5:00 And that's about that. If you want to follow Aston Villa v Man Utd then why not do so with Tom Lutz here. If tennis is more your thing then we will have a report on Andy Murray's glorious victory/unlucky defeat the moment it finishes ... ish. Cheers for all your emails, sorry about the ones I didn't get round to using. Bye.
4:54 'What of the tennis?' you say? It's a tense affair with both Murray and Wawrinka serving much better. 3-3. More football? Plymouth beat Hull and Oldham are still winning at Everton.
4:50 'It's a great day for the underdog' booms Jeff Stelling. He's not wrong. Full-times are coming in now, Coventry are through, as are Peterborough. And Huddersfield have beaten Birmingham. Spurs and Reading will replay, as will West Ham and Man City. Middlesbrough and Chelsea have both seen off their Championship opposition. But far more up your street if you're the romantic type will be Havent and Waterlooville's draw at Swansea. Sheff Utd have won at the Reebok and Ipswich have been defeated by Portsmouth.
4:48 Swansea are piling on the pressure, but to no avail ... yet. And it's 4-1 to Coventry, Mifsud the scorer and who would have picked that scoreline? Murray and Wawrinka both hold their opening service games in the second set. Murray sends down three fearsome forehands and an ace in the third game to win it to love. 2-1 to the Scot.
4:44 Chelsea are still leading for those that forgot about the billionairre play-off in west London. And - oh my, oh my, oh my - Havent and Waterlooville (who are down to ten men) have equalised at Swansea. And the man who scored it is called Rocky Baptiste, some people get all the luck.
4:39 Wigan are now three up at a deserted Stadium of Light and, far more shockingly, that is also the scoreline at Ewood Park. That's right Coventry are 3-0 against Blackburn, an amazing goal from Dele Adebola, who must be nearing 50 by now. Oh the romance of the cup! Tom Huddlestone has come on for Spurs only to be sent off almost instantly. Huddersfield have gone ahead against Birmingham, Chris Brandon the scorer. And David Bentley has just got a goal back for Blackburn.
4:34 Stephen Hunt has equalised for Reading against Spurs, 2-2 now. And I get time to exhale for the first time in 15 minutes.
4:30 Peterborough are 3-1 up now and everyone is getting over-excited that it might be Darren v Alex Ferguson in the next round. Despite the fact Man Utd are though yet, neither are Peterborough and it would be a one in 31 chance. Still, the magic of the cup and all that. David Wheater has put Middlesbrough 2-1 at Bristol City and Swansea have finally scored against Havent and Waterlooville. It's all going on now, Murray has taken the first set in the tennis.
4:26 Wawrinka sends down a couple of aces to hold. Murray will now serve for the set. Still 1-0 to Chelsea over QPR, but Art Durbano scoffs at my claims that Avram Grant is worried: "I don't think Grant is "worried" about QPR, but hey who needs a replay, which would probably come on Jan 23 (right?), surely a miserable cold night in a crummy neighborhood, in the shadow of Wormwood Scrubs & all that. Besides, might as well get something out of Drogba, even if only a half hour, before he decamps to Ghana, eh?"
4:23 It's 3-2 between Plymouth and Hull, Ebanks-Blake and Windass scoring within a minute of each other. And it's also looking like a good game at Southend, who are 2-2 with Dag & Red. Bristol City are 1-1 with Middlesbrough now and Swindon are beating Barnet thanks to Blair Sturrock.
4:17 A 25-yard screamer from Gary McDonald has put Oldham one up at Everton on the stroke of half-time. Wigan are 2-0 up at Sunderland, Paul McShane with an own goal. Coventry are two up at Blackburn, Elliot Ward tucking away a penalty. Biggest shock at the moment by my reckoning, apart from Oldham of course.
4:13 Hull have got a goal back at Plymouth. David Nugent has scored for Portsmouth (no really) against Ipswich, who are to be fair more his level. And down to ten men. Cute volley from Murray saves a break point but the umpire overrules a line call in Wawrinka's favour, and he brings the set back to 3-3. Chelsea are bringing on Drogba, worried Avram?
4:09 Oldham are causing problems at Goodison Park but it's still 0-0 coming up to half-time. QPR are giving Chelsea a game at Stamford Bridge but are still a goal down.
