT Sport here, as they are not allowed to show the goals from the 3.01pm kick-offs. Bah, gah and bah some more: it was fun being able to see the thing I have to describe during the early games.
Updated
Peep peep! The 3.01pm games are under way.
Here’s the match report from our man in Rochdale:
Peep peep! I’m going to take a short break before the 3.01pm games begin. In the meantime, here’s a quiz.
Updated
The final scores in the 12.31pm kick-offs
- Birmingham 2-1 Blackburn
- Bristol City 1-1 Shrewsbury Town
- Burnley 4-2 Peterborough
- Millwall 3-0 Newport County
- Rochdale 1-1 Newcastle
- Rotherham 2-3 Hull
Full time: Rotherham 2-3 Hull City
Peep peep! Tom Eaves’ earthy hat-trick has put Hull into the fourth round.
Rotherham 2-3 Hull City Rotherham almost equalise straight away, with Reece Burke heading against his own post!
GOAL! Rotherham 2-3 Hull (Eaves 90+2)
Tom Eaves completes his hat-trick to put Hull into the next round! He headed home from close range after a scramble at a corner, and celebrated in style by whipping off his top to reveal a GPS vest.
Updated
Full time: Birmingham 2-1 Blackburn
Jeremie Bela’s late goal puts ten-man Birmingham in the last 32.
Updated
Full time: Bristol City 1-1 Shrewsbury Town
An impressive performance from Shrewsbury, who could easily have won at Ashton Gate.
Full time: Burnley 4-2 Peterborough
A pretty comfortable victory for a strong Burnley side, who led 3-0 after 23 minutes and were never in danger after that.
Full time: Rochdale 1-1 Newcastle
Peep peep! Aaron Wilbraham, the FA Cup’s great quadragenarian, secures a lucrative and deserves replay for Rochdale against injury-hit Newcastle.
GOAL! Birmingham 2-1 Blackburn (Bela 90)
Ten-man Birmingham have nicked it! Jeremie Bela moves into the area and sidefoots a low cross-shot through the keeper Jayson Leutwiler. That was poor keeping and even worse defending, with all the Blackburn players backing away from Bela in the area.
Updated
Full time: Millwall 3-0 Newport County
An easy win for Gary Rowett’s side.
Rochdale 1-1 Newcastle Steve Bruce’s side are hanging on for dear life, or at least a replay, at Spotland. Follow the last few minutes with Scott Murray.
These are the 3.01pm fixtures, more of which anon.
- Brentford v Stoke
- Brighton v Sheffield Wednesday
- Cardiff v Carlisle
- Fulham v Aston Villa
- Oxford v Hartlepools
- Preston v Norwich
- Reading v Blackpool
- Southampton v Huddersfield
- Watford v Tranmere
“Oh damn, somebody already beat me to it!” says Adam Hirst, who has sent a link to that Malcolm Macdonald goal (1.49pm). “That’ll teach me to concentrate on the cricket and only look in on you occasionally. Mind you, I bet that’s what you’re doing as well…”
That’s a despicable slur on my professionalism . I am completely focussed on the third round on the fact thaT DEAN ELGAR HAS JUST SLOGGED DOM BESS STRAIGHT UP IN THE AIR! WOOHOO, YA DANCER!
The latest scores
- Birmingham 1-1 Blackburn (Birmingham down to 10 men)
- Bristol City 1-1 Shrewsbury Town
- Burnley 4-2 Peterborough
- Millwall 3-0 Newport County
- Rochdale 1-1 Newcastle
- Rotherham 2-2 Hull (Rotherham down to 10 men)
GOAL! Millwall 3-0 Newport (Bradshaw 82)
Millwall seal victory at the Den, with Tom Bradshaw sweeping in from close range.
Updated
GOAL! Rochdale 1-1 Newcastle (Wilbraham 79)
Oh my, this is a classic FA Cup story! Aaron Wilbraham, aged 40 (F-O-R-T-Y), has come off the bench to equalise for Rochdale against Newcastle. Scott Murray has more.
Updated
GOAL! Bournemouth 4-2 Peterborough (Jade-Jones 76)
The teenager Ricky Jade-Jones pulls one back for Peterborough, shinning a volley into the net from close range after a scramble at a corner.
Updated
Millwall 2-0 Newport Joss Labadie is lucky to get only a yellow card after planting his studs into the calf of Connor Mahoney.
