Right, well Barnsley have been beaten 2-0 by Middlesbrough and Blackburn have won 2-1 at Charlton. So that’s your lot. Thanks for your emails and birthday wishes. I’m off bowling because I’m trying to have a birthday akin to that of a 12-year-old.
So, what do we make of all that? Poor Southport. Poor, poor Southport. I hope Steven Gerrard lets the squad eat out for free in his restaurant tonight. Other things we learned? Erm, West Brom are better than Gateshead, Birmingham are just about better than Blyth and Swansea are good when they’re on the Wirral. Oh, and it’s now business as usual at Newcastle.
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Here’s your final scores apart from Charlton v Blackburn and Barnsley v Boro, but we know how they’ll turn out.
Full-time: Leicester 1-0 Newcastle
John Carver has just been booed by unhappy Newcastle fans. He should forward those on to Mike Ashley.
“Famous January 3rd Birthdays according to internet : Eli Manning for throwing footballs, Mel Gibson for throwing hissy fits, Stephen Stills for throwing jam sessions and Gregg Bakowski for throwing up virtual birthday drinks,” offers Raymond Reardon.
Goal! 0-2 Middlesbrough (Ayala 84)
Boro look like they’ll be in the fourth round thanks to the former Liverpool defender.
Full-time: Rochdale 1-0 Nottingham Forest
Keith Hill’s team deservedly knock out the Championship side thanks to Vincenzi’s first-half penalty. They had to hang on but could have been 3-0 up at half-time. Spotland will be bouncing.
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Full-time: Millwall 3-3 Bradford
A topsy-turvy tie at The Den ends all square. All back to Valley Parade for a replay.
Newcastle have been poor against Leicester today. John Carver hasn’t been able to find the formula to get them racing forwards like they did against Burnley. It’s still 1-0 to Leicester.
Elsewhere, Swansea have won 6-2 against Tranmere, Preston have beaten Norwich 2-0 and Derby did indeed crush Southport’s dreams of a replay with that penalty in injury-time.
Full-time: Blyth Spartans 2-3 Birmingham
No fairytale for Blyth or Dale then. Well done Birmingham for coming back so strongly though.
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Goal! Derby 1-0 Southport (Martin 90+3 pen)
Heartbreak for the Sandgrounders. Chris Martin strokes it home (with apologies for link)
Penalty to Derby in the last minute of injury time!
This is your moment David Raya.
And Southport are still clingng on with three minutes of injury time remaining!
Gary Brabin has parked the bus brilliantly, by all accounts. And I mean that in the nicest sense.
Charlton are down to 10 men against Blackburn. They trail 2-1 so it isn’t going to get any easier.
Goal! Millwall 3-3 Bradford (Fuller 83)
Ricardo Fuller you big lion-hearted hero you. That’s a rollercoaster game and a half at The Den.
“Having watched Birmingham City for my entire life, even at 2-3 up, we are likely to pass directly to Dale in front of goal at roughly the 94th minute mark,” doom-mongs Matthew Franks.
Goal! Preston 2-0 Norwich (Gallagher 84)
The Lillywhites will be in the bag for the fourth round.
Goal! Tranmere 2-5 Swansea (Routledge 85)
Erm, no they can’t. But Swansea can.
Goal! Tranmere 2-4 Swansea (Stockton 83)
They can’t can they?
Goal! Millwall 2-3 Bradford
Those Millwall fans will be miffed once again.
Southport stats!
Here are the stats from Pride Park where Southport keeper David Raya is doing an octopus impression to keep the Sandgrounders in it.
Here a song for him …
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Goal! Tony Pulis Magic 6-0 Gateshead (Morrison 69)
They’re staying in the Cup at least.
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Southport are still holding on against Derby!
Look how happy these two are about that.
@southport_fc pic.twitter.com/QDWjNRSOXP
— Paul Aird (@Paul_Aird) January 3, 2015
Goal! Bolton 1-0 Wigan (Clough 76)
No, Nigel hasn’t made a comeback. It’s Zach.
Goal! Millwall 2-2 Bradford (Nelson OG)
Bradford are back level.
Goal! Charlton 1-2 Blackburn (Taylor 59)
That’s his second of the afternoon.
Goal! Rotherham 1-5 Bournemouth (Kermorgant 72)
They’re just showing off now.
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Goal! Huddersfield 0-1 Reading (Blackman 69)
The Royals can smell the fourth round.
Goal! Preston 1-0 Norwich City (Gallagher 71)
Where are you Norwich? This would be very good result for Preston.
