Carling Cup and FA Cup Highlights

Tottenham Vs Everton Highlights - Carling Cup

2009-10-27T20:34:00.002+05:30

TEAM NEWS

Tottenham must make do without Aaron Lennon (ankle), Ledley King (illness) and Jonathan Woodgate (concussion).

Jermain Defoe is still suspended, while Niko Kranjcar is cup-tied after playing for Portsmouth in an earlier round.

Everton have an extensive injury list, with a whole team of players likely to be unavailable.

Defender John Heitinga has recovered from cramp, while Yakubu, Joseph Yobo, Leighton Baines and Diniyar Bilyaletdinov are striving to return.

Watch highlights on eplmatches.com

Barnsley Vs Man Utd Highlights - Carling Cup

2009-10-27T20:33:00.001+05:30

TEAM NEWS

Striker Daniel Bogdanovic is in contention to start for Barnsley.

Bogdanovic came on as a substitute for Iain Hume against Bristol City at the weekend and could get the nod to play instead of him on Tuesday evening.

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is expected to make several changes for the game at Oakwell.

Midfielder Darren Fletcher could play if he recovers from the groin injury that ruled him out of the defeat against Liverpool on Sunday.

You can watch the highlights of this match on eplmatches.com

Carling Cup Semi Final Highlights

2009-04-18T13:08:00.003+05:30

Team News:

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger may have to shuffle his defence again for the FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea on Saturday at Wembley.

Bacary Sagna remains a doubt due to illness and now Keiran Gibbs is also doubtful with a slight groin problem.

Chelsea skipper John Terry returns after serving a suspension.

Deco has been nursing a hamstring injury but Jose Bosingwa is back in training after recovering from his hamstring problem.

Watch Highlights Here On eplmatches.com

Man Utd Vs Tottenham - Carling Cup - Final - Highlights

2009-03-01T13:35:00.003+05:30

Carling Cup Final 2008 - 2009

Team News

Sir Alex Ferguson has told youngsters Darron Gibson and Danny Welbeck they will start Sunday's Carling Cup final.

Rafael Da Silva is out with a fractured ankle but Wayne Rooney should start as he continues to build match fitness.

Tottenham's Robbie Keane, Wilson Palacios, Carlo Cudicini and Pascal Chimbonda are all cup-tied.

Jamie O'Hara (hip) has declared himself fit but on-loan Fraizer Campbell cannot play against his parent club and Ledley King (knee) will have a fitness test.

Ferguson said next Wednesday's Premier League trip to Newcastle is a bigger priority for his side than the Carling Cup final.

Click Here to Watch Highlights of the match.

You can also watch this match LIVE HERE.

FA CUP HIGHLIGHTS 2009

2009-01-03T12:45:00.002+05:30

Click Here to Watch all FA CUP highlights.

eplmatches.com includes all major England football highlights like English Premier League (EPL), Carling Cup, FA Cup etc.

It has a good coverage on UEFA Champions League. Some times you can watch World Cup Qualifier matches, International friendlies etc!!!

Man Utd Vs Middlesbrough Live Streaming and Highlights

2008-09-22T23:23:00.002+05:30

Watch the match LIVE HERE

Angola striker Manucho is set to make his Manchester United debut in the third round of the Carling Cup.

Anderson and Nani will be in the squad, Gary Neville may continue at right-back and Cristiano Ronaldo should feature.

Middlesbrough top scorer Mido is set to miss out with his groin strain and fellow striker Tuncay Sanli (knee) is missing for at least another month.

Jeremie Aliadiere must recover from a kick to his Achilles and midfielder Adam Johnson has an ankle problem.

Arsenal Vs Sheff Utd Highlights

2008-09-22T23:22:00.000+05:30

Sheffield United boss Kevin Blackwell told BBC Radio Sheffield:

"It's a bit of a dilemma, because I've used the cup to get some of the lads fit.

"But with the injuries, numbers are down so my options are limited."

Liverpool Vs Crewe Highlights

2008-09-22T23:21:00.000+05:30

Liverpool will hand a debut to Brazilian goalkeeper Diego Cavalieri for the Carling Cup visit of Crewe.

Fabio Aurelio is still ruled out as he recovers from a calf problem and Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard are both likely to be rested.

Crewe boss Steve Holland must check on the fitness of striker Calvin Zola (calf) and midfielder Michael O'Connor (blisters) ahead of the Anfield trip.

Crewe have no other new injury or suspension problems.

Burnley Vs Fulham Highlights

2008-09-22T23:20:00.000+05:30

Burnley must decide whether to recall winger Chris Eagles after suspension, while Steve Thompson is cup-tied.

Ade Akinbiyi has a back injury, while left-back Christian Kalvenes is pushing for a recall ahead of Stephen Jordan.

Fulham could make a raft of changes for the trip to Turf Moor and midfielder Leon Andreasen could start after he recovered from a groin strain.

Dickson Etuhu could make his Cottagers debut, while Andrew Johnson may start as he bids for a first Fulham goal.

Stoke Vs Reading Highlights

2008-09-22T23:19:00.000+05:30

Carling cup highlights

Michael Tonge and Tom Soares will not be able to make their full Stoke debuts as both are cup-tied for the third round Carling Cup tie against Reading.

Ricardo Fuller may feature, but it will largely be a second-string Stoke side.

Reading boss Steve Coppell may rest most of his first team, so Brynjar Gunnarsson could feature for the first time since January after a knee injury.

Kalifa Cisse will also start but Graeme Murty is still out and Marek Matejovsky (knee) is also missing for the Royals.

Sunderland Vs Northampton Highlights

2008-09-22T23:17:00.000+05:30

Carling Cup Highlights

Teemu Tainio is not expected to play for Sunderland as he injured his shoulder at the weekend.

Saturday's goal hero Michael Chopra is struggling with a dead leg and left-back George McCartney is cup-tied.

Northampton will be without on-loan striker Karl Hawley as he is cup-tied, so Leon Constantine could feature.

Captain Chris Doig is definitely out as he struggles to return from a groin injury, while keeper Chris Dunn is sweating on keeping his place.

Watford Vs West Ham Highlights

2008-09-22T23:07:00.001+05:30

Watford will be without goalkeeper Mart Poom after a dislocated shoulder and winger Jobi McAnuff, who suffered a back strain at the weekend.

Scott Loach will start in goal and Lionel Ainsworth could come in for McAnuff, but Grzegorz Rasiak is out.

West Ham will rest striker Carlton Cole for the Carling Cup tie at Vicarage Road as he has a slight foot injury.

Dean Ashton and Craig Bellamy are both still out so Freddie Sears could play, but Kieron Dyer is not yet ready.

Swansea City Vs Cardiff City Live Streaming and Highlights

2008-09-22T23:06:00.000+05:30

Watch the match LIVE HERE

CARLING CUP THIRD ROUND

Venue: Liberty Stadium Date: Tuesday, 23 September Kick-off: 1945 BST.

Swansea City will be without home-grown winger Shaun MacDonald (hamstring) for Tuesday's third-round Carling Cup derby at Liberty Stadium.

There is also an injury doubt over the Swans' defender Marcos Painter (knee) while Darren Pratley should be fit.

The Bluebirds' defender Gabor Gyepes is cup-tied for the first clash between the two clubs in nine years.

Hungarian Gyepes played for previous club Northampton in an earlier round in the competition.

Cardiff 0-1 Portsmouth FA Cup Final Highlights

2008-05-17T22:46:00.001+05:30

Click here to watch highlights

Barnsley 0-1 Cardiff

2008-04-06T22:37:00.002+05:30

Joe Ledley scored the only goal to end Barnsley's FA Cup run and send Cardiff through to a final against Portsmouth.

Highlights

Ledley volleyed them in front inside nine minutes after Barnsley failed to deal with a Tony Capaldi long throw.

The Tykes responded well but had keeper Luke Steele to thank for denying Trevor Sinclair from close range.

Steele also kept out a Gavin Rae header but Kayode Odejayi missed a glorious chance to level when he was put clean through on goal only to shoot wide.

It was by no means a Cup classic between two unlikely semi-final opponents from the Championship, but the early goal paved the way for a lively encounter.

But as with Saturday's opening semi-final at Wembley, one goal was enough to decide the game.

606: DEBATE
Just like to say well done to all associated with Cardiff but especially Dave Jones

McHatter

It came from the left boot of Cardiff-born midfielder Ledley, who reacted well to convert the first chance of the game.

Barnsley responded well to such an early setback and they enjoyed the lion's share of the first-half possession.

Dennis Souza had a header just past the post and Brian Howard wasted a good shooting chance after good work from Jamal Campbell-Ryce on the left.

The lively Odejayi got in front of Glenn Loovens at the near post but shot at Peter Enckelman.

However, Cardiff came even closer to adding to the scoreline when Steele failed to deal with a Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink shot but then did brilliantly to keep out Sinclair's follow-up.

Again Barnsley responded well with Istvan Ferenczi heading wide and then Sinclair cleared off the line to deny him.

The Tykes' top scorer Howard also tried his luck from long range and then headed wide from a Martin Devaney cross.

But Barnsley's need to throw men forward allowed Cardiff ample counter-attacking opportunities and Ledley was able to pick out Rae for a free header but it was too close to keeper Steele.

The moment Barnsley will rue came in the 66th minute when Odejayi was put clean through on goal and had all the time in the world to pick his spot past Peter Enckelman.

The striker scored the winner against Chelsea in the sixth round - his only goal since September - but he blew his big chance this time as he shot past the upright.

Pete Whittingham went close to giving Cardiff some daylight but his effort landed on the roof of the net.

It mattered little as Cardiff, who were playing at Wembley for the first time in 81 years, played out time to book another visit there in six weeks.

West Brom 0-1 Portsmouth Fa Cup

2008-04-05T19:43:00.002+05:30

A second-half goal from Kanu was enough to send Portsmouth through to their first FA Cup final in 69 years.

Highlights

Ex-West Brom striker Kanu side-footed an easy chance to see off the Baggies after Dean Kiely had denied Milan Baros and Zoltan Gera had failed to clear.

Baros, who looked to have handled in the build-up to the goal, missed a simple chance to seal the win.

They were almost made to pay but Robert Koren's shot hit the bar and Ishmael Miller fired wide late on.

Portsmouth will face the winners of the all-Championship tie between Barnsley and Cardiff on Sunday in the final.

Their win carries on the top flight's run of having a team in every FA Cup final.

Pompey were already odds-on favourites to lift the trophy before the game, but for long periods it was West Brom who looked the better bet for a return to Wembley on 17 May.

Harry Redknapp's south coast side were not at the races during a lacklustre first-half display and it Albion who looked like the Premier League thoroughbreds.

Portsmouth's defensive pair of Sol Campbell and Sylvain Distin struggled throughout to deal with veteran forward Kevin Phillips dropping deep.

The former Southampton striker found plenty of space and tested Pompey early on with a long-range shot just over the bar before a neat lay-off that ended with Zoltan Gera causing problems for a fumbling David James with a low shot.

Portsmouth were all at sea going forward, with Baros wasteful and Kanu barely contributing as Redknapp looking increasingly agitated on the sidelines.

They enjoyed their best spell of the first half shortly before the break but Redknapp, on his first appearance in the FA Cup semi-finals and at Wembley as player or manager, would have had strong words at the interval.

There appeared to be little immediate change in Pompey's play, but less than 10 minutes after the break they broke the deadlock.

Glen Johnson played a ball into Baros, who may have controlled the ball with his arm before getting off a shot which Kiely did well to keep out.

However, as Kiely looked to pounce on the loose ball Gera tried to clear and could only steer the ball into the direction of Kanu to slot into the empty net from only a couple of yards out.

It should have been game over as Baros was played in by a slide rule pass from Niko Kranjcar and seemed certain to score, but he made an awful hash of the finish and Kiely produced a desperate save.

The Baggies almost made them pay as the game burst into life in the latter stages.

Carl Hoefkens set up Koren and his shot beat James but smacked the top of the bar.

Moments later substitute Miller got clear on the left and tried to pick out Phillips at the back post, but James anticipated well and plucked his cross out of the air.

There were further worries as Hoefkens set up an onrushing Miller but he side-footed wide and Pompey survived to book their place in the final.

Bristol Rovers Vs West Brom 03/09/2008

2008-03-10T00:24:00.001+05:30

Highlights

First Half

Second half

Middlesbrough 0-2 Cardiff 03/09/2008

2008-03-09T16:50:00.005+05:30

Goals from Peter Whittingham and Roger Johnson helped Championship side Cardiff dump Premier League strugglers Middlesbrough out of the FA Cup.

Highlights

First Half

Second Half

Boro were poor throughout and were behind on nine minutes when Whittingham curled the ball into the net.

And 13 minutes later, Roger Johnson headed home Whittingham's free-kick to leave Boro with a huge uphill task.

Afonso Alves and Stewart Downing both had half chances for the home side but they rarely threatened.

Boro had made a steady opening to the match but were left furious by the Bluebird's opening goal.

Stephen McPhail appeared to handle in mid-air before it fell to Whittingham.

But nothing was given and Whittingham latched on to the ball inside the box and curled it into the top right hand corner after some brilliant skills to find shooting space.

That lead was doubled on 22 minutes after Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink was fouled 30 yards out by Fabio Rochemback.

Whittingham's resulting free kick found Roger Johnson free at the back post to head across the face of goal and into the net past Mark Schwarzer.

Johnson came close to replicating his goal from the opposite side soon after and Paul Parry drilled an effort just wide as Cardiff controlled the game.

Middlesbrough were finding themselves outfought and outplayed in the first half and were restricted to just the one half-chance.

That came from Afonso Alves who cut inside from the left and curled a shot, but Peter Enckelman was able to parry to safety.

The home side were deservedly booed off at the break, but they came out for the second half looking to claw themselves back into the game.

It did not really have any effect though as Cardiff coped with ease everything they tried to throw at them.

Stewart Downing did see an effort go just wide on the hour after Hasselbaink gave away a free kick just outside the box for handball.

But Boro lacked ideas much to the frustration of the home supporters, some of which decided they had seen enough with 20 minutes still to go.

And they missed nothing as Cardiff held on to continue an extraordinary weekend of shocks in the FA Cup and book their place at Wembley in the semi-final.

Man Utd 0-1Portsmouth 03/08/2008

2008-03-08T06:40:00.005+05:30

Final Score: Man Utd 0-1 Portsmouth

Harry Redknapp's FA Cup curse struck Manchester United again as Portsmouth won a dramatic quarter-final clash.

Highlights

First Half

Second Half

Sulley Muntari scored the winner from the spot with 12 minutes left after Milan Baros was upended by United's substitute keeper Tomasz Kuszczak.

Kuszczak, who replaced Edwin van der Sar at half-time, was sent off and Rio Ferdinand took over in goal.

United went close to scoring, Sylvain Distin denying Michael Carrick on the line and Patrice Evra hitting a post.

The surprise win took Portsmouth back to Wembley for the first time since 1939 for the semi-finals and ended United's hopes of repeating their 1999 treble triumph.

And for Redknapp, who has previosuly knocked United out of the FA Cup with Bournemouth and West Ham, it was a day of triumph.