Rotherham 2-2 Hull The referee spent an age talking to the assistant about whether the ball went out of play before Kane crossed for Eaves to score. That’s all very strange, because there’s no VAR, and it didn’t go out of play anyway. Everyone’s lost the noggin post-VAR.
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GOAL! Rotherham 2-2 Hull City (Eaves 66)
Hull are level against ten-man Rotherham. Tom Eaves gets his second goal, stretching to head into the net after a fine run down the left by Herbie Kane.
Updated
Latest scores
- Birmingham 1-1 Blackburn (Birmingham down to 10 men)
- Bristol City 1-1 Shrewsbury Town
- Burnley 4-1 Peterborough
- Millwall 2-0 Newport County
- Rochdale 0-1 Newcastle
- Rotherham 2-1 Hull (Rotherham down to 10 men)
Birmingham 1-1 Blackburn Sunjic only came on as a substitute two minutes before he was sent off. Good lad.
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What. A. Goal.
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) January 4, 2020
Kyle Vassell! 🚀🚀🚀#FACup pic.twitter.com/5Wt3TVwPvU
GOAL! Millwall 2-0 Newport (Mahoney 64 pen)
Millwall double their lead through Connor Mahoney’s calm penalty.
Updated
GOAL! Birmingham 1-1 Blackburn (Armstrong 61 pen)
Blackburn are level - and Birmingham are down to 10 men. Ivan Sunjic, mistaking himself for Franz Beckenbauer, gave the ball away to Sam Gallagher and compounded the mistake by shoving his over in the penalty area. He was sent off, and Adam Armstrong thumped the penalty down the middle.
Rochdale 0-1 Newcastle Ian Henderson has hit the post for Rochdale, who are putting Newcastle under increasing pressure.
This is a great spot from Gavin English
“Rob, take a look at this – almost identical to Kyle Vassell’s goal.”
Latest scores
- Birmingham 1-0 Blackburn
- Bristol City 1-1 Shrewsbury Town
- Burnley 4-1 Peterborough
- Millwall 1-0 Newport County
- Rochdale 0-1 Newcastle
- Rotherham 2-1 Hull (Rotherham down to 10 men)
Rochdale 0-1 Newcastle What, another one? Yep, Newcastle have suffered their 48th injury of the festive period. Scott Murray has the details.
Millwall 1-0 Newport Padraig Amond has missed a great chance for Newport, scuffing a loose ball wide from eight yards.
GOAL! Burnley 4-1 Peterborough (Rodriguez 52)
Aaron Lennon plays a beautiful reverse pass to put Jay Rodriguez through, and he finishes with the minimum of fuss.
Updated
GOAL! Bristol City 1-1 Shrewsbury Town (Goss 48)
Shrewsbury equalise with a fine goal. A corner was half cleared to Sean Goss, 25 yards from goal, and he curled a lovely, precise shot that went into the net off the far post.
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Half-time entertainment
This is great, the end.
Peep peep! It’s half-time in the six 12.31pm games, and these are the scores:
- Birmingham 1-0 Blackburn
- Bristol City 1-0 Shrewsbury Town
- Burnley 3-1 Peterborough
- Millwall 1-0 Newport County
- Rochdale 0-1 Newcastle
- Rotherham 2-1 Hull (Rotherham down to 10 men)
GOAL! Rotherham 2-1 Hull (Vassell 43)
What a goal! Kyle Vassell has given 10-man Rotherham the lead with a spectacular goal from the left edge of the box. He allowed a short throw to run across his body, waited for the ball to bounce up and smashed a swirling shot that flew over Matt Ingram and into the far corner. It was very similiar to this goal from Steve McManaman, only better.
Updated
GOAL! Burnley 3-1 Peterborough (Toney 39)
You don’t see many consolation goals in the first half, but Peterborough have got one at Turf Moor. Matthew Lowton’s backheader was short, and Ivan Toney danced around Joe Hart to score confidently from a tight angle.
Updated
“My favourite third round goal is Shane Long for Reading vs Liverpool in 2010,” says Rob Evans. “Cold, possibly snowy weekday evening. We’re playing well but it’s Liverpool, and it’s Anfield and somehow it is extra time. Reading favourite Bryn Gunnarson turns into Garrincha, throws in a Cruyff turn and a nutmeg before pinging in for Shane Long to score.”