Goal! Tranmere 1-3 Swansea (Power 67)
Max Power was always going to score wasn’t he? Any relation to Cast’s lead singer I wonder?
Goal! Rotherham 1-4 Bournemouth (Kermorgant 67)
He’s done well to recover from this …
Cambridge United 2-0 Luton (Donaldson 66)
The home side look comfortable now in this League Two rumble.
Goal! Rotherham 1-3 Bournemouth (Fraser 63)
Edde Howe will be resting a bit easier after Fraser gives the Championship high-flyers a bit of breathing room.
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Goal! Barnsley 0-1 Middlesbrough (Vossen 48)
Boro take the lead in one of the day’s two delayed matches.
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Richard Brodie has almost scored for Southport against Derby with a header at the far-post!
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Goal! Rotherham 1-2 Bournemouth (Stanislas 58)
Junior Stanislas has put a more realistic scoreline on the third-round tie at Rotherham.
So, we're counting on you for an upset Southport.
They are still hanging on. But a replay’s about as good as it will get if reports of an 11-man wall being built on the Southport goalline are anything to go off.
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Goal! Tranmere 0-3 Swansea (Barrow 58)
Barrow taps home from a Gomis cross and kills this tie.
Goal! Blyth Spartans 2-3 Birmingham (Thomas 58)
Wes Thomas has taken a hammer to Cup Magic and smashed it to smithereens. He’s completed a three-goal comeback inside 13 second-half minutes the big spoil-sport.
Goal! West Brom 5-0 Gateshead (Brunt 55)
the only thing interesting about this game now is what Tony Pulis looks like without a cap.
Goal! Blyth Spartans 2-2 Birmingham (Thomas 55)
Now this really is calling out for a Robbie Dale hat-trick. I presume Birmingham have worked out how to run around on a cabbage-patch and now feel comfortable.
Goal! West Brom 4-0 Gateshead (Berahino 54)
Berahino has got a hat-trick though. He strokes home a low cross with a swish of his right boot to notch his third of the day. He’s got a right face on him though. Is he off? Or has Pulis told him he’s going nowhere?
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Goal! Blyth Spartans 2-1 Birmingham (Novak 52)
It’s taken a former non-league player from the north-east , Lee Novak, to draw the Blues level. He’s struck home from 20 yards. This is crying out for a Robbie Dale hat-trick.
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Goal! Tranmere 0-2 Swansea (Carroll 49)
Carroll times his run into the box to perfection to pick up a square pass, poke the ball past a defender and sidefoot home from six yards. So it’s up to Southport to provide Merseyside’s dose of Cup magic. Their defenders are currently throwing themselves in front of Derby shots like cannon fodder.
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Goal! West Brom 3-0 Gateshead (Berahino 45)
And it’s a lovely one. The forward picks the ball up just outside the 18-yard box, turns and opens up his body in one movement, and then curls the ball into the top right corner. Well done you.
A Birmingham fan, I presume …
@GreggBakowski Birmingham get what they deserve. 10 changes.
— pastcaring (@pastcaring) January 3, 2015
Here are your half-time FA Cup scores (ignore Charlton v Blackburn. It’s broken, as are the floodlights at The Valley. It was 1-0 to Blackburn before the delay). Oh, Barnsley and Boro are still playing due to a gas leak that delayed kick-off by 15 minutes.
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It’s not been a high-scoring half of FA Cup football but at least we have an upset on the cards. Just look how up for it these Blyth fans are …
Goal! West Brom 2-0 Gateshead (Anichebe 45)
Right on the stroke of half-time Anichebe turns and crashes home inside the box to give a comfortable-looking sheen to what has been a hardwork-half for the Baggies.
Goal! Rotherham 1-1 Bournemouth (MacDonald 44)
Eddie Howe’s side restore parity.
Goal! West Brom 1-0 Gateshead (Berahino 42)
Great news for one north-east team, not so for another. Berhaino is sharpest in the box to sidefoot home an accurate right-footed strike from 10 yards. Pulis can cool his guns a bit now.
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Goal! Blyth Spartans 2-0 Birmingham (Dale 41)
Robbie Dale can pull himself another pint. A short free-kick is played to Dale, the Birmingham defence stand around picking their noses and Dale strides into the box and crashes home his second.
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Goal! Leicester 1-0 Newcastle (Ulloa 39)
The big Argentinian has scored his eighth goal of the season to give Leicester the lead in the half-strength Premier League-side tussle.
Goal! Millwall 1-1 Bradford (McDonald 36)
Ian Holloway’s side find a bit of fight to equalise against the run of play.