Paul Scholes, Carlos Tevez and Owen Hargreaves all returned to United's starting line-up after the Champions League victory over Lyon - and they met with stubborn and well-organised Portsmouth resistance.

United were understandably furious after six minutes when Cristiano Ronaldo was clearly bundled over by Distin as he raced into the area, but referee Martin Atkinson ignored the appeals, to the clear disgust of Sir Alex Ferguson.

Pompey rarely threatened, but United keeper Van der Sar was in some discomfort as he scrambled to save a long-range shot from Niko Kranjcar.

United missed a glorious chance to break the deadlock after 18 minutes when Tevez and Wayne Rooney led a counter-attack, but the England striker was blocked by keeper David James.

The rebound fell for Tevez, but Glen Johnson made a superb recovery to block his goal-bound effort on the line.

James had been well-protected by his defence, but he needed to be sharp to drop to his right and save a low drive from Tevez.

It had been a very satisfactory first half for Portsmouth, but United had a problem in the interval when keeper Van der Sar withdrew through injury and was replaced by Kuszczak.

Pompey almost came unstuck in a goalmouth scramble after 57 minutes, when Tevez was blocked by defenders on the line and Ronaldo's shot snaked just inches wide.

United were taking control, and Evra should have done better than cross behind Tevez after being put clear into the area by Rooney.

Ferguson made a double change after 67 minutes, sending on Anderson and Carrick for Tevez and Hargreaves.

And Carrick was the central figure in a remarkable escape for Portsmouth three minutes later.

Ronaldo's brilliant back-heel played him into area and a goal looked certain as he rounded James, but Distin made a miraculous recovery to make the clearance.

United were turning up the heat, and James then stretched to make a superb save from Evra, turning his shot on to the post.

After surviving a second-half siege, Portsmouth broke out to take the lead in remarkable circumstances with 12 minutes left.

Kranjcar broke down the right and played in substitute Baros, who was felled by Kuszczak. He was shown the red card by referee Atkinson despite the fact that Rooney and Anderson were patrolling the goal-line.

Ferdinand went in goal as replacement, but he stood no chance as Muntari drilled home home the penalty with the minimum of fuss.

Barnsley 1-0 Chelsea 03/08/2008

2008-03-08T06:24:00.006+05:30

A second-half header from Kayode Odejayi was enough to dump Chelsea out of the FA Cup and take Championship Barnsley into the semi-finals.

Highlights

First Half

Second Half

Odejayi netted the winner from six yards out after connecting with Martin Devaney's superb right-wing cross.

The striker also had a shot saved by Carlo Cudicini, while Istvan Ferenczi struck the post with a half-volley.

Chelsea's best chance fell to Joe Cole who struck his angled shot wide from close range.

The last time Barnsley reached the semi-finals was in 1912 - they went on to win their one and only FA Cup that season.

And if they show the sort desire that has seen them overcome Premier League giants Liverpool and, now, Chelsea then few would bet against them picking up their second title.

The Tykes good play started at the back with Chelsea lone marskman Nicolas Anelka often left redundant by Stephen Foster and Dennis Souza who gradually became adept at forcing the Frenchman out wide.

At the other end, Tykes big man Odejayi was a huge nuisance to Chelsea, using his bulk well while holding and releasing intellingently.

The only concern for the home support was that he had not scored since September, but he came close to ending that barren run during a minute spell that saw Simon Davey's side squander two good opportunities.

The first fell to forward Ferenczi, whose volley rattled the foot of Carlo Cudicini's left-hand upright.

And moments later, Odejayi forced his way into the area but his low angled shot was pushed away by the Chelsea shot-stopper.

Avram Grant's men were limited to half-chances, with Cole twice denied by the impressive Robert Kozluk who got his body in the way on both occasions to prevent the England international from netting.

Straight after the break, Cole was presented with arguably his best opportunity to hand the visitors the lead but once again his nemesis Kozluk did enough to force the midfielder to screw his shot wide from eight yards.

Chelsea cranked up the pressure in the second half, knowing that a replay would not benefit a team still fighting on two other fronts.

But try as hard as they did, the team lacked ideas and even with the introduction of attacking duo Salomon Kalou and Claudio Pizarro they failed to carve open the stubborn Barnsley defence.

And as they pressed forward, space was left at the back. That space was exploited by Devaney on the right wing who delivered a stunning ball to the far post for Odejayi to nod past the hapless Cudicini.

The Barnsley area resembled the Alamo in the final 15 minutes, but somehow the Tykes warriors held firm to book their passage into the last four of the FA Cup.

Middlesbrough Vs Sheff Utd 02/27/2008

2008-02-27T23:57:00.004+05:30

Middlesbrough 1-0 Sheff Utd (aet)

Paddy Kenny's own goal six minutes from the end of extra time sank Sheffield United to gift Middlesbrough an FA Cup quarter-final at home to Cardiff.

Highlights

First Half

Extra Time Goal

The Blades' keeper could only turn Mido's shot over the line after his effort had rebounded off an upright.

Boro had dominated a low-key affair, with Brazilian striker Afonso Alves twice forcing Kenny into fine saves.

But the Championship side looked set to take the tie to penalties until Kenny's late stroke of ill-fortune.

Alves was given his first start since his £12.7m move from Heerenveen - and he justified the selection with a lively display.

He should have opened the scoring after eight minutes, but he headed Fabio Rochemback's corner wide of an open goal.

Rochemback then produced a brilliant flick to send in Stewart Downing, but he sent an angled right-foot drive wide as Middlesbrough continued to force the pace.

Alves tried his luck from long range 11 minutes before the interval, and Blades' keeper Kenny was forced to punch away his powerful shot.

The Brazilian turned creator after 42 minutes when he played in Luke Young, but he provided a defender's finish and Kenny saved with comfort.

Sheffield United held Middlesbrough at arm's length in the early stages of the second half, with only Alves threatening to break the deadlock with another shot that Kenny saved low down.

Given Middlesbrough's need for firepower, it was a surprise when Alves was taken off with 18 minutes left and replaced by Tuncay Sanli - a decision that was not well received by the home supporters.

James Beattie had been a peripheral figure, but almost snatched victory for Sheffield United in injury time when presented with a chance at the near post, but he shot wide under pressure from Boro keeper Mark Schwarzer.

It was the last clear chance in normal time, and Downing tested Kenny six minutes into extra time as he forced him to save with his feet - the keeper recovering to save well from Tuncay at his near post.

The game had degenerated into a mediocre affair, but the deadlock was broken in truly bizarre fashion with six minutes remaining.

Mido's shot was deflected on to an upright, but as Kenny tried to retrieve the rebound he could only turn the ball over his own line.

Both sides had chances in a frantic final few minutes, with Sheffield United having strong penalty appeals waved away when Emanuel Pogatetz appeared to handle.

Team News

Middlesbrough are without Jeremie Aliadiere for the FA Cup fifth-round replay with Sheffield United after he failed in his appeal against a ban.

Record signing Afonso Alves could start for the first time while Gary O'Neil is available after illness, but Mohamed Shawky (hamstring) is not match fit.

Sheffield United boss Kevin Blackwell is boosted by the return of Ugo Ehiogu to fitness after a hamstring injury.

Lee Martin is also available after shaking off a rib injury.

About the Match

Sheffield United against Middlesbrough at Bramall Lane ended goalless; the only fifth round tie to require a replay.

Nine of the 731 clubs accepted into the 127th FA Cup are still dreaming of a place in the final at the new Wembley; four from the Premier League, four Championship clubs and one from League One.

The Teessiders and the Blades have appeared in a combined nine domestic semi-finals over 11 years.

Middlesbrough have never won the FA Cup, and face a lower ranked club who've lifted the trophy on four occasions.

Head to Head Details

All competitions

These clubs met in the Premier League last season, when both fixtures were won by the side playing at home. Sheffield United have not won on Teesside since a 1-2 triumph in the Championship on 5 October 1997.

FA Cup

These clubs have only been drawn against each other once previously; the Blades winning a home second round replay 3-0 in 1923 on their way to the semi-finals.

Tottenham Vs Chelsea Carling Cup Final 02/24/2008

2008-02-24T04:52:00.007+05:30

Tottenham 2-1 Chelsea (aet)

Tottenham came from a goal down to beat Chelsea at Wembley and win the Carling Cup after extra-time.

Highlights

a Quick View

Jonathan Woodgate won it when Petr Cech disastrously punched the ball on to his head from Jermaine Jenas's free-kick.

Pascal Chimbonda had hit the bar for Spurs, before Didier Drogba's 20-yard free-kick gave Chelsea the lead with Paul Robinson badly out of position.

Spurs levelled when Wayne Bridge handled in the box and Dimitar Berbatov coolly rolled in the resulting penalty.

Spurs success - their fourth League Cup win and first since 1999 - means their boss Juande Ramos has still never lost a cup final as manager after five triumphs in Spain with Sevilla.

It ends Chelsea's quadruple hopes in Avram Grant's first season as Blues boss, though they are still in the hunt for the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup.

But Spurs set their stall out early on and began in a positive fashion in the first League Cup final at the new Wembley.

With only 30 seconds on the clock Juliano Beletti inexplicably gave the ball away to Robbie Keane, the striker racing through and seeing his 20-yard drive deflected wide by John Terry.

Twice in a minute Spurs could have gone in front, first Chimbonda heading a corner on to the bar and then Berbatov heading Keane's cross wide, before Chelsea came back into it.

After Frank Lampard shot off-target and Drogba curled a 25-yard free-kick high and wide, the Blues made a decisive breakthrough.

Didier Zokora tripped Drogba 20 yards out and the Ivorian dusted himself down to curl the resulting free-kick into the bottom left-hand side of Robinson's goal.

It was a disaster for Robinson - only recalled to the Spurs team on Thursday for their Uefa Cup tie after a month on the sidelines - as he was in completely the wrong position and remained rooted to his spot as the ball flew past him.

Spurs tried an immediate reply, but Keane's shot was straight at Cech and then Berbatov slipped as Keane attempted to send him through on goal.

Chelsea, a side well-drilled in the art of defending a one-nil lead, rarely looked like surrendering their advantage - until, halfway through the second half, calamity struck.

Having struggled to make much headway against the Chelsea defence Spurs were gifted a penalty, Bridge bizarrely knocking the ball away with his left hand as he tussled with Aaron Lennon.

Berbatov, keeping his cool, waited for Cech to go left before he rolled the ball into the other side of the goal.

Suddenly Spurs were in the ascendancy and Zokora raced through, only for his first shot to hit Cech on the head and his second slice wide, before Berbatov stung Cech's palms with a fierce drive.

They only had to wait four minutes of extra-time to take a lead they would not relinquish, Cech punching a Jenas free-kick on to Woodgate's head and the ball trickling into an empty net.

Chelsea had to attack but Woodgate and Ledley King stood firm, Blues' substitute Salomon Kalou having the best chance only for Robinson to stick out a foot and deny him from 12 yards.

But Spurs hung on and denied their London rivals back-to-back Carling Cup victories in the process.
___________________________________________________
Venue: Wembley Stadium
Date: Sunday, 24 Feb
Kick-off: 1500 GMT
Referee: Mark Halsey (Lancashire)

Team News

Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard and defender John Terry could miss Sunday's Carling Cup final against Tottenham.

Both players were named in the Blues squad but BBC football correspondent Jonathan Legard said: "I'm told the pair are set to be left out again."

Tottenham defender Michael Dawson and midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng are being troubled by hamstring concerns.

But Pascal Chimbonda (knee) should be fit and Ledley King is set to return after a month out with a knee problem.

Skipper Terry, who broke his foot against Arsenal in December, returned to action in the FA Cup win over Huddersfield last Saturday.

Midfielder Lampard also played in that game, scoring twice in a 3-1 victory, but was only brought on towards the end of Tuesday's drab Champions League draw at Olympiakos.

Spurs were also involved in European action this week, hanging on for a 1-1 draw with Slavia Prague on Thursday despite being under pressure in the latter stages.

Keeper Paul Robinson pulled off a couple of good saves after being dropped for the previous 10 matches.

But boss Juande Ramos refused to say afterwards whether he would get the nod at Wembley ahead of Radek Cerny.

King has not played since the semi-final win over Arsenal but he will be in the squad alongside fellow defender Alan Hutton, who was ineligible for the Slavia game.

Team From

Tottenham

Robinson, Cerny, Hutton, Chimbonda, Lee, Gunter, Dawson, King, Woodgate, Rocha, Kaboul, Tainio, O'Hara, Huddlestone, Zokora, Jenas, Malbranque, Lennon, Boateng, Taarabt, Bent, Keane, Berbatov.

Chelsea

Cech, Cudicini, Hilario, Ferreira, Belletti, Terry, Alex, Ben-Haim, Carvalho, A Cole, Bridge, Sidwell, Essien, Lampard, Ballack, Malouda, Wright-Phillips, Drogba, Anelka, J Cole, Pizarro, Shevchenko, Kalou, Obi, Makelele.

About the Match

Chelsea and Tottenham contest the 48th League Cup final, and the second successive all-London match-up, after the 2-1 victory by the Stamford Bridge club over Arsenal 12 months ago.

Chelsea are still fighting quadruple honours, and bidding to become the first club to retain the League Cup since Nottingham Forest in 1990.

The trophy has been retained on five occasions; Nottingham Forest achieved it first in 1979, and Liverpool held the silverware for four years from 1981 to 1984.

Tottenham booked their place in this showpiece with a 5-1 win over Arsenal in the second leg of the semi-final. It laid to rest a run of 21 matches without victory over the Gunners. Now the north London survivors have the chance of a League Cup and Uefa Cup double.

Chelsea have won this competition four times; Tottenham three times. Only Liverpool (seven) and Aston Villa (five) exceed that.

Both clubs are making their sixth appearances in the final; only Leicester (10), Aston Villa (seven), and Arsenal, Manchester United and Nottingham Forest (six each already) have appeared in more.

Spurs will wear all white, and Chelsea all blue in the first Carling Cup final to be staged at the new Wembley.

The League ladder

Arsenal lead the Premier League table; Tottenham are the leading club in the bottom half, at 11th. Chelsea is 3rd in the table now.

Head to Head Details

All competitions

Chelsea have won the last three league and cup meetings, including the Premier League fixture at Stamford Bridge 2-0 on 12 January, when Juliano Belletti and Shaun Wright-Phillips scored in each half.

League Cup

This is the fourth time these clubs have been paired together. Chelsea won the first over two legs in the 1971-72 semi-finals, and Spurs reversed the honours in the last four six years ago.

FA Cup Sixth Round Draw

2008-02-18T13:43:00.002+05:30

Full draw for FA Cup quarter-finals:

Sheffield United or Middlesbrough v Cardiff City

Manchester United v Portsmouth

Bristol Rovers v West Brom

Barnsley v Chelsea

____________________________________________________________________
League One side Bristol Rovers will join four Championship teams in the hat when the FA Cup quarter-final draw is made at 1325 GMT, Today.

Barnsley, who stunned Liverpool in the fifth round, Cardiff and West Brom will also discover their next opponents.

Manchester United, Portsmouth and holders Chelsea are the only top-flight clubs through, while Middlesbrough face a replay with Sheffield United.