4:05 "Murray is 20/1 for Wimbledon, which I might just take each-way, but he's also 20/1 for the US Open, which is worth buying now, if only to sell when he's 8/1 when the tournament starts. And get on him for 2009 Sports Personality of the Year. Perhaps I should use the winnings to get a life?" says Gary Naylor. Solid advice (about the bets not the life, Gary), I'm putting 50p on an accumulator. Preston lead Scunthorpe with Simon Whaley the man on the end of it. A Berbatov penalty has made it 2-1 to Spurs.
4:03 Andy Murray is beginning to ease ahead against a nervy Wawrinka, and takes a 3-1 lead in the first set.
3:57 Tennis update: A wayward forehand by Wawrinka at 30-0 allows Murray back into the game and the Scot takes advantage to break again. The tennis from these two youngsters is a little topsy-turvy at the moment. "Nice to see the FA Cup is now sponsored by a period of time, or is it the sound of police sirens from the 70s," says Ian Copestake. A joke that James Richardson would trade a lifetime of cappucinos for.
3:55 Full-time at Molineux, and Wolves are through.
3:49 "Why would football fans in the middle of the FA Cup want to know about the tennis? We are not amused," say the Praag Family (all of them!). Well, we're that kind of inclusive liberal bunch up here at GU towers. What's more, I'd look away now Praags: Murray goes down 15-40 in the second game, allowing Wawrinka to break right back despite a late let call in Murray's favour.
3:45 Teddy Sheringham has equalised with a penalty for Colchester. 'His cup experience is vital, old head etc etc,' lazy punditary fans. Sheffield United have scored against Bolton reserves and Wolves have ruined all our belief in this magic day, going 2-1 up with a minute or two to go against Cambridge. The scorer was Neill Collins, who obviously never read Roy of the Rovers as a pup. Havant and Waterlooville are holding out at Swansea, as are the slightly less plucky Man City at West Ham.
3:42 Tennis update: Andy Murray begins his challenge for a fourth tournament win by breaking Switzerland's Stanislas Wawrinka in the opening game.
3:40 Middlesbrough have equalised through Stuart Downing at Ashton Gate and Southampton are killing off Leicester's cup dream, going two up. They'll off at Goodison Park and Everton and there are 5,000 Oldham fans there, credit to them. Stelling makes a chip shop fire/taking a battering joke, arf arf arf.
3:35 Michael Miffsud has put Coventry a goal up at Blackburn, but there is too many goals being scored to mention the Magic of the ... David Fox has scored for Blackpool at Barnsley. "Any chance of a brief appraisal of Murray's 08 season bouffant. I have a trip to the hairdressers booked for Monday and I like to keep abreast of all the latest styles," says Henry W, well I can't see a screen with the tennis I'm afraid Henry but Jeff Stelling has a lovely tight side-parting if that helps.
3:30 Good news for Dave Kitson, Berbatov has equalised for Spurs. A sending-off at Ipswich, Liam Trotter heading for the changing rooms and Portsmouth a man up. (pause for breath) Chelsea have scored against west London big-boys QPR, Lee Camp own goal. Watch your back Lee, I've heard Buffon could be available. Danny Shittu has scored for Watford against Palace too.
3:27 Plymouth have scored against Hull, Nadjim Abdou to be precise. And Wolves fans can breath out, Michael Kightley has scored an equaliser. FA Cup haters Reading might have to go to the effort of playing another game in this competition as a Paul Robinson own goal has put them one up at White Hart Lane. Oh, and Plymouth have scored again, Marcel Seip this time.
3:25 Wolves still can't break down Cambridge with about 20 minutes left there. "Am I the only one who feels sorry for poor old Swansea? The poor little Welsh fellas have to play against both Havant & Waterlooville it's just not fair," writes Danny Cassidy. Wayhay! It's an oldie but a goodie and I positively encourage that kind of humour. Andy Murray is warming up, tennis fans.
3:20 Bristol City have scored against Middlesbrough, what an upset bonanza we are witnessing here, Liam Fontaine scoring. But sadly the Cup Upset Gods giveth and taketh away as Garry O'Connor scores an inevitable equaliser for Birmingham at Huddersfield. Southampton are 1-0 up at home to Ian Holloway's Leicester, Andrew Surman scoring from a corner. "That one's for the Plymouth fans, Holloway!" shouts, well, me.