Goal! Cup Magic 0-1 Swansea ( Dyer 34)
Nathan Dyer goes on a jinking run into the Tranmere box, cutting in from the left one, twice and then shooting. His first effort is blocked but he slams home the rebound from 10 yards to give the Premier League side a lead they deserve after dominating the game for the past 20 minutes.
Goal! Cup Magic 1-0 Birmingham (Dale 35)
Robbie Dale scores his 16th goal of the season for Blyth Spartans after some inventive play down the left-hand side results in a comfortable finish for Dale. He’s a barman apparently. He’ll enjoy a few pints on himself tonight.
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It’s dark at The Valley
The floodlights have packed in.
Some magic!
“Afternoon Gregg,” writes Simon McMahon. “I know it’s not the Cup, but this is still magic. Dumbarton lead slow-motion car-crash club The Rangers 1-0 at Ibrox. The Sons haven’t beaten a team from Govan since ‘94. 1894.” I hope you recovered from your Dundonian derby celebrations Simon. No lasting damage done?
Goal! Cambridge United 1-0 Luton Town (Simpson 27)
Cambridge get a penalty. Simpson takes it but it is parried by Luton’s Tyler … but then makes up for it by burying the rebound.
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Newcastle and Leicester sounds pretty tame. It’s 0-0 and rather dull apparently. And elsewhere there are still no goals. But the talk at Blyth is that the pitch looks something like this …
And Birmingham are really struggling to deal with it. Poor Birmingham. Should have brought wellies.
Noel Barrow goes close for Swansea against Tranmere with a mishit volley from the edge of the box, while Craig Best has hit the post for Derby against Southport, who are gamely hanging on at the Ipro Stadium. Well done Southport.
There are no goals anywhere else. Where’s the MAGIC?
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Tony Pulis has taken just 13 minutes to leave his seat in the stands and bawl out his West Brom players in spectacular fashion. He looks like a caffeine-addled traffic cop as he tries to get his underperforming Baggies to buck up their ideas against Gateshead.
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Grant Walker has this to say: “ Here’s hoping your present from the Reds is a spot in the 4th round draw! Happy birthday you beautiful son of a b!tch!” Erm, ta Grant.
Goal! Rochdale 1-0 Nottingham Forest (Vincenti 12 pen)
And that isn’t so much of a surprise. My colleague Nick Miller is a Forest fan and expects only disappointment from his beloved team these days.
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Goal! Rotherham 1-0 Bournemouth (Brindley 10)
That’s a surprise!
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Tranmere are doing most of the attacking against Swansea. They have Max Power in their ranks today. They’ve forced a couple of corners – and when you have someone called Max Power in your team, you have to hope for some heroics.
Goal! Millwall 0-1 Bradford (Knott 6)
Bradford make a great start away at Millwall. Billy Knott has rammed one home from six yards and Millwall fans are not happy. They’re having a right old moan.
Goal! Charlton 0-1 Blackburn (Taylor 4)
So there it is. Your first FA Cup third-round goal of the day. Boom!
4mins: Marshall with a cross from the right, brought down by Brown in the box. Cleared to Conway, deep cross, Taylor attacks and heads home!
— Blackburn Rovers (@OneRovers) January 3, 2015
Blyth’s groundsman’s had his feet up the past two weeks apparently …
The Blyth pitch looks like no-mans land in 1916. #FACup
— Back And To The Left (@BATTLCOMEDY) January 3, 2015
If you’re at any of today’s matches feel free to email/tweet me. It’s difficult to get eyes on much of today’s action. Oh, and any more virtual birthday pints are also welcome. Or whiskies. They’re always nice.
Peep!
It’s football!
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The teams are heading out around the grounds. The north looks like it got the weather today. It’s lashing down outside Guardian Towers.
And just look at Cambridge …
FA Cup third-round clockwatch – live! Join @GreggBakowski http://t.co/L2jV4PTO0Q (Photo: Getty) pic.twitter.com/OpGHSOqVDR
— Guardian sport (@guardian_sport) January 3, 2015
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Paul Merson’s having a fit over why Swansea are resting so many players against Tranmere. Garry Monk is still putting out a team that should beat League Two opposition. And it’s not like Swansea’s recent performances have been ones bristling with energy and verve.
The magic of the Cup!
Gateshead’s defence may be twisting and turning a bit today. Sessegnon and Berahino start for the Baggies. They can have a breather when they mark Anichebe, mind.