DRAW NUMBERS

1 Bristol Rovers
2 Cardiff City
3 Sheffield United or Middlesbrough
4 Barnsley
5 Manchester United
6 Portsmouth
7 West Bromwich Albion
8 Chelsea

Matches will be played on the weekend of 8 and 9 March.

Sheff Utd v Middlesbrough 02/17/2008

2008-02-17T18:01:00.004+05:30

Saturdays Actions

Sheff Utd 0-0 Middlesbrough

Sheffield United and Middlesbrough will meet again on Tuesday week as their FA Cup fifth-round tie ended goalless.

Highlights

Blades striker James Beattie hit the post in first-half stoppage time from a free-kick, but the home side failed to turn their dominance into goals.

Boro came back into it in the second period and Mido's overhead kick was brilliantly saved by Paddy Kenny.

Emmanuel Pogatetz could have won it late on for the visitors but his header was cleared off the line.

New Blades boss Kevin Blackwell, who replaced Bryan Robson last week, received a standing ovation from the Bramall Lane crowd before kick-off as the home side went in search of a hat-trick of Premier League scalps in this year's competition.

Middlesbrough were aiming to reach a third successive FA Cup quarter-final and started with Mido, who has been out for the last three weeks, alongside Jeremie Aliadiere in attack with record signing Afonso Alves on the bench.

It was a typical cup tie right from kick-off with both sides fully committed and the game played at a frenetic pace.

The visitors struggled to settle and Matt Kilgallon's smartly struck shot was well saved by Mark Schwarzer.

Billy Sharp failed to connect with Derek Geary's cross and Jonathan Stead sent his downward header just wide as the home side continued to press, while at the other end efforts from Stewart Downing and Aliadiere were easily saved by Kenny.

As the half drew to a close, David Wheater was lucky to escape with just a booking after dragging back Sharp when the striker raced through and in stoppage time Beattie struck the post from a well-rehearsed set-play.

Beattie and Michael Tonge pretended to run into each as they shaped to hit the free-kick, but the former Southampton and Everton striker saw his curling shot crash against the post.

The visitors came to life in the second period, but only after Stead had tested Schwarzer from outside the box.

Mido was denied by Kenny when he tipped the Egyptian's acrobatic overhead kick over the bar and from the resulting corner Wheater's powerful header was turned over by the Blades goalkeeper

Downing then flashed a brilliantly struck volley wide from Mido's pinpoint pass and Fabio Rochemback also went close with an effort from outside the box as Boro took control.

Just like their hosts in the first period, the visitors failed to take their chances and Blades substitute Chris Armstrong flashed the ball over the bar after another well-worked free-kick.

United had appeals for a penalty turned down late on as George Boateng struck the ball against his own arm, but referee Chris Foy waved away the protests.

And with two minutes remaining Pogatetz could have snatched it for Boro but his header was cleared off the line.
__________________________________________________________
Team News

Sheffield United midfielder Gary Speed (groin) is a major doubt and Chris Armstrong, Lee Hendrie or David Carney could replace him.

Ugo Ehiogu (hamstring) is in a race to be fit to face his ex-club but strikers Jon Stead and Rob Hulse may return.

Middlesbrough's Afonso Alves is set to make his FA Cup debut, while fellow striker Mido is in the squad.

Striker Tuncay Sanli is lacking match fitness, with Chris Riggott (hamstring) and Lee Cattermole (knee) again out.

About the Match

Kevin Blackwell takes charge of Sheffield United for this fifth round tie, as the Blades look to complete a hat-trick of Premier League scalps in this FA Cup campaign.

Bryan Robson's departure from Bramall Lane means he misses the chance to face the club he left just over seven years ago.

Middlesbrough have never won the FA Cup, but face a club who've lifted the trophy on four occasions.

This is one of three Championship against Premier League ties in the fifth round.

The League ladder

Middlesbrough are 24 places higher than Sheffield United in the league standings.

Head to Head Details

All competitions

These clubs met in the Premier League last season, when both fixtures were won by the side playing at home, but Middlesbrough have not won at Bramall Lane for 21 years, since a 0-2 victory in the old Second Division on 7 November 1987. Drawn one and lost four of the five subsequent visits.

FA Cup

These clubs have only been drawn against each other once previously; the Blades winning a home second round replay 3-0 in 1923 on their way to the semi-finals.

Preston Vs Portsmouth 02/17/2008

2008-02-17T17:54:00.004+05:30

Preston 0-1 Portsmouth

Darren Carter's late own goal ensured Portsmouth undeservedly progressed to the FA Cup quarter-finals.

First Half Highlights

Portsmouth had David James to thank for their lucky escape as the goalkeeper saved a second-half penalty from the impressive Simon Whaley.

Second Half Highlights

Neil Mellor's curling 25-yard effort would have given the home side the lead had it not been for James.

And in the dying seconds Carter tried to clear a corner but struck into the back of his own net instead.
_______________________________________________________
Team News

Preston will miss defender Sean St Ledger through suspension and Youl Mawene will come in as replacement.

Recent signing Neal Trotman is cup-tied, while the club will check on the fitness of midfielder Lewis Neal ahead of the game.

Portsmouth centre-back Sylvain Distin (hamstring) is back along with right-back Glen Johnson.

Jermain Defoe is cup-tied and David Nugent is still out so Milan Baros and Kanu are likely to start in attack.

About the Match

Preston are aiming to complete back-to-back FA Cup victories over Premier League clubs, having easily ousted Derby three weeks ago.

Portsmouth are looking to complete a hat-trick of FA Cup victories over Championship opposition, having dismissed Ipswich and Plymouth in the last two rounds.

Pompey have not been knocked out by lower ranked opposition since they were a second level club and Leyton Orient of the fourth tier dismissed them in the third round in 2002.

This is one of three Premier League against Championship ties in the fifth round.

The League ladder

Portsmouth are 33 places higher than Preston in the league standings.

Head to Head Details

All competitions

Preston have only lost one of their last seven meetings with Portsmouth, and have won four of the last six, all at second league level.

FA Cup

This is the fourth time these clubs have been drawn against each other. Portsmouth won the first two meetings before World War II; North End won the most recent 1-3, away in the fourth round in 1948.

Man Utd v Arsenal 02/16/2008

2008-02-15T16:33:00.006+05:30

Manchester United 4-0 Arsenal

Wayne Rooney delivered a virtuoso solo display as Manchester United outclassed Arsenal in the FA Cup fifth round.

First Half Highlights

Rooney headed United in front from close range after 16 minutes and Darren Fletcher provided another headed finish from Nani's cross four minutes later.

Second half highlights

Michael Carrick set up Nani for a third as United turned on the style.

Arsenal's Emmanuel Eboue was sent off after 48 minutes for a foul on Patrice Evra before Nani was the creator again as Fletcher headed United's fourth.

Saturday's Other Matches Highlights

England coach Fabio Capello was in attendance at Old Trafford and showed his appreciation for Rooney's brilliance by applauding his England striker when he was substituted with 20 minutes left.

United left Cristiano Ronaldo and Ryan Giggs out of their line-up, while Arsenal kept Emmanuel Adebayor and Mathieu Flamini on the bench - and the Gunners suffered most from the changes.

Rooney returned from suspension after missing the defeat to Manchester City - and made up for lost time by destroying Arsenal with a blistering first-half display.

He was on the mark after 16 minutes when a Nani corner was only half-cleared, and when Anderson headed the ball back into the danger area Rooney was perfectly placed to divert a close-range finish past Jens Lehmann.

Fletcher deservedly doubled the lead four minutes later when Nani opened up Arsenal on the left flank and crossed for the Scot to head in at the near post.

Rooney continued to terrorise the Arsenal defence and could have added to his goals tally before United made it three seven minutes before the interval.

Carrick split the Arsenal defence wide open, leaving Nani to control and calmly shoot past Lehmann.

Rooney had already tested Lehmann again before Arsenal's misery increased after 48 minutes when Eboue was rightly sent off for a raised boot in a tackle on Evra.

The Arsenal defender seemed reluctant to leave the pitch after referee Alan Wiley brandished the read card, but he had no excuses because it was an horrendous challenge.

Rooney was in almost unstoppable form, tearing the Arsenal defence apart almost at will, shooting wide after beating Kolo Toure and then bringing a fine save from Lehmann - all in the space of seconds.

And with 16 minutes left, United got the fourth goal their dazzling football deserved when Nani floated up a perfect far post cross for Fletcher to head in at the far post.

Arsenal, who have enjoyed taunting outclassed teams in the past, were not enjoying getting a taste of their own medicine and William Gallas was lucky to escape punishment for an ill-disciplined kick at Nani.

Substitute Louis Saha almost added a fifth with two minutes left but keeper Lehmann - who had been blameless in the defeat - saved well again.
_______________________________________________________
Team News

Manchester United have Wayne Rooney and Patrice Evra back after suspension.

Striker Louis Saha is available after a knee injury after but right-back Gary Neville and left-back Mikael Silvestre remain sidelined.

Arsenal defenders Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Eboue are available after their Africa Cup of Nations stint.

But Theo Walcott (thigh), Gael Clichy (hamstring) and Bacary Sagna (personal reasons) are set to miss out, while Philippe Senderos (knee) is a doubt.

Team From

Man Utd

Van der Sar, Kuszczak, Brown, O'Shea, Simpson, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Fletcher, Nani, Park, Scholes, Ronaldo, Anderson, Carrick, Hargreaves, Giggs, Tevez, Rooney, Saha, Welbeck.

Arsenal

Lehmann, Fabianski, Senderos, Hleb, Fabregas, Flamini, Adebayor, Eduardo, Bendtner, Traore, Song, J Hoyte, Gilberto, Gilbert, Randall, G Hoyte, Lansbury.

About the Match

The outstanding tie of the fifth round is Sir Alex Ferguson's 100th as manager of Manchester United.

The top two in the Premier League are also the most successful clubs in FA Cup history; United and Arsenal have won the world's oldest football knockout competition 21 times between them and have appeared in a combined 35 finals.

This is the 35th time Ferguson will have come up against his opposite number Arsene Wenger. Of the 34 previous encounters United have won 11, Arsenal 13. Eight of the 10 other games finished level and two were decided on penalty shoot-outs; United won the 2003 Community Shield, and Arsenal the 2005 FA Cup final.

Head to Head Details

All competitions

Arsenal are unbeaten in three matches against United (won two and drawn one in the Premier League) and have not lost to the Red Devils since a 2-0 league reverse at Old Trafford on 9 April 2006.

This season's one Premier League meeting at the Emirates Stadium resulted in a 2-2 draw on 3 November 2007. William Gallas put through his own goal to give United the lead, Fabregas equalised soon after half-time, Ronaldo put United back in front with eight minutes remaining and Gallas atoned for his earlier error by securing a point in stoppage time.

FA Cup

These clubs have been paired with one another 11 times and met on 12 occasions (one replay). They fought out a goalless draw after extra time in the most recent, the 2005 final at the Millennium Stadium. The Gunners won 5-4 in a dramatic penalty shoot-out, to tip the balance in their favour in the FA Cup head to head count.

But the most memorable clash between the pair in recent years was the 1999 semi-final, which United won 2-1 in a replay at Villa Park, courtesy of Ryan Giggs' spectacular solo 109th minute goal, and his subsequent shirt-swinging celebration.

Chelsea Vs Huddersfield 02/16/2008

2008-02-15T16:27:00.007+05:30

Chelsea 3-1 Huddersfield

Frank Lampard scored twice and set up a goal for Salomon Kalou as Chelsea eased into the FA Cup quarter-finals.

First half Highlights

Scott Sinclair had a shot cleared off the line before Lampard's low drive put Chelsea ahead on 18 minutes.

Second half Highlights

Huddersfield hit back and Nathan Clarke had a header cleared off the line, before Michael Collins stroked home from 12 yards to equalise.

Saturday's Highlights

But after the break Lampard tucked in a rebound from his own shot and Kalou slipped in a low effort to make it 3-1.

Chelsea had made wholesale changes, with only Lampard remaining from the team that played Liverpool last time out.

It could have made the home side a bit disjointed, but their task of finding some rhythm was helped by Huddersfield's inability to settle early on.

The League One side were understandably hesitant in the early stages, as a physically imposing Chelsea side - which included fit-again captain John Terry for the first time since 16 December - began to dictate the play.

Chelsea turned up the pressure and Sinclair had an effort cleared off the line by Robbie Williams.

And then Sinclair played a pass inside for Lampard to stroke home a precise low shot into the bottom left corner from the edge of the box for his 100th Chelsea goal.

A predictable pattern ensued as Huddersfield struggled to resist Chelsea's attacks.

But then, as if they sensed they really had nothing to lose, Huddersfield began to come out of their shell.

And it took Terry to prevent an equaliser when he hacked Clarke's header off the line.

However, there was nothing Chelsea could do to prevent the equaliser on 45 minutes when Collins superbly brought down James Berrett's pass and slipped a low shot beyond Carlo Cudicini.

After the break, Chelsea quickly raised the tempo but Huddersfield kept their shape and discipline and were able to hold their own for a while.

But eventually Chelsea's power told as Matthew Glennon failed to hold Lampard's shot and the midfielder reacted fastest to tap in the rebound.

It seemed to knock the stuffing out of Huddersfield, and the offside flag prevented them conceding more goals as two Chelsea efforts were ruled out.

Inevitably, Chelsea did score again and it was a fine Lampard pass that created the opportunity and a smart touch and confident finish from Kalou that rounded off the move.
_______________________________________________________
Team News

Chelsea captain and centre-back John Terry is back from the foot injury he suffered in the Premier League defeat to Arsenal on 16 December.

Striker Andriy Shevchenko (back) is a doubt and Michael Essien, Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou are back for Africa Cup of Nations duty.

Huddersfield captain Jon Worthington (hamstring) is rated 50/50 to play and will have a late fitness test.

Striker Luke Beckett (back) is also a doubt and Andy Booth may replace him.

Team From

Chelsea

Cudicini, Cech, Hilario, Ferreira, Belletti, Terry, Carvalho, Ben-Haim, Alex, A Cole, Bridge, Essien, Lampard, Sidwell, Mikel, Malouda, Wright-Phillips, Pizarro, Anelka, Drogba, Kalou, J Cole, Sinclair.

About the Match

Chelsea against Huddersfield is one of two "Big Four" against lower division ties in the fifth round.

The holders are still fighting for honours on all four fronts, while the Yorkshire League One club are looking to claim a second Premier League scalp in this current cup run.

Huddersfield are the lowest ranked club remaining in this season's FA Cup.

The League ladder

Chelsea are 56 places higher than Huddersfield in the league standings.

Head to Head Details

All competitions

Huddersfield have won only one of their last 12 league and cup matches against Chelsea; a Kenny Irons goal settled the third round Worthington Cup tie at Stamford Bridge on 13 October 1999.

FA Cup

This is the second time in three seasons the pair have been drawn together. Chelsea needed a late goal by Eidur Gudjohnsen on 7 January 2006 to secure a 2-1 home win to knock out the Terriers for the third time in a third round tie since 1967.

Liverpool v Barnsley 02/16/2008

2008-02-15T16:22:00.005+05:30

Liverpool 1-2 Barnsley

Barnsley sent Liverpool crashing out of the FA Cup thanks to Brian Howard's dramatic injury-time winner at Anfield.