3.16 Cambridge are still winning at Wolves, which is quite exciting, isn't it? Not for Ian Copestake, who writes: "Ah, the FA Cup, the competition that pits the wits of one billionaire owner against another, while warming the hearts with stories of mis-financed little clubs with cups in their hands and the hope that they too might find a richer backer. When you think of it that Robert Maxwell really was ahead of his time. Whatever happened to him? Oh." You old cynic Ian. I bet you don't like Christmas, Wispers or Same Difference either. Stockport are winning at Notts County, Anthony Elding keeping the 'Magic of the Cup'TM alive there.
3:11 Matt Hampshire has put Mansfield one up against Brighton. "Is there any truth in the rumours that Loftus Road is to be renamed 'The Factory', and QPR have signed a sponsorship deal with Campbell's Soup?" says Julian Menz. I'm not sure Julian, but I can tell you that they are yet to score against their poorer neighbours Chelsea.
3:08 Charlton are leading West Brom. That would be an exciting Championship clash but it doesn't get the pulse racing as a Cup tie for some reason, Zheng Zhi got the goal. "Could Villa beating Man Utd qualify as a cup shock since they haven't beaten them in 20(!) matches?" says G Templeton. Maybe it would, but then it would have to actually happen to count as a proper upset, which I'm afraid it won't.
3:05 The Everton game will be delayed by half an hour as there is a fire in a local fish and chip shop. That's the romance of the cup in action right there. Upset alert! Huddersfield are leading Birmingham, Luke Beckett the scorer.
3:00 Hello there. I'll be guiding you through the next two hours of FA Cup action, while attempting to avoid the terms plucky, romance, great leveller, minnow, muddy and Ronnie Radford. Let's see if that's possible. Oh, also, Andy Murray is playing in the final of the Qatar Open from 3:30 so we'll be keeping an eye on that. And there might be some racing too. What more could you ask for?
The baton is handed on And that's me done, my esteemed colleague Josh Widdicombe will be taking you through to five. Bye.
Chasetown 1-3 Cardiff It's all over at Scholars Ground. Unlucky Chasetown. A noble effort but the if a cup shock is to come it will come elsewhere, possibly at Wolves, who are 1-0 down to Cambridge at half-time.
2:50Looking bleak for Chasetown now, but they've played admirably and were undone by that leveller late in the first half. Cardiff are looking like they may score at will now. "Does anyone know if there are there any genuinely 'blue' birds?," asks Calum Law incongruously. "I've heard of blue tits, but they're only a bit blue right? And male blackbirds are a rather dashing blue-black... Bear in mind I'm a townie, so I only know about three brands of bird." There's always the Kingfisher, Calum. A quite beautiful specimen, though I too cannot pretend to be any sort of ornithologist.
2:47 "I would assume most people's cup fantasies involve their club beating one of the big clubs but I have to admit that mine involves the FA Cup lid and a frozen stick of butter - is that wrong?" asks Colin Greer. It most certainly is, Colin. Our beloved FA Cup is going though enough of a hard time as it is without you besmirching it further.
GOAL! Wolves 0-1 Cambridge United (Rendell, 43) Scott Rendell converts a penalty against the run of play to make Cambridge United the latest prospect of a cup shock at Molineux.
GOAL! Chasetown 1-3 Cardiff (Parry, 72) Looks like the dream is over for Chasetown now. Joe Ledley puts Paul Parry through with a delightful pass and Parry slips it through the legs of Evans to surely put the tie beyond doubt. Glad I didn't back the underdog for once.
2:30 "The translation of Chasetown they're using on Chinese websites is 切尔事成, which if you very directly translate it back to English can come out as 'cut him thing city'". Well, you learn something new every day, Pete Boon, but it looks like 切尔事成 might get cut up here. Still, they're holding on gamely.
GOAL! Chasetown 1-2 Cardiff (Ramsay, 59). Unperturbed by the booing from the crowd, Capaldi does what he does best and delivers a quality cross from the left side of ther penalty area which Parry heads into the path of 17-year-old debutant Aaron Ramsay, who heads in from close range.
2:22 Chasetown are struggling to get out of their half at the moment but home supporters are amused and vexed in equal measure by Tony Capaldi's attempt to earn his side a penalty. He is booked for his troubles. Shame on you, Tony.
2:17 "My FA Cup Fantasy is that Clive Thomas allowed Brian Hamilton's goal in the semi-final vs Liverpool in 1977," writes Gary Naylor. "So Everton go on to win the FA Cup, inspiring Ian Rush to sign for Everton not Liverpool, leading to Everton winning all those titles and European Cups not Liverpool. But with Moyes not Rafa in charge now." That's a quite lovely fantasy, Gary. Thank you. I do have some sympathy with Everton supoprters, denied as they were the opportunity to shine in Europe by the repercussions of Heysel. They were also cut down in their prime by the advent of both world wars. It's all about timing, you see...