Albion v @GatesheadFC: Myhill, Pocognoli, McAuley, Dawson, Baird, Morrison, Brunt, Dorrans, Sessegnon, Anichebe, Berahino. #WBAGAT #FACup
— West Bromwich Albion (@WBAFCofficial) January 3, 2015
I’ve just been sent a virtual pint by James Thomas, so I’ll virtually drink it and then virtually start shouting aggressively at my colleagues then telling them I love them before falling asleep. “Good morning from the colonies and HAPPY BIRTHDAY GREGG! So what’s the conventional wisdom say about the Fulham-Wolves squabble at Craven Cottage? Would a result for the visitors be considered an upset?” asks James. Hmmm. Fulham appear to have fielded a stronger team so, yes, perhaps it would. Hic.
No surpise as Derby make nine changes for Southport’s visit.
TEAM: #DCFC’s side shows 9 changes from #DCFCvLUFC. Naylor makes his full debut & @couttsy_7 starts for first time under McClaren #DCFCvSFC
— Derby County (@dcfcofficial) January 3, 2015
Southport are taking 2,700 fans to Pride Park. They average about 800-1,000 at Haig Avenue. Here’s their old-school teamsheet …
Here is the @southport_fc team sheet... pic.twitter.com/CaoAdkoceA
— Jamie Bowman (@JamieBowman77) January 3, 2015
Here’s Leicester’s team to face Newcastle, featuring Championship Manager regen-soundalike ‘Nugent Lawrence’. Seven changes …
City: Hamer, De Laet, Morgan (c), Moore, Konchesky, Cambiasso, James, Knockaert, Nugent Lawrence, Ulloa. #LeiNew
— Leicester City (@OfficialFOXES) January 3, 2015
And seven changes for Newcastle too …
#NUFC v @OfficialFOXES (4-3-3): Alnwick; Santon, Williamson, Dummett, Haidara; Anita, Tioté (c), Vučkić; Armstrong, Rivière, Cabella.
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) January 3, 2015
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Tranmere may well fancy their chances after having a look at this Swansea teamsheet
TEAM SHEET: A reminder of this afternoon's #Swans team ahead of #FACup tie against @tranmererovers. pic.twitter.com/eaubfyikW0
— Swansea City FC (@SwansOfficial) January 3, 2015
If you’re a fan of sweatbands, leg-warmers, gigantic mobile phones and the sitcom Bread, then this 1980s nostalgia-fest from our Sport Network regular Steven Pye will be up your street. Here’s his take on the third round of the FA Cup in1983-84, a round that saw Man Utd humiliated at Bournemouth, shocks galore, a thrilling Watford-Luton derby, and Telford keeping the non-league flag flying.
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Will this song, by glam-punk warblers The Quireboys, be echoing around the Blyth Spartans dressing room today?
Afternoon. Well, it’s a big one. I’m 36 today! Just look at what Lampard’s achieved at that grand old age. It’s the new peak. I’m expecting great things in 2015. Oh, and let’s not forget it’s also FA Cup third-round day. Well, kind of. It’s about half of an FA Cup third-round day. Well done FA. Not one match is being televised. Not even Blyth Spartans v Birmingham City. Nope. West Brom v Gateshead? Give over.
That does make this clocko a little more useful than usual though. My fingers are going to do some stretches shortly and get a massage. They may be busy.
So where are the upsets going to be, as after all, that’s what this weekend is all about. Well, unfortunately, of the non-league teams only Blyth have got a home tie. Birmingham won’t feel very comfortable up at Croft Park, as Louise Taylor writes here.
As for Southport and Gateshead, at Derby and West Brom respectively, the Cup magic may be a little harder to locate. But, who knows, maybe Tony Pulis will begin life at The Hawthorns practising ugly survival football. In which case, that will suit Gateshead just fine. League One Rochdale are in good form and will smell blood when Nottingham Forest visit Spotland. Forest are a bit of a shambles at the moment. They’ll be a nice little scalp for Keith Hill.
Other interesting ties include the Lancashire (all right pedants, Greater Manchester then) derby between Bolton and Wigan. Brentford v Brighton – where Chris Hughton takes charge for his first match as the Seagulls’ new manager – also looks intriguing. And then there’s Tranmere v Swansea, with League Two’s lowly Rovers finally finding form under newish boss Micky Adams and the Swans creaking for the first time under Garry Monk’s charge.
Oh, and Leicester face Newcastle in an all-Premier League tie. How seriously will Pearson’s struggling Leicester take that one? Team news shortly …
Remember when football looked like that? Me neither. This is a lovely gallery – Memory Lane: FA Cup third-round images.
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