Ryan Babel set up Dirk Kuyt to put the Reds ahead and only some super saves by Luke Steele kept Barnsley in the game.

Saturday's Highlights

The Tykes levelled when Stephen Foster headed home Martin Devaney's cross and although Liverpool poured forward they could not find a way past Steele.

Harry Kewell hit the bar for the home side before Howard's low shot into the bottom corner won it for Barnsley.

Liverpool had already been held by Luton Town of League One in the Cup this season and also had to come from behind twice against non-league Havant & Waterlooville in the previous round

But the way Rafa Benitez's men started this game did not suggest they would suffer any sort of shock result against Simon Davey's side, who are in the bottom half of the Championship.

The home side had all the early possession and Peter Crouch forced an early save out of Steele after Yossi Benayoun had teed him up in the area.

Steele, only signed on an emergency loan from West Brom on Valentine's Day because Barnsley's other keepers were injured or ineligible, was fast becoming a thorn in Liverpool's side on his debut.

He made two more stops in quick succession, saving acrobatically from Xabi Alonso and collecting Babel's low shot.

The former Manchester United goalkeeper was finally beaten on 32 minutes when Babel pulled the ball back for Kuyt, who took a touch before burying his shot into the back of the net.

Steele also did brilliantly to keep out a Crouch header on the stroke of half-time and Barnsley capitalised when they equalised out of nowhere after the interval.

Devaney produced the cross of his life from out wide on the right and Foster rose highest to nod the ball past the flailing figure of Charles Itandje, who could only help it into the net.

The Barnsley defence was soon back under pressure with Bobby Hassell and Foster clearing a Benayoun shot off the line before Howard's block kept out Crouch's follow-up.

And Liverpool threw everything at the visitors, forcing Steele into another stop from Benayoun before he tipped a Lucas header on to the bar.

There was drama at the other end too when Itandje somehow escaped without penalty after colliding with Kayode Odejayi as he chased down a long ball on the edge of the Liverpool penalty area.

But Liverpool were still looking like the only winners and the visitors were defending desperately when Kewell saw his rasping shot come back off the bar late on.

There was still time for one last Barnsley attack, however, and Howard made it count as he collected the ball on the edge of the area and fired into the bottom corner to clinch a famous victory.
_____________________________________________________
Team News

Liverpool centre-back Martin Skrtel (calf) is out and Sami Hyypia may play, while Fabio Aurelio and Alvaro Arbeloa are available after injury.

Fernando Torres (hamstring) is fit but is set to be rested ahead of the Champions League tie at Inter Milan.

Barnsley's emergency goalkeeper signing Luke Steele will go straight into the side to replace the injured Heinz Muller and ineligible Tony Warner.

Lewin Nyatanga and Jon Macken are both out as they are cup-tied.

Team From

Liverpool

Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Riise, Aurelio, Arbeloa, Pennant, Mascherano, Gerrard, Babel, Benayoun, Kewell, Lucas, Torres, Crouch, Kuyt, San Jose, Itandje.

About the Match

The FA Cup provides Liverpool with their only realistic chance of a domestic honour this season.

Barnsley are aiming to pull off their biggest shock in the FA Cup since dismissing Manchester United at this fifth round stage in 1998, but the Tykes were a Premier League outfit at the time.

Liverpool are one of a mere six surviving Premier League clubs in the last 16, and could be one of four to fall to lower ranked opposition at this stage.

The League ladder

Liverpool are 29 places higher than Barnsley in the league standings.

Head to Head Details

All competitions

Not met since both were Premier League clubs in 1997-98. There was a share of the spoils with both league fixtures being won by the club playing away from home.

FA Cup

Liverpool have won all four previous ties against the south Yorkshire club, the most recent being 0-4 away in the quarter-finals in 1985.

FA Cup Fifth Round Draw Today, 28/01/2007

2008-01-28T15:26:00.000+05:30

Premier League leaders Manchester United will play second placed Arsenal at Old Trafford in the stand-out tie of the fifth round of the FA Cup.

League One side Huddersfield Town will travel to Stamford Bridge to face last year's winners Chelsea.

Sheffield United manager Bryan Robson will take on former team Middlesbrough while Liverpool will play Championship opposition in Barnsley at Anfield.

League One strugglers Bristol Rovers face Championship side Southampton.

Portsmouth also have Championship opposition when they travel to Deepdale to play Preston, who beat Premier League bottom side Derby 4-1 at Pride Park on Saturday.

Fifth round fixtures:

Bristol Rovers v Southampton

Cardiff City v Wolves

Sheffield United v Middlesbrough

Liverpool v Barnsley

Manchester United v Arsenal

Preston v Portsmouth

Coventry City v West Brom

Chelsea v Huddersfield Town

The ties are scheduled to take place on 16 and 17 February.

.................................................
Teams in FA Cup fifth-round draw:

1. Arsenal
2. Coventry City
3. Huddersfield Town
4. Bristol Rovers
5. Chelsea
6. Liverpool
7. Barnsley
8. Southampton
9. Manchester United
10. Portsmouth
11. Preston
12. Wolves
13. West Bromwich Albion
14. Sheffield United
15. Middlesbrough
16. Cardiff

The draw will be made by FA Cup winners Jimmy Case and Ray Wilkins at Soho Square in London.

Only six of Premier League Teams are left in the competition.

For the first time since 1957, there are no fourth-round replays as every match was decided at the first time of asking.

Sheff Utd Vs Man City 27/01/2008

2008-01-27T21:48:00.000+05:30

Sheffield Utd 2-1 Man City

Sheffield United added their name to Monday's FA Cup draw after knocking out Manchester City in the fourth round.

Luton Shelton kept his eye on the ball as it bobbled through balloons in the City goal to convert Lee Martin's pass.

Emile Mpenza headed over for City and Paddy Kenny cleared Blumer Elano's free-kick before Jon Stead knocked in Derek Geary's cross on the break.

City substitute Daniel Sturridge whistled in Martin Petrov's corner but despite late pressure United hung on.

Man City's travelling band of fans may have unwittingly had a hand in Shelton's opener.

A clutch of balloons littered City's goalmouth and when Martin, on loan from Manchester United, crossed to Shelton, the ball momentarily got lost amongst them, leaving defender Michael Ball bamboozled.

Shelton managed to keep his eye on the ball and stabbed it home to pumped fists of praise from under-pressure manager Bryan Robson.

The balloons were quickly burst; and City pressed forward in search of the equaliser.

Mpenza headed over from eight yards and Elano had two good chances; first rattling the post with his right-footed effort before seeing his free-kick from 25 yards clawed away brilliantly by Kenny.

Despite City's dominance another well-worked break brought the Blades their second goal.

Geary broke for the right-hand corner, and turned in a cross which first found Shelton before Jon Stead slotted it beyond Joe Hart.

The match, though tipped in favour of United, settled into an exciting see-saw of attack and counter-attack.

Petrov was denied by a timely challenge from Leigh Bromby while Stephen Quinn blocked Darius Vassell's shot.

Kenny then flapped at a Vedran Corluka corner and Richard Dunne almost took advantage only for the ball to fly wide as United held firm.

City boss Sven-Goran Eriksson made an inspired switch at half-time replacing the increasingly wild Elano with highly-rated striker Sturridge.

Within two minutes, the teenager found himself unmarked and able to rifle home Petrov's corner for his first senior goal for City.

The play continued to swing pulsatingly from end to end. City were forced to make some desperate tackles but Martin failed to find reward from the resulting free-kicks.

Quinn headed Geary's cross just wide as the Blades harried away at City, and it looked as though Eriksson's men were running out of ideas.

With every City attack, United were ready to respond with some stout defending before punting the ball down field on the break.

Shelton found himself on course for a second only for his shot to be blocked after Vassell had fumbled the ball at the other end.

Dunne rose well to collect Petrov's free-kick but headed wide before Kenny saved from the hard-working Vassell.

Substitute Geovanni scooped the ball high and wide as City drove at the Blades defence and Blades's Billy Sharp did likewise at the other end.

United never gave up and after four minutes of added time the Championship side completed their upset, claiming the 14th Premiership scalp in this season's FA Cup.

.........................................................
Sheff Utd

* 01 Kenny
* 26 Geary
* 02 Bromby
* 05 Morgan
* 03 Naysmith
* 19 Gillespie
* 15 Speed
* 23 Martin
* 28 Quinn
* 07 Shelton
* 08 Stead

Substitutes

* 11 Hendrie,
* 16 Kilgallon,
* 18 Tonge,
* 20 Armstrong,
* 24 Sharp

Man City

* 25 Hart
* 16 Corluka
* 04 Onuoha
* 22 Dunne
* 03 Ball
* 11 Elano
* 21 Hamann
* 28 Gelson
* 15 Petrov
* 09 Mpenza
* 12 Vassell

Substitutes

* 19 Schmeichel,
* 07 Ireland,
* 08 Geovanni,
* 17 Jihai,
* 36 Sturridge

Manchester United Vs Tottenham 27/01/2008

2008-01-27T20:18:00.000+05:30

Man Utd 3-1 Spurs

Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice to put Manchester United into the last 16 of the FA Cup after an entertaining tie.

First Half Highlights

Ronoldo's Penalty

Ronoldo's Second goal

Wayne Rooney cleared Dimitar Berbatov's header off the line before Robbie Keane converted Aaron Lennon's cross to put Tottenham ahead in a lively first half.

Ryan Giggs teed up Carlos Tevez to level but Edwin van der Sar superbly denied Jermaine Jenas before half-time.

Ronaldo netted a penalty after Michael Dawson went for deliberate handball and Radek Cerny then let his shot through.

It continued United's long unbeaten run at home against Spurs - which began in December 1989 - and was no less than the Premier League champions deserved after a dominant second-half display.

They were tested, however, during an opening 45 minutes which featured plenty to admire from two sides that have won the Cup 19 times between them.

For all their fluid movements, the home side often lacked a telling final ball and Spurs drew encouragement from the success they had in containing the lethal triumvirate of Rooney, Tevez and Ronaldo.

Indeed, the visitors came desperately close to an opener in the 15th minute when Berbatov headed Lennon's corner goalwards, only to be thwarted by Rooney on the line.

The warning signs were there for the favourites and when a raking pass from Michael Dawson was collected by Lennon, the winger's cross was met by Keane, who ghosted past the centre-halves to claim claim his fourth strike in as many games.

United responded wth predictable vigour and after Radek Cerny tipped over a fierce Giggs strike from the edge of the area they were deservedly level.

John O'Shea's deep ball caused confusion for Young-Pyo Lee and Dawson, allowing Giggs to nip in and lay-off to Tevez, who fired across Cerny and into the net.

Spurs were undaunted and, with the game opening up, almost regained the lead right on half-time.

Jenas raced clear down the middle following Steed Malbranque's defence-splitting pass and he got in an effort which Van der Sar pushed past the post.

More composure soon after the break would have yielded another Tottenham goal.

A slip from left-back Patrice Evra allowed Lennon to break free but he chipped over, and a clever punt from Keane created an even better opening for Jenas, who sidefooted off-target.

Those misses proved costly as Sir Alex Ferguson's men cranked up the pressure.

Ronaldo was enjoying more freedom and he really should have made it 2-1 when a sublime pass from Tevez sent him clear into the box.

And the goal United had been threatening duly arrived when Dawson saw red for using his arm to deny Rooney a shooting opportunity and Ronaldo fired home his 10th goal in eight games from the spot.

The game looked up for Tottenham but they bravely ventured forward and Wes Brown's attempt to clear a Malbranque cross bounced back off the post.

Any hopes they were harbouring off a replay were ended, however, when a dreadful error from Cerny saw Ronaldo's shot squirm over the line.

................................................................
About the Match

Manchester United against Tottenham Hotspur is one of three ties that will see a Premier League club through and one join the nine to have already fallen by the wayside from the third round.

Since 1984-85, Manchester United have played 110 FA Cup ties, and only been knocked out by Premier League clubs on 16 occasions (that includes the two finals won by Southampton and Arsenal after penalty shoot-outs).

These clubs have won the cup 19 times between them; United, a record 11 times, Spurs eight.

Head To Head Details

All competitions

This is the 164th competitive meeting; Manchester United have won the last four and are unbeaten in 13 (won 11, drawn two - all Premier League). Spurs' last victory was 3-1 at White Hart Lane on 19 May 2001. The Londoners have not won at the Theatre of Dreams in 19 visits since a 0-1 top-flight triumph on 16 December 1989.

FA Cup

This is the ninth time these clubs have been drawn together in the competition. Tottenham lead by five wins to three, but United won the most recent 2-0, at home in the third round in 1997 when Paul Scholes and David Beckham were their scorers.

Wigan Vs Chelsea 26/01/2008

2008-01-27T01:03:00.000+05:30

Wigan 1-2 Chelsea

Nicolas Anelka scored his first goal for Chelsea to help them beat Wigan in their FA Cup fourth-round tie.

The opening half was highly forgettable with Joe Cole's first-minute shot the only real effort of note.

But eight minutes after the interval Anelka put Chelsea ahead with a sublime volley from Juliano Belletti's pass.

Anelka set up Shaun Wright-Phillips to make it 2-0 before Antoine Sibierski pulled a goal back with a super volley, while Marcus Bent hit the bar late on.

The Wigan pitch looked in a poor state and unfortunately the quality of the football in the first half was no better.

With a wide, boggy stripe running right down the centre of the field, it was perhaps unsurprising that neither side opted to pass their way through it.

But that made for a scrappy, fragmented match as the ball spent a fair amount of time pinging about in the air.

It might have played to Wigan's advantage but striker Emile Heskey struggled to impose himself on the game and

And the one time the striker did make a telling contribution, Marcus Bent allowed the pass to run across his body and Wayne Bridge nipped in to clear.

At the other end, Anelka was largely anonymous, but Cole showed glimpses of attacking verve without making a breakthrough.

Aside from Cole's early strike, there was nothing that resembled a chance in the opening period.

Chelsea, though, were the team who had showed a little more control and creativity and they deservedly took the lead on 53 minutes.

Belletti chipped a teasing pass into the box and Anelka, with one eye fixed on the onrushing Chris Kirkland, steered a sublime volley into the net.

Shortly after, Wright-Phillips showed purpose with a direct run but his shot lacked precision and did not trouble Kirkland.

Cech, though, was called into action to prevent Heskey's shot sneaking in at the near post.

But as Wigan pressed for an equaliser they were undone by some route one football.

Anelka raced clear after beating Kevin Kilbane to Cech's long goal-kick and the Frenchman squared the ball to provide Wright-Phillips with the simplest finish.

Wigan appeared to be out of the game by then, but Sibierski produced a moment of sheer brilliance to give them a lifeline when he controlled the ball on his chest, swivelled and smashed an edge-of-the-box volley into the top corner.

An unlikely comeback was almost completed when Bent lashed a shot against the bar, but Chelsea held on to progress to the fifth round.

Arsenal Vs Newcastle 26/01/2008

2008-01-27T00:56:00.000+05:30

Arsenal 3-0 Newcastle

Emmanuel Adebayor's brace helped secure Arsenal's passage to the FA Cup fifth round at the expense of Newcastle.