“I join Mr. Pearson in my astonishment that all the early matches are available here in the colonies,” says James Thomas. “I’ve opted for Birmingham-Blackburn, although I’m really waiting for Fulham-Aston Villa later. What do the Cottagers need to do, in your humble estimation, to earn promotion, and stick, this season?”
Erm, win the play-offs? I’m no Championship expert – I’m not sure I’m an anything expert – but it does look like Leeds and West Brom will be hard to catch.
Bristol City 1-0 Shrewbury Town Ah, here we go. A short corner on the left, a deep cross and a precise looping header from Famara Diedhiou.
GOAL! Bristol City 1-0 Shrewsbury Town (Diedhiou 30)
I can’t describe this one because BT Sport are currently on an ad break. Hotels.com, since you asked.
Updated
Latest scores
- Birmingham 1-0 Blackburn
- Bristol City 0-0 Shrewsbury Town
- Burnley 3-0 Peterborough
- Millwall 1-0 Newport County
- Rochdale 0-1 Newcastle
- Rotherham 1-1 Hull (Rotherham down to 10 men)
Rotherham 1-1 Hull Rotherham are down to 10 men. Adam Thompson has been sent off for a studs-up lunge at Keane Lewis-Potter. I suspect it was overzealous rather than malicious, but it was a dangerous tackle and he had to walk.
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“Mickey Thomas’s free kick against for Wrexham against Arsenal would still be rising today had the net not stopped it,” says Matt Dony. “Xabi Alonso scored against Luton from way inside his own half on his WRONG FOOT. But, although it might not be the most romantic or spectacular choice, Van Dijk’s header against Everton two years ago looks like a turning point. He announced his arrival in style, and went on to have a ridiculously transformative effect on the team. That one probably gets my vote. I want to be VVD when I grow up.”
GOAL! Burnley 3-0 Peterborough (Hendrick 23)
Jeff Hendrick’s deflected shot from the edge of the area extendes Burnley’s lead.
Updated
GOAL! Rotherham 1-1 Hull (Smith 20)
An equaliser for Rotherham! Michael Smith, given too much time in the area, slams a rising shot into the top corner.
Updated
The latest scores
- Birmingham 1-0 Blackburn
- Bristol City 0-0 Shrewsbury Town
- Burnley 2-0 Peterborough
- Millwall 1-0 Newport County
- Rochdale 0-1 Newcastle
- Rotherham 0-1 Hull
“Evening Rob,” says Patrick O’Brien. “My favourite MIKEL ARTETA!!!!! third round goal MIKEL!!!!! ARTE!!!!!TA was MIKEL ARTETA!!!!!!! when ... um, effing love MIKEL ARTETA me.”
GOAL! Hull 1-0 Rotherham (Eaves 16)
Hull take a slightly underserved lead at the New York Stadium, with Tom Eaves dragging a low shot into the corner from close range.
Updated
GOAL! Rochdale 0-1 Newcastle (Almiron 17)
A neat finish from Miguel Almiron gives Newcastle a deserved lead. Scott Murray will tell you more.
Bliss it was in that dawn to be alive, but to be a Clockwatcher was very heaven
We can’t see the goals when we do Premier League clockwatches, which makes for a peculiar experience. Thankfully BT Sport are allowed to show the goals from the 12.31pm games. It’s quite an experience to actually describe the goals rather than paraphrase Paul Merson and Matt Le Tissier.
GOAL! Burnley 2-0 Peterborough (Pieters 15)
Burnley are cruising into the fourth round. Erik Pieters, 25 yards out, thumps a bouncing ball across Christy Pym and into the far corner. The keeper might have done better.
Updated
A preview of one of tomorrow’s big games
Burnley 1-0 Peterborough Pym makes a good save from Gudmundsson’s low shot. Peterborough could be blown away here.
A question for both you readers: what’s your favourite FA Cup third round goal and why? I’m not sure I can get past Ronnie Radford.
Updated
GOAL! Burnley 1-0 Peterborough (Rodriguez 8)
Rodriguez gives Burnley the lead from close range after Chris Wood’s header is saved by Christy Pym. He was offside in the build up, but it was a new phase of play by the time he scored, which meant the goal survived a VAR check. Incidentally, VAR is only being used in matches at Premier League grounds.