2:13 Whittingham tries his luck again but this time blasts it over. A quick look at the odds and Chasetown are still 10/1 to win this. That looks generous to me. Resist temptation, I tell myself, resist...
2:10 It's started sleeting now. Will this be the backdrop to the biggest cup shock in years? That equaliser on the stroke of half-time was tough on the hosts but another half like that and it's anyone's.
GOAL! Chasetown 1-1 Cardiff (Whittingham, 45). Fittingly, on that note Pete Whittingham equalises for Cardiff. Don't let's get ahead of ourselves, David. With a name like yours I can understand your keenness for giant-killing but there's plenty of time yet for the Bluebirds to upset the Staffs side. And anyway, is it that obvious that I'm lonely? Don't answer that.
1:45 I don't know whether I am more taken aback by David K's comments or by the fact that somebody's bothered to write in at last. "I am sorry to say Mr Aikman that if I was your boss your 1.35 comment would have you back on the streets reporting on whatever lonely hackos do.For decency sake remember who you are and what you are doing! Chasetown are 1-0 up against the mighty Bluebirds. It is a game that will go down in cup history if they win or draw. Concentrate on the positives of the occassion, would you!"
1:40 Flavio Briatore, when asked by Chris Kamara on Sky whether QPR stand any chance of beating Chelsea, says: "Not really." I hope Luigi De Canio's team talks are a bit more positive."Still, you never know in sport," continues the R's money-laden co-owner, before blowing his nose on a £50 note. Is this sort of realism the secret to success, I ask?
1:35 Given that Cardiff stand about as much chance of winning the thing as Chasetown can you blame them for not bothering? What do you think?
1:30 It looks someone needs to tell Cardiff about the magic of the cup because at the moment they're playing with all the panache of a pub team. Has the grand old trophy lost it's lustre?
GOAL! Chasetown 1-0 Cardiff (McNaughton og 18). Unbelievable! Ben Steane whips the ball over from the right and Kevin McNaughton sticks out a leg to put the ball past his own goalkeeper spawning fevered celebrations at the Scholars Ground and the first cup cliché of the day from Stan Collymore, who tells radio listeners: "Ah! The magic of the cup." Thanks Stan.
1:14 At the other end Cardiff, playing into the wind, get a shot in on goal as Paul Parry swivels inside the area before bringing a save out of Lee Evans, who stands up to the first challenge. Nothing funny about that stop.
1:07 Perry is proving something of an aerial threat and gets his head on a Mark Branch free-kick but it's meat and drink for Michael Oakes in the visitors' goal.
1:05 Chasetown win a corner and Kyle Perry almost connects with the ball but Cardiff breath a sigh of relief as the ball fizzes wide of the far post.
Team talk According to manager Charlie Blakemore, Chasetown, who have taken part in nine matches to reach this stage, owe their success to "sheer bloody hard work, that's what." Too bad the BBC aren't showing the match live. Apparently they had to decide which match to televise before Chasetown knocked out Port Vale in the last round. Shame. You'll just have to make do with Saturday Clockwatch.
Teams The lineups for the 1pm kick-off at Scholars Ground have be unveiled so here they are: Chasetown: Evans, Thomas, Slater, Williams, John Branch, Hawkins, Holland, Steane, Mark Branch, Perry, Perrow. Subs: Sargeant, Danny Smith, Edwards, Spacey, Sam Smith. Cardiff: Oakes, McNaughton, Loovens, Johnson, Capaldi, Whittingham, Rae, Ramsey, Ledley, Parry, MacLean. Subs: Forde, Hasselbaink, Purse, Thompson, Blake.
Preamble Good afternoon sports aficionados. An exciting day of sporting intrigue is upon us as the FA Cup Third Round takes centre stage. British Gas League Midland Division side Chasetown kick things off as they host Division One side Cardiff City hoping to become the biggest giant-killers since Sutton United beat Coventry City back in 1989. Can they do it? Or are cup shocks a thing of the past? What do you think? Also, Andy Murray can get 2008 off to a flyer by winning the Qatar Open against Stanislas Wawrinka. Is this going to be his year? Murray, that is, not Wawrinka. Dare we utter the words Wimbledon prospect? Why not email me and unburden yourself of all those unhinged thoughts..?