Kevin Keegan's side regularly worried the Gunners early on, with Gael Clichy heading Alan Smith's shot off the line.

But Arsenal dominated after the break and took the lead when Adebayor thrashed home a sumptuous strike.

The Togolese sealed the win with a superb run and composed finish, before Nicky Butt headed a Cesc Fabregas free-kick into his own net.

The Magpies showed glimpses of the attractive attacking football that Keegan has promised since returning to the club, but were ultimately undone by Adebayor's class.

Arsene Wenger made seven changes to the Arsenal side that were hammered by rivals Spurs on Tuesday with Adebayor claiming the bickering rights over Nicklas Bendtner, who started on the bench.

Newcastle shed the lethargy that embodied their performance during Keegan's first game in charge against Bolton and displayed an attacking purpose that threatened to upset the Arsenal defence.

Arsenal too, were positive in attack and after a shaky start, had chances to break the deadlock.

Eduardo's thumping half-volley brought a fine save from Shay Given, while the unmarked Fabregas should have made better contact with Clichy's pass from deep when put clean through.

The Gunners were too often fragile at the back with only captain William Gallas holding the unit together with a number of crucial blocks and challenges.

But for Clichy's positioning and headed clearance off the line, Smith would have given Newcastle a deserved lead when he dug out a shot on the turn.

The French full-back then showed his worth at the other end too when he forced Given into a firm save from the edge of the box.

Taylor looped over Jens Lehmann from Duff's clipped pass and Owen narrowly missed Stephen Carr's teasing cross with the Arsenal defence badly caught out.

On the stroke of half-time, Given pulled off another superb save - tipping the excellent Abou Diaby's 25-yard curler over the bar.

Five minutes into the second half, the home side moved ahead with a clinical finish from their leading scorer Adebayor.

Eduardo found space on the edge of the area and clipped his effort past Given on to the post. The rebound eventually found the Togolese who jinked past Claudio Cacapa and rifled his effort into the corner.

The goal lifted the Gunners with Fabregas and Diaby pulling the strings from midfield and Eduardo linking up neatly up front.

Adebayor put the tie beyond the visitors when his foraging run gave him the time and space to fire past Given with Taylor helpless to stop the shot on the line.

Butt inadvertently headed Fabregas' free-kick past Given in the closing stages to register a scoreline that flattered the Gunners.

Liverpool Vs Havant & W'looville 26/01/2008

2008-01-27T00:51:00.000+05:30

Liverpool 5-2 Havant & W'looville

Liverpool had to come from behind twice to beat Havant & Waterlooville and reach the FA Cup fifth round.

Richard Pacquette's header put Havant ahead before Leiva Lucas equalised for Liverpool with a superb 25-yard curler.

Alfie Potter restored the part-timers' lead with a deflected effort, but Yossi Benayoun made it 2-2 from 15 yards.

Benayoun drove in just after the break and stroked home from a rebound to complete his hat-trick before Peter Crouch tapped in to make it 5-2.

Once they had moved into the lead, Liverpool finally looked like a team of millionaire professionals playing against non-league part-time opposition.

But it was far from that way in the first half as Liverpool squandered possession and were harried into making mistakes as Havant showed little sign of big-match nerves.

Yet the home side should have opened the scoring on three minutes when Jermaine Pennant outpaced his marker and delivered a perfect cross, but Benayoun somehow headed wide.

Havant, buoyed by their let-off, soon gave a warning to the Reds defence when Potter got himself in a good position and forced Martin Skrtel to make a block.

And three minutes later, the team 122 places beneath their hosts proved it was no empty threat as they took the lead from a set-piece.

Mo Harkin whipped in a corner and Pacquette headed the ball downwards, and wheeled away in celebration after seeing it bounce into the top corner.

Surely that would prove just a blip, and Liverpool would go on to dominate, but not so, as the Blue Square South side snapped into the tackles, kept their discipline and their shape - and kept Liverpool at bay with relative ease.

Liverpool's passing continually went astray and a Havant side containing a van driver, a binman and a school caretaker started to look like they might just pull off one of the biggest Cup shocks of all time.

Indeed, Havant had a great chance to take a two-goal lead when the ball fell to Neil Sharp after a goalmouth scramble, but his volley was always rising.

Instead, the Reds were level when Lucas produced his side's first moment of genuine quality, curling in a brilliant effort as Havant stood off him.

Cue relief all around at Anfield - bar the 6,000 away fans - but it proved to be short-lived, lasting only four minutes.

Deservedly, Havant restored their lead when they capitalised on a mistake by Steve Finnan, whose misjudgement allowed the ball to reach Potter, whose shot went in off Skrtel.

Still Liverpool struggled to make an impact but then they created a chance that proved crucial to the outcome just before the interval.

Pennant threaded a pass through to Benayoun and he clipped the ball onto the left corner to ensure the score was all-square at half-time.

After the interval, Liverpool raised their game and took the lead for the first time in the match when Pennant crossed for Benayoun, who swivelled and unleashed a fierce shot which went in off the underside of the bar.

It seemed to settle Liverpool, and left the Hawks reflecting on what might have been.

And when Benayoun cracked in his third goal to put Liverpool 4-2 up after Ryan Babel's shot had been well saved, you could sense that Havant might struggle to keep the score down.

Benayoun was denied his fourth goal when his volley was saved superbly by Kevin Scriven as Liverpool finally began to dominate.

It would have been harsh on Havant had Liverpool gone on to record a huge victory.

And in fact, Havant almost made the score closer when Tom Jordan's header was acrobatically kept out by Charles Itandje.

But they did concede a fifth as Crouch tapped in, but Havant can be proud of an excellent display that certainly had the Premier League giants squirming.

Everton Vs Chelsea 23/01/2008

2008-01-23T15:15:00.000+05:30

Everton 0-1 Chelsea
(Chelsea win 3-1 on aggregate)

Chelsea secured a Carling Cup final meeting with Tottenham thanks to a Joe Cole strike that saw off the challenge of Everton at Goodison Park.

Cole scored the only goal of the game when he controlled Florent Malouda's raking ball and sent his half-volley past goalkeeper Tim Howard.

Chelsea also went close through striker Nicolas Anelka who hit the crossbar.

Everton's best chances came from the boots of Phil Neville and Phil Jagielka whose shots were saved by Petr Cech.

With Everton having not beaten their opposition since November 2000 in any competition, the omens were not good for David Moyes' side.

But ask Moyes what omens mean to him and you would probably get short shrift.

The Toffees played well at Stamford Bridge and were unlucky to be 2-1 down on aggegate going into the second leg.

And in the opening moments of the first half they resumed where they left off two weeks ago, dominating possession and flinging in balls, primarily from the boot of Neville, into the area.

If it was not Neville keeping the cup holders on their toes it was Spanish playmaker Mikel Arteta, who managed to thread balls into the 18-yard box despite being surrounded by two or three defenders.

But Avram's Grant's Chelsea is similar to Jose Mourinho's Chelsea - tight at the back - and the recipients inside the area, Tim Cahill and Andy Johnson, were kept quiet for most of the match.

The second stingiest defence in the league coped brilliantly with what came into the danger zone and the only time Ricardo Carvalho and his backline were found wanting was when Joloen Lescott was allowed a free header from 12 yards, which Cech saved low.

Cech, whose wife gave birth to their first child earlier in the day, had little else to do in the first 45 minutes, but neither did opposite number Howard.

The American was called into action only once during the same period when he crouched down to save an Anelka shot from 14 yards.

The French striker, who ambled with intent, went a lot closer straight after the restart when his curling shot rebounded off the crossbar from 18 yards after a good hold-and-pass from Cole.

The scare served as a reminder to Everton that they could not afford to lose concentration and they also needed to improve their ideas at the other end.

Neville took it upon himself to haul Everton back into the match, but his charge and vicious shot was well saved by Cech.

The Czech keeper had only just dusted himself off before going down again to deflect away a Jagielka flick.

Had they scored, the game would have taken on a different tone, but instead Chelsea went up the other end and all but secured their place at Wembley thanks to a sublime finish from Cole.

The England midfielder's one touch and half-volley from Malouda's searching ball gave Howard no chance.
________________________________________________
Team News

Everton will give late tests to Andrew Johnson, Tony Hibbert and Manuel Fernandes as they seek to overturn a 2-1 Carling Cup semi-final deficit.

Leon Osman has recovered from a broken foot and may return but Leighton Baines is still out with a hamstring injury.

Frank Lampard has joined skipper John Terry and striker Andriy Shevchenko on Chelsea's injury-list after aggravating his thigh problem in training.

Shaun Wright-Phillips could be in the squad despite a slight ankle problem.

Team From

Everton

Howard, Hibbert, Neville, Stubbs, Lescott, Jagielka, Valente, Carsley, Arteta, Cahill, Osman, Vaughan, Anichebe, Johnson, Fernandes, Wessels.

Chelsea

Cech, Cudicini, Hilario, Belletti, Ferreira, Ben-Haim, Carvalho, Alex, A Cole, Bridge, J Cole, Makelele, Sidwell, Malouda, Anelka, Pizarro, Wright-Phillips, Sinclair, Ballack, Ivanovic.

Tottenham Vs Arsenal 22/01/2008

2008-01-22T16:23:00.000+05:30

Tottenham 5-1 Arsenal
(Spurs win 6-2 on aggregate)

A pulsating Tottenham performance saw them run riot against Arsenal to book a place in the Carling Cup final.

Highlights (First 4 Goals only)

Full highlights

Spurs got off to the perfect start when Jermaine Jenas angled in a shot to put them 2-1 ahead on aggregate.

Arsenal's Nicolas Bendtner then headed into his own net before Robbie Keane's 18-yard shot put Spurs 3-0 up.

Aaron Lennon sidefooted in for Spurs before Emmanuel Adebayor grabbed a consolation for Arsenal but Steed Malbranque's strike completed the rout.

Tottenham had been left rueing a late Arsenal equaliser in the first leg and they also had the psychological baggage of not having beaten their arch rivals since November 1999.

But with home advantage and Arsenal's penchant for fielding fringe players in the Carling Cup, Spurs scented victory and they grabbed an early lead.

Jenas was allowed time and space to drive a shot across goal and the ball went in off the post after three minutes.

Spurs gave Arsenal's defence no respite with their fluent and attacking football as they took a stranglehold on the match.

The Gunners were also starved of possession in attack and they rarely looked like levelling, due to a mixture of poor play and a determined White Hart Lane side.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger had kept faith with most of his second string for the game but drafted in a handful of first-team regulars in centre-back William Gallas, right-back Bacary Sagna and playmaker Alexander Hleb.

But the trio struggled to help their side break Spurs's grip and even the introduction of Cesc Fabregas for the injured Denilson did not help the visitors.

Instead, Bendtner's own goal added to the home side's lead after he headed in as he went up with Michael Dawson to meet a Jenas free-kick.

Arsenal were rattled and on the backfoot and Dimitar Berbatov should have inflicted another bodyblow to the visitors when he was clean through, only to hit the post with his shot.

Jenas poked into the side-netting just before the break but Spurs did not have long to wait for a third.

Lennon's delightful ball with the outside of his right foot sent Keane through to score with a shot which appeared to catch Fabianski by surprise and one he should have saved.

Almost immediately, Bendtner looked set to give Arsenal a lifeline, only to see his strike bounce the wrong side of the goal-line after hitting the underside of the crossbar.

It got worse for Arsenal when Lennon slotted in on the hour mark as Spurs threatened to run riot.

Adebayor's 20-yard strike was too late to give Arsenal a way back into the game and their frustration boiled over when Bendtner appeared to argue with his team-mate and goalscorer before exchanging angry words with Gallas.

Malbranque compounded Arsenal's misery as Juande Ramos secured a place in the Carling Cup final on 24 February in his first season in charge.

.......................................................................
Team News

Tottenham midfielder Steed Malbranque returns from suspension for the second leg of their Carling Cup semi-final.

Defender Ledley King was rested at the weekend to protect his knee and could return but Chris Gunter is cup-tied.

Arsenal captain William Gallas could partner either Justin Hoyte or Gilberto at centre-back as Johan Djourou and Philippe Senderos are both ruled out.

Robin van Persie is not fit but Theo Walcott is set to return for Arsenal, who were held 1-1 in the first leg.

Tottenham

Cerny, Robinson, Chimbonda, Lee, Stalteri, Dawson, King, Kaboul, Rocha, Huddlestone, Malbranque, Jenas, Boateng, O'Hara, Tainio, Lennon, Berbatov, Defoe, Keane, Rose, Taarabt.

Arsenal

Fabianski, J Hoyte, Gallas, Senderos, Traore, Diaby, Denilson, Gilberto, Eduardo, Walcott, Bendtner, Mannone, Sagna, Rosicky, Randall, Gibbs, Lansbury, G Hoyte.

Man City 1-0 West Ham 16/01/2008

2008-01-17T09:15:00.000+05:30

Elano's header 18 minutes from time sank West Ham and handed Manchester City a FA Cup fourth round trip to Sheffield United.

The Brazilian dived into the six-yard box after Rolando Bianchi headed Martin Petrov's cross against an upright.

Dean Ashton missed West Ham's best chance after 30 minutes when he volleyed Luis Boa Morte's cross against City keeper Joe Hart.

Boa Morte was also denied by Hart as City held on to clinch the win.

The first-half was a desperately poor affair, with little or nothing to excite an Eastlands crowd that was well below capacity.

West Ham's Ashton wasted their best first-half chance, but City keeper Hart blocked his close-range effort after Boa Morte created the opening.

City suffered a blow two minutes later when on-loan Mexican Nery Castillo fell awkwardly under a challenge from Lucas Neill and was stretchered off with a dislocated shoulder.

Hart got the better of Ashton again in first-half injury time, halting the striker as he tried to take advantage of Richard Dunne's error. The loose ball fell to Boa Morte, but he blasted wildly off target.

West Ham started the second half brightly, and Boa Morte was guilty of selfish play after 52 minutes, choosing to shoot straight at Hart with Freddie Ljungberg waiting unmarked only six yards out with the goal at his mercy.

City carved out their first opportunity after 56 minutes, courtesy of a superb Petrov cross that substitute Bianchi could not turn in at the far post.

Petrov was City's outstanding performer, and it was no surprise that he was instrumental when they went ahead with 18 minutes left.

He delivered a superb far post cross that was diverted against an upright by Bianchi, and Elano dived bravely into the six-yard box to head home the rebound.

West Ham almost restored equality with eight minutes left when Lee Bowyer lifted the ball over the onrushing Hart, but Micah Richards made a superb covering header to deny Ashton.

Reading v Tottenham, FA cup, 15/01/2008

2008-01-15T23:56:00.000+05:30

Match Report

Tottenham made it through to the FA Cup fourth round with a greater degree of comfort than the scoreline suggested.

Robbie Keane won the tie on 15 minutes when he thumped in a rebound after Younes Kaboul headed against the bar.

Jermain Defoe came close to adding a second but his fierce, low volley was superbly palmed away by Adam Federici.

After the break Reading's Stephen Hunt lashed a volley against the bar, while Steed Malbranque's vicious volley was tipped on to the bar by Federici.