Updated
GOAL! Millwall 1-0 Newport (Smith 7)
Millwall take an early lead with Matt Smith scoring from 10 yards after a left-wing corner was allowed too bounce across the box.
Updated
GOAL! Birmingham 1-0 Blackburn (Crowley 4)
Birmingham have scored the first goal of the third round. Daniel Crowley, once of Arsenal, surges from the halfway line to the edge of the box and cracks a low shot into the far corner. Good goal, that.
Burnley and Newcastle, the two Premier League sides playing this lunchtime, have both picked strong XIs. It will be hard for any of the Small 13 to win the competition, but there is certainly scope for a run to the semi-finals, perhaps the final.
“One of the reasons I subscribed to ESPN+ was so I could watch FA Cup matches here in the USA,” says Joe Pearson. “Little did I expect they would ALL be available. What do I do?”
Watch Rochdale v Newcastle, and keep pressing F5 on this clockwatch so that we get more hits and The Man labours under the misapprehension that I am more popular than the average Clockwatcher. He might even give me a packet of bonbons.
The 12.31pm games are about to kick off. A reminder that Scott Murray is following Rochdale v Newcastle.
“Happy new year!” says Mike MacKenzie. “Not sure how practical the following ideas are but offer them anyway to improve FA Cup:
- 1) No replays from 3rd round on. I think Jamie Carragher has suggested this among others. Would result in more upsets as well as fewer games.
- 2) Move winter break to January. Have it start after the 3rd round FA Cup weekend. That might encourage teams to play their best sides knowing they’ll get a rest after.”
I like the first idea in particular, but the climate has changed so much that I don’t think there’s a way to restore the FA Cup’s 20th-century status. Actually, there is one way: football could buy back its soul. But there is more chance of me waking up tomorrow morning with a lustrous mullet.
As with 99.9999 per cent of everything Scott Murray writes, this is a brilliant read
And here’s a preview of every third round match
Peterborough think they will be facing a shadow Burnley side when they turn up for an early kick-off at Turf Moor, and they might be right. The FA Cup has come at an awkward time for the Clarets, who have lost six of their last eight league games, are only four points above the relegation zone and face Chelsea, Leicester, Manchester United and Arsenal when the Premier League resumes. Sean Dyche will still try to pick a side capable of winning the tie against League One’s top scorers, but anything could happen. VAR will be in use here, as it will be at all ties hosted by Premier League teams.
Some pre-match reading
Preamble
Hello. These all-dayers are getting out of hand. It was the Premier League on New Year’s Day, and today it’s an FA Cup third round special. First orders will be at 12.31pm, when the opening round of matches kick off. There are more games at 3.01pm, then a third lot starting at 5.31pm.
We’ll have separate MBMs for the two televised games, Rochdale v Newcastle and Wolves v Man Utd while muggins here will attempt to keep up with all the other games. The unusual kick-off times, as you are probably aware, are so that we can take a minute or three to think about mental health. Football has come a long way in the 21 years since Stan Collymore was made a pariah.
Alas, the FA Cup has become a bit of an outcast in that time, certainly in comparison to the big Leagues. We’re all friends here, so let us speak frankly: the FA Cup third round does not have the magic/romance/insert preferred cliche here it once did. It will never mean as much as it did in the days of Ronnie Radford, Matthew Hanlan and Micky Thomas. (The saddest thing about the FA Cup, since you asked, is that its greatest day, 8 April 1990, hastened its demise.)
It is still English football’s greatest giantkilling canvas, though, and the likelihood is that, at some stage this weekend, a few players will define their careers. Maybe even their lives.
Today’s fixtures
12.31pm
- Birmingham v Blackburn
- Bristol City v Shrewsbury Town
- Burnley v Peterborough
- Millwall v Newport County
- Rochdale v Newcastle
- Rotherham v Hull
3.01pm
- Brentford v Stoke
- Brighton v Sheffield Wednesday
- Cardiff v Carlisle
- Fulham v Aston Villa
- Oxford v Hartlepools
- Preston v Norwich
- Reading v Blackpool
- Southampton v Huddersfield
- Watford v Tranmere
5.31pm
- Bournemouth v Luton
- Fleetwood v Portsmouth
- Leicester v Wigan
- Manchester City v Port Vale
- Wolves v Manchester United
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