From the start, Tottenham were more confident in possession and more threatening with it, particularly from the unlikely source of Kaboul, who caused Reading problems in the air from set-plays.

It was his headed flick-on that gave Defoe a chance to open the scoring but the striker could only nod over the bar.

But when Kaboul again rose above the Reading defence from Jermaine Jenas' corner, it proved decisive as the ball was pushed against the bar by Federici only for Keane to smash in the rebound.

Apart from the pace offered by Leroy Lita, Reading appeared unable to make any impact on the Spurs defence.

And in midfield, too, they were second-best as Jenas dictated the pattern of the match.

Yet for all their superiority, Spurs created little in the way of clear opportunities to put the tie beyond Reading's reach.

Then five minutes before half-time Defoe could hardly have hit his right-footed volley better but Federici threw himself to his left to make an excellent stop.

The second half followed a similar pattern, with Spurs having the better of things and Reading struggling to raise their game.

When the hosts did threaten, Nicky Shorey could only muster a weak shot from the edge of the box that rolled harmlessly wide.

Urgency, penetration and desire were all lacking from Reading's play as Spurs easily held at them at arm's length like an older brother might nonchalantly frustrate a younger sibling.

Even so Tottenham were showing little attacking ambition of their own.

And after 14 goals in the last two meetings between the sides, the match was proving a bit of a let-down.

Inside the final five minutes, Reading finally stirred and they were within inches of an equaliser when Hunt cracked an edge-of-the-box volley against the bar.

Almost immediately afterwards Simon Cox directed a free header straight at Radek Cerny.

Tottenham were denied a second goal when Federici produced an incredible stop to divert Malbranque's ferocious volley onto the bar.

In the end, one moment of incisiveness was all that Tottenham needed to progress, where they meet will Manchester United in the next round.

BIG-MATCH FACTS

Tottenham and Reading served up another thriller at White Hart Lane in the original tie. Dimitar Berbatov scored both for Spurs in the 2-2 draw. His goals came between a brace from Stephen Hunt, capitalising on mistakes from Spurs keeper Paul Robinson.

This is one of two all Premier League replays in the third round.

One of these clubs will join Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United, Portsmouth, Middlesbrough and Wigan in the fourth round, and earn that plum trip to Old Trafford.

In the The League

Tottenham are one place above Reading in the Premier League table in 12th spot.

HEAD to HEAD

All competitions

This will be their third meeting in 17 days. A total of 14 goals were scored in the two previous meetings, six of them by Tottenham's Dimitar Berbatov.

FA Cup

Reading are hoping to make it a hat-trick of FA Cup victories over Tottenham, having won the last two meetings in 1913, as a Southern League club, and in 1929. The Royals kept clean sheets in both matches, which were contested on Reading turf.

Liverpool v Luton, FA Cup, 15/01/2008

2008-01-15T23:43:00.000+05:30

Match Report

Steven Gerrard's hat-trick sank Luton and lifted the spirits of embattled Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez.

Ryan Babel's powerful finish broke the deadlock in first-half injury time, with Gerrard heading home from close range after 51 minutes.

Sami Hyypia turned in Gerrard's corner six minutes later before the captain slid in his second from 14 yards.

Gerrard's third came via a swerving shot to seal an FA Cup fourth round tie with Swansea or Havant & Waterlooville.

Both sides formed a guard of honour before kick-off as Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher celebrated his 500th appearance for the club.

The Kop also cheered Benitez after revelations that American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett had held secret talks with Jurgen Klinsmann to line him up as a potential successor to the Spaniard.

Luton fans were in good heart after administrator Brendan Guilfoyle revealed a deal has been agreed with a consortium, fronted by television presenter Nick Owen, to buy the club.

Liverpool, fielding a strong side including Gerrard and Torres, exerted total domination in the first 45 minutes.

But Luton, marshalled by former Anfield veteran Don Hutchison, defended heroically, putting their bodies on the line for a succession of brave blocks.

Peter Crouch should have done better than direct a fifth-minute header wide, and Babel curled a fine right-foot effort against an upright three minutes later.

Babel also had a shot deflected wide before he broke Luton's brave resistance in first-half injury time.

Gerrard's flick released Torres, and he set up the unmarked Babel for a drilled finish into the bottom corner past Dean Brill.

And Liverpool were home and dry after 51 minutes as Luton's lack of height at the back was ruthlessly exposed.

Jermaine Pennant's cross found Crouch at the far post and he knocked the ball into the path of the onrushing Gerrard, who headed beyond Brill.

Liverpool added a third six minutes later when Hyypia headed in Gerrard's near post corner, via a deflection from Matthew Spring.

Gerrard added his second after 64 minutes, steering home a precise finish from 14 yards after Torres' shot had been partially cleared into his path.

And a swerving long-range drive deceived Brill to complete Gerrard's hat-trick after 71 minutes, leaving the captain to depart to a standing ovation from Anfield.

BIG-MATCH FACTS

An own goal from Liverpool's John Arne Riise helped much-troubled Luton secure this money-spinning replay at Anfield, after Peter Crouch had put the Reds ahead.

This is one of two League One against Premier League replays in the third round.

Liverpool are keen to add to the six Premier League clubs who definitely know they in round four; Luton would like to join Huddersfield, Oldham and Southend, as League One representatives in the last 32.

In The League

Liverpool are 62 places higher than Luton in the league standings.

The Merseysiders are chasing a Champions League spot in the Premier League's top four; the Hatters are fighting against relegation from League One, having been deducted 10 points for going into financial administration.

HEAD to HEAD

All competitions

Luton's only victory in their last nine meetings with Liverpool was a 3-1 top-flight triumph on 23 February 1991 at Kenilworth Road.

FA Cup

The Hatters have been drawn with Liverpool four times previously in the competition, and have only knocked them out once; it took three games to complete the task with a 3-0 victory in the third round on 28 January 1987 with goals from Brian Stein, Mick Harford (penalty) and Mike Newell.

Arsenal 1-1 Tottenham, 09/01/2008 Carling Cup

2008-01-10T07:17:00.000+05:30

Arsenal 1-1 Tottenham

Theo Walcott scored a lucky equaliser as Arsenal held Tottenham in the first leg of their Carling Cup semi-final.

The ball rebounded off Walcott's body following Young-Pyo Lee's tackle and looped over Spurs keeper Radek Cerny.

Jermaine Jenas had put Tottenham in front, slotting home into virtually an empty net after Robbie Keane selflessly played him in with a square ball.

Spurs were the better side and Lukasz Fabianski made several good saves while Steed Malbranque missed from 14 yards.

It was a tough break for Spurs when Walcott equalised after the visiting team had created most of the decent openings.

Even so, Spurs might still have won the tie but substitute Jermain Defoe smashed the ball wide after Aaron Lennon played him in.

The result means that Tottenham's long wait for a victory over their north London rivals continues - their last came in November 1999 - but it leaves them well placed in the tie with the next leg at White Hart Lane.

In truth, it was a below-par performance by an Arsenal team comprised of a sprinkling of first-team regulars and talented youngsters.

The smooth, incisive football for which Arsene Wenger's team are so often heralded was largely absent on an evening when Tottenham seemed more fluid and dangerous in possession.

But the Gunners demonstrated the resilience that has ensured they have remained unbeaten at home all season by finding what appeared to be an unlikely equaliser.

Arsenal had fashioned the first real opening, with Radek Cerny, preferred in goal to Paul Robinson, making an athletic save to parry a header from Nicklas Bendtner.

But Tottenham had shown early signs that they could unlock the Arsenal defence and created several good chances before taking the lead.

Jamie O'Hara struck a free-kick narrowly wide, Malbranque shot wide from 14 yards and then missed the target with a header while the sublime Dimitar Berbatov, at the heart of so many impressive moves, forced Fabianski into a decent stop with a low-range strike.

Malbranque's first chance in particular was an excellent opportunity from which he should have scored.

The ball broke to him after Keane was dispossessed and the French midfielder had time to pick his spot but instead drilled the ball wide.

Tottenham scored the goal that their superiority deserved after 37 minutes when Berbatov played Keane through down the left and the striker passed for Jenas to tap home.

Jenas had another strike on target before a half-time break that must have been more welcome for the home team than Tottenham.

The visitors continued to hold a good shape after the interval and might have been gifted a second goal when Fabianski spilled a corner but thankfully for him the ball fell to one of his team-mates.

Keane drilled a shot wide as Tottenham pushed for a second.

The midfield became increasingly congested as Arsenal came back into the match and, after a relatively open first hour, decent openings were at a premium.

But Walcott scored his team's goal in front of watching England coach Fabio Capello after collecting Eduardo's though ball.

Replays suggested the ball hit Walcott on the hand but it all happened so quickly it would have been harsh to penalise the Arsenal forward.

Chelsea 2-1 Everton, Carling Cup 08/01/2008

2008-01-09T07:54:00.000+05:30

Chelsea 2-1 Everton

Everton defender Joleon Lescott scored an injury-time own goal to hand Chelsea the advantage after the first leg of their Carling Cup semi-final.

Lescott headed the ball into his own net as Shaun Wright-Phillips closed in.

The Chelsea winger had opened the scoring with a curling strike before Jon Mikel Obi was dismissed following a sliding tackle on Phil Neville.

Yakubu then equalised with a brilliant shot on the turn while James McFadden hit the post for Everton.

Chelsea were the better team for large phases of the match but, once Yakubu equalised shortly after Mikel's 64th-minute dismissal, Everton looked the team most likely to win a pulsating tie.

And even after Lescott, under pressure from the impressive Wright-Phillips, had put the ball into his own net Everton might have grabbed a second equaliser.

Lescott found himself through on goal and with a chance to almost immediately atone for his error but a heavy touch at a crucial moment saw the ball run away from him and Hilario was able to gather.

It was a far cry from the opening half, which Chelsea went on to dominate after Wright-Phillips struck with 25 minutes played.

Lee Carsley allowed Wright-Phillips to drift into the Everton area and the Chelsea winger turned sharply before finishing brilliantly after collecting a pass from Florent Malouda.

Everton all too often gave Chelsea too much time and space and Joe Cole almost scored after eluding Phil Jagielka before bursting through on goal.

Cole saw his shot smothered by Tim Howard but referee Peter Walton, having initially played an advantage, awarded Chelsea a free-kick for Jagielka's challenge and Michael Ballack missed by inches with a fizzing strike.

Everton looked relieved to reach the break without conceding again but Wright-Phillips was once more gifted far too much space a minute into the second half and forced another save from Howard.

Chelsea seemed intent on trying to establish a decisive first-leg advantage but their attacking ambitions were undermined when Mikel was dismissed for his tackle on Neville.

The Nigerian appeared intent on trying to win the ball but his studs were showing and Walton had no hesitation in dismissing the player.

Despite the sending-off Chelsea still managed to fashion a great opening but Claudio Pizarro, after collecting Wright-Phillips's superb through ball, failed to connect cleanly and within minutes Everton were level.

Yakubu, mostly absent for the first 64 minutes of the tie, brilliantly equalised after Joseph Yobo had hooked McFadden's free-kick back into the danger zone.

McFadden then hit the post from the tightest of angles after a mazy run down the left as Everton suddenly started to dominate.

But Lescott put the ball in his own net after he was caught stationary by Wright-Phillips at the far post.

Stoke 0-0 Newcastle 06/01/2008

2008-01-07T01:59:00.000+05:30

Stoke 0-0 Newcastle

Highlights: Click Here

Stoke City forced an FA Cup third-round replay against Premiership Newcastle after an absorbing draw.

The game lacked quality and only came to life in the second period with the Potters unlucky not to have taken the lead through substitute Jon Parkin.

But for Steven Taylor's heroic block on the goal-line, the lofty striker would have scored with his first touch.

Stoke survived a goal scramble after Taylor had hit the post and now travel to St James' Park a week on Wednesday.

A voracious home support, the presence of the BBC television cameras and facing a side packed with strapping six-footers would have had Sam Allardyce and his players fearing another Cup upset.

But the Magpies, beaten in their last three matches, hung on with some heroic defending and denied the hosts a deserved victory.

The visitors enjoyed the best of the first-half chances with Mark Viduka firing straight at Steve Simonsen from the edge of the box and Charles N'Zogbia stinging the hands of the Geordie-born keeper with a rasping drive from 20 yards.

Michael Owen, making his first FA Cup appearance in a black and white shirt, failed to take advantage of Ryan Shawcross' error, fluffing his lifted shot from close range.

Abdoulaye Faye and Taylor coped admirably with the sizeable threats of Mamady Sidibe and Ricardo Fuller.

But despite controlling possession, they seldom pressed home their superiority and were again short of invention and creativity.

Stoke, too, squandered possession and took until the 44th minute to muster a decent chance.

Liam Lawrence placed a 25-yard free-kick a yard wide of the post with Shay Given scrambling to his left.

The Potters, full of running and passion, pressed in the second half with the inspired introduction of Parkin almost reaping immediate rewards.

With his first touch, the centre forward almost broke the deadlock with a low placed effort after fine work from Fuller.

From the resulting corner Parkin again made a nuisance of himself, presenting a half chance for Richard Cresswell who should have made better contact with his acrobatic flick.

Taylor then blocked Fuller's long-range drive as the home side sensed a winner in the lashing rain.

Newcastle could have stolen a win at the death but Andrew Carroll's stretched shot deflected into the side netting.

Luton 1-1 Liverpool 06/01/2208

2008-01-06T23:26:00.000+05:30

Luton 1-1 Liverpool

Embattled Luton put in a superb performance against a weakened Liverpool team to earn a third-round replay at Anfield on Tuesday week.

The League One side were the better team in the first-half but could not convert their pressure into goals.

But Peter Crouch's simple finish gave Liverpool a second-half lead under the gaze of England manager Fabio Capello.

Yet Luton fought on and were rewarded when John Arne Riise bundled into his own goal from Drew Talbot's cross.

With the debt-laden Hatters in administration and looking for a buyer, and with many players unpaid in recent months, this FA Cup tie was a chance to briefly forget their woes.

Yet within 30 seconds Ryan Babel jinked into the penalty area to shoot low and hard, forcing a superb stop from Luton keeper Dean Brill.

Luton quickly regrouped and rarely looked like a team languishing in the League One relegation zone as they took the game to Liverpool.

Their first chance game when Steve Finnan played David Edwards onside but, one-on-one, Liverpool keeper Charles Itandje made an impressive stop from the Luton forward.

The Reds, not looking their forceful best without Steven Gerrard, did create chances and Dirk Kuyt should have done better than sky the ball over the bar after a neat one-two with Peter Crouch.

As the first-half wore on, Crouch got little chance to impress new England boss Fabio Capello with Luton stretching Liverpool all over the pitch and having the better of possession.

The energetic Drew Talbot was at the heart of their pressure but, finding himself in an inviting shooting position on 37 minutes after Steve Finnan's error, he screwed the ball lamely wide.

At half-time Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez tweaked his formation to a 4-3-3, pushing Babel closer to the front two and freeing Yossi Benayoun in midfield.

This change had an immediate impact as Xabi Alonso found Kuyt out on the right and his drilled cross shot

Luton survived another scare moments later with Brill making a good reaction stop after John Arne Riise's drive was deflected across the path of his dive.

The Hatters had a glorious chance to make a breakthrough on 54 minutes with Darren Currie chipping a cross in only for the unmarked Talbot to head over from three yards.

But calamitous Luton defending high up the pitch on 72 minutes let substitute Andriy Voronin break free and, though his shot was saved by Brill, Peter Crouch fired home the rebound.

Minutes later Luton deservedly got their goal as the unremitting Talbot whipped in a cross from the left by-line for John Arne Riise, under pressure from David Edwards, to bundle into his own goal.

Riise should have scored the winner soon after but flashed a left-foot shot narrowly wide of Brill's post and Edwards went close for Luton with a dipping volley.

Burnley 0-2 Arsenal FA CUP 06/08/2008

2008-01-06T21:32:00.000+05:30

Burnley 0-2 Arsenal

Arsenal progressed into the fourth round of the FA Cup but they were given a tough time by a brave Burnley side.

Kyle Lafferty's header hit the bar for the hosts before Eduardo slotted home.

Robbie Blake and Chris McCann fired over as Burnley rallied but James O'Connor had to hack off the line to clear Gilberto's deflected header.

Lafferty saw red for a foul on Gilberto on the hour and though the Clarets battled away, Nicklas Bendtner sealed the win after Eduardo played him in.

Burnley will now turn their thoughts towards improving their recent poor form in the Championship.

But they will wonder what might have been after giving the Premier League readers more than a run for their money with a performance that evoked memories of their shock third-round win over Liverpool in 2005.

They could have been in front as early as the sixth minute, when Lafferty's firm header from Andy Gray's cross beat the recalled Jens Lehmann before bouncing back down off the woodwork.

Eduardo made the Clarets pay by tapping past Gabor Kiraly for his sixth goal in four games after Kolo Toure's excellent defence-splitting chipped pass.

The home side showed tremendous spirit, and no shortage of style, as they took the game to their more illustrious opponents.

Blake was at the heart of most of their crisp passing movements and gave the Gunners another scare when he fired just over.

The danger of a swift Arsenal counter-attack was always present, however, and it needed a desperate clearance from O'Connor when Gilberto's header from Denilson's corner was deflected goalwards by the outstanding Jon Harley.

Burnley could have gone in level had McCann been more accurate from inside the box when Armand Traore could not control a deep cross from the impressive Lafferty.

Arsenal, while never on the rack, could have had some breathing space in the 50th minute when Bendtner's flicked pass put Eduardo clear but, by his own high standards, the prolific Croatia star shot surprisingly wide.

That actually came in the middle of another spell of Burnley pressure, in which Blake, Lafferty and Wade Elliott were regularly finding space to trouble the visitors' back four.

McCann lost his marker to head Blake's free-kick over from six yards and the warning signs were there for the Gunners.

But Lafferty's afternoon was over on the hour when he raised his studs while sliding in for a tackle on Gilberto and referee Alan Wiley pulled out the red card without hesitation.

Somehow, it seemed to inspire Burnley and, if anything, they poured forward with even more purpose, with O'Connor, Blake and Elliott buzzing all over the place.

Philippe Senderos had to be at his best to prevent Gray from getting to Elliott's teasing cross.

It proved crucial as soon after Eduardo's simple yet devastating pass was weighted perfectly for Bendtner to take the ball wide of Kiraly and finish the game as a contest with 15 minutes left.

Eduardo could have added some gloss to the scoreline moments later but Kiraly thwarted him.

A third goal would have been desperately harsh on a Burnley side that acquitted itself admirably.

Fulham 2-2 Bristol Rovers

2008-01-06T21:31:00.000+05:30

Fulham 2-2 Bristol Rovers

[video]

Fulham twice had to come from behind to force a replay with League One strugglers Bristol Rovers.

Danny Coles' right foot drive gave the visitors a shock lead inside three minutes, but David Healey headed Fulham level five minutes before half-time.

Against the run of play, Rovers regained the lead after the interval thanks to Craig Hinton's header.

But Danny Murphy spared the Premiership side's blushes with a rasping effort to force a replay on Tuesday week.

Both sides searched for a winner in a pulsating finish to this cup tie, but Rovers will be happiest with the result after defending for large parts of the game.

The 7,000 travelling fans greeted the final whistle with a huge roar as Fulham's supporters, who have not seen their team win in 10 games, booed their team from the pitch.

The visitors stunned their Premiership hosts inside three minutes as Danny Coles beat Antti Niemi with a right foot drive.

Fulham, who currently sit 19th in the Premiership, looked nervy and struggled to break down a resilient Rovers side, who seemed buoyed by their early breakthrough.

Clint Dempsey did put the ball in the back of the net with a header on 10 minutes, but it was ruled out for a foul on Rovers defender Steve Elliot by Dejan Stefanovic.

Fulham's American striker then headed straight at Steve Phillips and saw his shot deflected into the arms of the opposing goalkeeper as the home side searched for an equaliser.

Hameur Bouazza, returning from a one-match ban, lasted just 25 minutes as he was replaced by Chris Baird after sustaining an arm injury, before David Healey saw his appeals for a penalty turned down after tumbling on the edge of the area

Both Healey and Paul Konchesky shot wide but, five minutes before half-time, the Northern Ireland international levelled the scores.

A poor clearance by Aaron Lescott was helped back in by Moritz Volz and Healey, unmarked, scored from inside the six yard box.

The goal seemed to fill Fulham with more confidence and Phillips saved well from Healey, before making a good save from Alexey Smertin's 25-yard curler.

The Cottagers were far more confident in the second-half and after a slick move Dempsey's shot was saved low by Phillips, before a great tackle from Hinton denied the American a shot on goal after he turned well in the box.

But midway through the second period Rovers retook the lead against the run of play to once again stun Fulham and silence the home fans.

Chris lines' cross was met well by Hinton who rose unmarked eight yards out to head in his side's second goal of the afternoon.

However, their lead lasted just 10 minutes as Danny Murphy fired the home side level.

Steven Davis, with his first touch after replacing Alexey Smertin, played ball forward and Healey's knock down was hammered home emphatically by Murphy from 20 yards.

Fulham piled on the pressure in search of an equaliser but it was Rovers who finished the strongest as they earned a replay at the Memorial Ground on Tuesday 15 January.

Derby 2-2 Sheff Wed 06/01/2008

2008-01-06T21:30:00.000+05:30

Derby 2-2 Sheff Wed

[Video]

Derby came back from two goals down to earn an FA Cup third-round replay against Sheffield Wednesday.

The Owls went two up after Mark Beevers' speculative volley squirmed under Lewis Price and Marcus Tudgay pounced on Darren Moore's poor header.

Kenny Miller pulled one back with a delightful control and finish and Giles Barnes drew the hosts level with a fizzing left-foot volley.

Derby dominated in the second half but Wednesday held on for a deserved draw.

If former Owls boss Paul Jewell thought new signing Danny Mills would shore up his leaky defence, he may have to dip back into the transfer market to find another defender.

And the error-prone Rams were fortunate to face the Championship strugglers who had plenty of defensive frailties of their own.

The Premier League's basement club started sluggishly and were all too often caught pondering in possession by a sprightly Wednesday side.

After just seven minutes, Derby were made to pay for their slow start, albeit through a huge slice of fortune.

Beevers' speculative effort from 25 yards somehow squeezed under Price and bobbled over the line.

It was an horrendous gaffe that would be matched by his centre-back Moore 15 minutes later.

The veteran defender misjudged his backward header, leaving Tudgay to latch on to the loose ball and clinically slot past Lewis from close in.

The few home supporters at Pride Park were as stunned as their players and, but for shambolic defending from the visitors, the game could have been made safe by the break.

But the excellent Miller went close on two occasions before eventually finding the net on 37 minutes.

Craig Fagan's chipped cross from the right found the Scot whose wonderful control with his chest created the time and space for a drilled low shot that flew past Grant.

As good as Miller's touch and finish was, three Owls defenders failed to get the crucial block that should have prevented the shot.

Two minutes from half-time, Derby drew level after more dreadful defending.

Wednesday failed to deal with a Fagan corner leaving Moore to head back for Barnes who struck a left foot half volley through a crowd of players into the bottom corner.

Derby improved marginally after the break with Mills chipping a cross to the back post for Michael Johnson who looped his header narrowly wide.

Gary Teale forced a fine save from Grant with a close-range volley from Eddie Lewis's precise cross from the left.

The game became stretched in the closing 20 minutes but despite dominating possession, the Rams failed to find a winner.

Rangers 2-0 Dundee United 05/01/2008

2008-01-06T05:54:00.000+05:30

Rangers 2-0 Dundee United

Rangers went a point clear of inactive Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premier League with an efficient victory over Dundee United.

Slack marking allowed Steven Naismith to head home from eight yards after nine minutes from a Chris Burke cross.

A Burke drive flew just wide and an Alan Hutton header struck the bar.

But the second came via a Barry Ferguson head flick just before the break and Rangers could afford a late missed penalty from Kris Boyd.

Those two first-half strikes were enough to ensure that Rangers went ahead of Celtic at the top of the SPL with a game in hand.

And they did so without United forcing a save from goalkeeper Allan McGregor.

Fit-again Charlie Adam and Nacho Novo had to make do with places on the bench for an unchanged Rangers, while Lee McCulloch missed out despite being free from suspension because of a calf strain.

Euan McLean replaced the injured Grzegorz Szamotulski in United's goal, while on-loan Leicester striker Eric Odhiambo made his first start at the expense of David Robertson.

It was a cagey start as both sides attempted to find their feet on the sodden Ibrox surface.

But Rangers burst into life with a superb passing movement that led to the opening goal.

However, United ought to have had Naismith more closely marked as the forward headed home from eight yards following Burke's cross.

The match became scrappy, with United having the better of the possession until Burke fired in a 20-yard drive that McLean turned wide for a corner from which Alan Hutton sent a header off the top of the crossbar.

Rangers' second eventually arrived after 39 minutes when Ferguson flicked on a Burke cross into the penalty box and the ball flew into the far corner.

There appeared to be a suspicion of offside as Naismith and Daniel Cousin were between Ferguson and goalkeeper McLean.

But, after consulting his assistant, referee Mike McCurry allowed the goal to stand.

Rangers started brightly after the break and a flowing move gave Cousin a chance to extend the lead.

But the big striker took the ball too far wide after trying to round the goalkeeper and the chance was lost.

Substitute Boyd was denied when his drive struck his own captain, Ferguson, who then had an effort blocked by McLean.

Boyd also had a penalty saved by McLean after a push on fellow replacement Novo by Willo Flood.

McLean produced two more fine stops to deny Boyd and Ferguson as Rangers finished in impressive style in the Ibrox mud.

But two goals were enough to give manager Walter Smith a happy start to the new year.

Southampton 2-0 Leicester 05/01/2008

2008-01-06T05:50:00.000+05:30

Southampton 2-0 Leicester

Andrew Surman and Gregory Vignal scored in the first half to book Southampton's passage into the FA Cup fourth round.

Steve Howard twice went close for the Foxes either side of Surman's strike from the edge of the penalty area.

And Vignal crashed home a free-kick from similar distance to put Saints in control, which they never let go of.

Bradley Wright-Phillips almost made it 3-0 and though Howard and Alan Sheehan forced saves from Kelvin Davis, Saints were comfortable winners in the end.

It was the second time in three years that Leicester fell to the same opposition in the Cup and their defeat continues the struggles they have been enduring in the Championship.

New Foxes signing Howard saw an early effort pushed aside by goalkeeper Kelvin Davis but his team went a goal down when Jason Euell laid the ball off to Surman and he found the bottom right corner.

Howard somehow cleared the bar when he connected with Sheehan's inswinging corner and it was 2-0 when Patrick Kisnorbo brought down Grzegorz Rasiak just outside the area, and Vignal slammed the set-piece hard and low past Paul Henderson into the bottom left corner.

Euell and Adam Hammill headed wide after the break, before Howard tested Davis again the Southampton keeper produced a better save to deny Sheehan when he met Iain Hume's cross.

Saints still created the better chances and Wright-Phillips saw an effort kept out by Henderson as they eased home.

Everton 0-1 Oldham 05/01/2008

2008-01-06T05:48:00.000+05:30

Everton 0-1 Oldham

League One Oldham stunned Premier League high-fliers Everton with a deserved FA Cup third-round win.

Gary McDonald's spectacular 25-yard strike seconds before half-time capped a superb display of resilience and effort from John Sheridan's side.

James Vaughan and James McFadden wasted early chances to put Everton ahead.

Oldham held Everton at bay with relative ease after the break, although substitute Yakubu hit the post with only seconds remaining.

Everton boss David Moyes made a host of changes and arguably could take a large share of responsibility for this massive shock.

Moyes's men started brightly, but their early attacking endeavours soon faded in the face of Oldham's stubborn resistance.

Steven Pienaar played in Vaughan in the opening minute, but the vastly experienced Oldham keeper Mark Crossley plunged at his feet to save.

McFadden then shot narrowly wide after a good link with Vaughan as Everton, sixth in the Premier League, pressed for an early advantage.

But Oldham played their way into the game and Craig Davies should have done better than mis-kick in front of goal after 27 minutes as Everton's reserve keeper Stefan Wessels struggled to collect a cross.

Wessels was then forced to dive to his left to save from Deane Smalley as Oldham enjoyed a period of supremacy.

But they survived an escape three minutes before the interval when McFadden's shot was smuggled away as Everton threatened.

And they took advantage in spectacular style on the stroke of half-time, when McDonald found time and space to send a dipping left-foot shot over Wessels.

Everton were making few inroads into the Oldham defence after the break and it was no surprise when Moyes made a double change on the hour.

Yayubu and Victor Anichebe replaced Vaughan and the disappointing Thomas Gravesen.

And it was Yakubu who came closest to rescuing Everton, firing against an upright with virtually the final kick of the game.

Sunderland 0-3 Wigan 05/01/2008

2008-01-06T05:45:00.000+05:30

Sunderland 0-3 Wigan

Wigan boss Steve Bruce fielded a much-changed side but knocked former Manchester United team-mate Roy Keane's Sunderland out of the FA Cup.

Paul Scharner was left unmarked to give the visitors a half-time lead when he headed in Josip Skoko's free-kick.

Jonny Evans's poor back-pass let in Julius Agahowa and as he ran through on goal, Paul McShane tried to clear but put the ball past his own goalkeeper.

Dave Cotterill later made it 3-0 with a beautifully struck effort.

Keane had pledged to field his strongest possible side, but still made five changes after his squad were hit by injuries and suspensions.

But Bruce rang the changes even more, only naming four of the players from the midweek 1-1 draw with Liverpool in his starting line-up - and two of those, Ryan Taylor and Emile Heskey, went off injured during the game.

Scharner's opener was one of very few first-half chances, as Sunderland's inexperienced front pairing of Daryl Murphy and Martyn Waghorn were left isolated up front.

But soon after McShane and Nyron Nosworthy had collided with each other when they tried to clear the same ball, the Black Cats' defence was called into question once more as Evans played his team-mates into trouble.

Substitute Andy Cole set up Murphy who went close to pulling one back for the Wearsiders, but his deflected shot sailed wide.

There was no way back for the home side after Wales international Cotterill's third, and although Roy O'Donovan clipped the bar with a late overhead kick, it will have been little consolation for four-time FA Cup winner Keane.

West Ham 0-0 Man City 05/01/2008

2008-01-06T05:41:00.000+05:30

West Ham 0-0 Man City

West Ham and Manchester City must replay their FA Cup third round match again on Wednesday week.

City had claims for an early penalty when Anton Ferdinand brought down the impressive Martin Petrov, while Robert Green superbly denied Stephen Ireland.

Joe Hart kept out Matthew Etherington's shot and palmed away a Mark Noble free-kick as the Hammers responded.

Ireland came close with another volley after the break, while Hart tipped over Dean Ashton's header near the end.

Neither side will relish the prospect of having to play another game but, after a week in which the tournament's importance was again debated, it was refreshing to see two strong line-ups approach this match with real gusto.

No-one epitomised that more than Petrov, who cut inside in the 16th minute and was clumsily brought down by Ferdinand, only for referee Rob Styles to wave away surprisingly muted claims.

Petrov's deep cross then found its way to the far post, where Ireland unleashed a powerful volley that Green brilliantly palmed over.

At the other end, Ashton was well marshalled by in-form City skipper Richard Dunne, leaving energetic duo Etherington and Mark Noble to produce most of West Ham's best moments.

Etherington, who was returning after two months out with a groin problem, came desperately close to a breakthrough when Hayden Mullins's cross was flicked on by Carlton Cole, only for Hart to tip his effort around the near post.

Hart then palmed away a free-kick Noble whipped in as the Hammers enjoyed a good spell but Petrov was never far from the action.

His cross would have been converted by Mexican striker Nery Castillo, who looked bright on his debut, but for a last-ditch interception from Ferdinand.

Lucas Neill, who had been tormented by Petrov, was replaced by Jonathan Spector and West Ham did nearly all the pressing at the start of the first half.

City appeared to have lost their first-half fluency but their threat on the break was illustrated when another Ireland volley was kept out by Hart.

Although a raft of substitutions affected the flow of the game in the latter stages, it remained an absorbing spectacle.

After a quiet spell, Petrov was again at the heart of some intricate passing moves from the away team, while West Ham were by no means overshadowed.

One of their replacements, Kyel Reid, delivered a good centre which Ashton made decent contact with but Hart made sure there would be no late drama by helping it over the bar.

Tottenham 2-2 Reading 05/01/2008

2008-01-06T05:38:00.000+05:30

Tottenham 2-2 Reading

Stephen Hunt's late equaliser for Reading set up a replay at the Madejski Stadium on Tuesday week for a place in the FA Cup fourth round.

A bizarre Paul Robinson error from Hunt's free-kick gave Reading the lead, but Dimitar Berbatov's lashed finish and penalty put Spurs ahead.

But a weakened Reading team hit back when Robinson spilled Leroy Lita's shot and Hunt netted the rebound.

Spurs substitute Tom Huddlestone was sent off late on for a head-butt.

Reading boss Steve Coppell, who prioritises league survival over the world's oldest cup competition, sprang no surprises by essentially fielding a reserve side.

He made eight changes from the team which lost 6-4 to Spurs at White Hart Lane in the Premier League seven days ago.

Spurs manager Juande Ramos fielded his strongest line-up, with skipper Ledley King back in the heart of defence.

The game soon burst into action when in the fifth minute Berbatov's square pass found Robbie Keane but, completely unchallenged, the Republic of Ireland international managed to steer the ball wide of the open goal from seven yards out.

That howler was nothing compared to what happened on 25 minutes.

From 45 yards out and near the touchline, Reading midfielder Hunt drifted a free-kick towards Robinson's goal and with no Reading players able to make contact, the Spurs keeper claimed a simple catch.

His momentum, however, carried him backwards into his goal and though Robinson eventually pushed the ball away, the linesman judged that he had carried it behind the line in his outstretched arms and a goal was awarded.

Spurs hit back immediately when Aaron Lennon's clever dinked pass found Berbatov in space in the penalty area.

With Reading's static back-line wrongly claiming for offside, the Bulgarian striker simply controlled the ball and lashed it past Adam Federici into the top corner.

Spurs took the game to Reading after the break and took the lead on 55 minutes.

Michael Dawson floated a long ball over the top for the energetic Keane to run on to and, as he steadied himself to shoot, Reading full-back Liam Rosenior hacked at his legs.

Referee Mark Clattenburg pointed to the spot without hesitation and in typical fashion, Berbatov coolly guided the ball past Federici's dive to the right for his sixth goal against Reading in the space of seven days.

Keane then had a goal disallowed for Pascal Chimbonda's push in the build-up and Berbatov could have claimed a hat-trick, and effectively sealed the game, when Lennon delivered a wicked cross but he trod on the ball just 10 yards out.

Yet with the clock ticking towards full-time, Reading made a rare foray into Spurs half of the pitch and grabbed an unlikely equaliser.

Peeling in from the left, Lita jinked in between Spurs defenders to hit a shot which Robinson could only parry.

As he lay prone and the ball squirmed from his grasp, Hunt followed up and tucked the ball into the net from a tight angle.

With both teams pressing for a late victory, the action became heated and second-half substitute Huddlestone was sent-off for butting his head towards Bobby Convey in an off-the-ball incident.

Aston Villa 0-2 Man Utd FA Cup 05/01/2007

2008-01-06T04:44:00.000+05:30

Aston Villa 0-2 Man Utd

Wayne Rooney scored under the watchful eye of new England coach Fabio Capello as Manchester United ruined Aston Villa's FA Cup chances once more.

Rooney inspired United after coming on as substitute with 20 minutes left.

He fired just over seconds before Cristiano Ronaldo turned home Ryan Giggs' cross with nine minutes left.

Rooney then provided a superb finish with a minute left, firing across Scott Carson from 20 yards as United sealed a place in the FA Cup fourth round.

This was the fourth time in the past seven seasons Villa have been paired with United at the third round stage - and they have lost each time.

Nine players eligible to play for England were included in the two starting line-ups as Capello took his seat alongside the Football Association's chief executive Brian Barwick in the stands at Villa Park.

Rooney was not on display from the start in front of Capello, being kept on the bench after missing two games with a virus, but he had a massive impact when he finally emerged.

There was little for impassive new England coach Capello to get excited about in a poor first 45 minutes.

Giggs had the best chance on the stroke of half-time, when Villa keeper Carson palmed out Ronaldo's shot and the veteran star could only steer the rebound wide.

Rooney indulged in a lengthy warm-up routine at the start of the second-half, much to the delight of United's travelling fans.

United almost broke the deadlock without him after 56 minutes when Nemanja Vidic glanced Giggs' corner just off target via a deflection.

Villa made the first change seven minutes later, sending on Luke Moore for John Carew, who looked to be struggling for fitness throughout.

Rooney was finally introduced with 20 minutes left of what had been a dismal encounter, replacing Ji-Sung Park.

Villa occasionally posed a threat when they broke on United, but Ashley Young shot wastefully wide from 20 yards.

Rooney had a glorious chance to open the scoring after 79 minutes when he played a long pass to Ronaldo before taking the return and firing over the top.

But United did not have to wait long to take the lead, Ronaldo scoring seconds later.

Giggs' cross went through Curtis Davies' legs and Ronaldo forced his way in front of the flat-footed Wilfred Bouma to score.

Carson then made a fine double save from Michael Carrick as United threatened to hit Villa again on the break.

And Rooney completed a brilliant cameo with a low drive beyond Carson as United sealed the win.

Chelsea 1-0 QPR 05/01/2008

2008-01-05T23:36:00.000+05:30

Chelsea 1-0 QPR

Holders Chelsea held off their west London neighbours but were helped by a Lee Camp own goal to seal their place in the FA Cup fourth round.

The Hoops's goalkeeper was helpless as Claudio Pizarro's low drive hit the post, rebounded off Camp's back and bobbled across the line.

Substitute Patrick Agyemang should have slotted past Hilario after the break as the well-organised visitors improved.

Rangers pressed late on but the below-par Blues dug in to progress.

Rarely do Chelsea host a side richer than themselves but their class prevailed in this battle of the billionaires, despite a spirited performance from the team 35 places below them in the league standings.

The Hoops denied their neighbours time and space early on, disrupting Chelsea's rhythm and breaking up play in midfield.

But the visitors' early zest and work rate soon fizzled out and they fell behind on 28 minutes, albeit through a huge slice of fortune.

Pizarro swivelled on the edge of the box and crashed his low shot off the post, only for Camp to inadvertently knock it back in.

The goal settled the home side who wrestled control of the game in midfield with Steve Sidwell dictating the play.

Shaun Wright-Phillips went close when he fired over from the edge of the box, while Sidwell went even closer when he struck the post with a low drive from 25 yards that had Camp well beaten.

QPR, with five debutants in their starting line-up, failed to seriously trouble Hilario although Agyemang should have slotted past the keeper from close range. Instead, he scuffed his effort into the keeper's arms.

Didier Drogba, bound for the African Cup of Nations on Sunday, made his return from the knee surgery he underwent in early December. But he, and those behind him, struggled to kill off a dogged QPR.

But despite a valiant effort in the last 15 minutes, the four-time winners held out to progress.

Ipswich 0-1 Portsmouth 05/01/2008

2008-01-05T23:23:00.000+05:30

Ipswich 0-1 Portsmouth

Highlights: Click Here

Substitute David Nugent's second-half strike ensured Portsmouth progressed to the fourth round of the FA Cup.

Ipswich played most of the match with 10 men after midfielder Liam Trotter was sent off in the 24th minute for a lunge on Pedro Mendes.

The home side responded positively but were undone by the long-ball tactic.

Nugent neatly controlled a 50m ball from defence and finished with aplomb to end the Championship side's unbeaten home record.

Ipswich boasted the best home record in the Football League - with 35 points from a possible 39 - but they were unable to get the better of a team with the best away record in the top flight.

Portsmouth started the game with the confidence of a side who have won seven of their last eight matches on the road.

Hermann Hreidarsson and Kanu both had chances to put Portsmouth ahead within 15 minutes of the start, but Hreidarsson was just wide with a close-range header and Neil Alexander was alert to Kanu's timid effort.

Pompey, defending high up the field, pegged Ipswich into their own half and the home side's frustration flared up with Trotter's dismissal.

The midfielder mis-timed his sliding tackle on Portuguese international Mendes and to the 19-year-old's astonishment - and the Portman Road faithful's - referee Mark Halsey showed a straight red when a yellow would have sufficed.

Ipswich rallied, with Billy Clarke and Denny Haynes impressing, but were unable to breach Portsmouth's defence as the score remained goalless at half-time.

The lively Haynes looked to have given the home side the lead within minutes of the re-start but David James dived low to his right to keep out Haynes's 25-yard effort.

Moments later, and against the run of play, Nugent gave the visitors the lead.

It was Nugent's first goal since the end of September in what has been a troubled season for the striker since his £6m arrival from Preston in the summer.

But he came close to doubling the advatange on the hour, only for his volley to hit the crossbar.

Ten minutes before the final whistle, John Utaka had the goal at his mercy to cement victory but the striker shot wide when it was easier to score.

Ipswich had a chance to make Utaka pay for his profligacy but James again acrobatically saved a menacing Haynes long-range effort.

The home side bombarded Portsmouth's penalty box to set up a grandstand finish but the Pompey defence remained imperious.

Huddersfield 2-1 Birmingham 05/01/2008

2008-01-05T23:18:00.000+05:30

Huddersfield 2-1 Birmingham

Highlights: Click Here

Birmingham crashed out of the FA Cup in the third round as Chris Brandon struck a late winner for League One side Huddersfield at the Galpharm Stadium.

Luke Beckett prodded home from close range after just three minutes but Garry O'Connor slotted in after Matt Glennon parried Fabrice Muamba's shot.

Brandon was denied by Maik Taylor and the woodwork from a header.

But Beckett crossed for the impressive Brandon who volleyed home emphatically to seal their place in the next round.

Chasetown 1-3 Cardiff 05/01/2008

2008-01-05T23:10:00.000+05:30

Chasetown 1-3 Cardiff

Cardiff survived a scare to end the FA Cup run of minnows Chasetown in their third-round tie at the Scholars Ground.

Chasetown threatened a shock when Ben Steane's cross was put into his own net by Cardiff defender Kevin McNaughton.

Cardiff wobbled but equalised in first half injury time as Peter Whittingham curled a left-foot shot home.

After the break Cardiff took control, Aaron Ramsey heading home in his first FA Cup appearance, before Paul Parry's low drive sealed the win.

As might be expected from a side six divisions above their hosts, Cardiff bossed the early exchanges although without threatening the Chasetown goal.

In classic underdog style Chasetown, who play in the British Gas Business League Division One Midlands, defended deep and waited for a mistake.

Cardiff duly obliged in the 17th minute as the Championship side's offside trap failed spectacularly.

Steane timed his run down the right to perfection and the Chasetown midfielder collected a return pass before delivering a dangerous low cross into the Cardiff box.

McNaughton managed to get ahead of lanky Scholars front man Kyle Perry, but the Cardiff defender only succeeded in scooping the ball into his own net.

With a potential upset now very much on the cards, Cardiff pressed for an equaliser but were unable to get their passing game going on a sticky, muddy pitch.

Whittingham fired a free-kick high and wide, while Parry had a goal-bound shot blocked as Chasetown scrambled and harried in defence.

Scholars goalkeeper Lee Evans had coped well with the regulation work that had come his way, but on 43 minutes needed to make a fine full-length save to deny Whittingham.

That signalled a period of sustained pressure by Cardiff as Chasetown were forced to defend a series of corners.

But with moments remaining until the half-time whistle, Cardiff broke their hosts' resistance to equalise.

Ramsey's incisive pass found Steve MacLean in the Chasetown box with his back to goal, the striker laying it back for Whittingham to clip a left-foot curler inside the post.

After their first-half scare, Cardiff emerged after the break in a more determined mood.

The Bluebirds soon had what seemed a decent penalty shout turned down as Peter Capaldi went sprawling over a trailing leg, and was then booked for diving by referee Graham Laws.

But the Northern Ireland full-back shrugged off his scolding to help put Cardiff into the lead.

Capaldi floated a hanging cross to the back post that Parry nodded back across goal, Ramsey arriving at pace to head home from close range.

It was a fine reward for the youngster, impressive on his first FA Cup outing, who only turned 17 on Boxing Day and has just signed his first professional contract.

Chasetown brought on Danny Smith, the goal-scoring hero from the second-round win over Port Vale, who was soon proving a handful with his pace and close control.

But Cardiff made the game safe with a third goal on 73 minutes, Joe Ledley's pass across the left channel allowing Parry to strike the ball through Evans' legs into the net.

Although Chasetown's FA Cup adventure is ended, at least for this season, they have made history by being the lowest-ranked side to ever reach this stage of the competition.

The players deservedly took a lap of honour after the final whistle, in front of the 2,420-crowd fully appreciative of what their team has achieved.

Chelsea Vs Manchester United Final at New Wembly

2008-01-02T15:56:00.000+05:30

Drogba's Goal