FA Cup 5th round review - Orient earn stunning replay

THE FA Cup continues to rip up the formbook every season and it did so again at the weekend.  Leyton Orient took the main honours, holding mighty Arsenal to a draw at Brisbane Road.

CHANCE: A second go for Leyton Orient after Tehoue's leveller

The Gunners were coming off the back of a famous win over Barcelona in the Champions League and Arsene Wenger made ten changes to his line-up from midweek, with Alex Song the only participant to start both of these games.  They dominated possession for much of the game, but with the changes made, lacked the cutting edge infront of goal.  However, Tomas Rosicky’s second half header looked to be good enough to send Wenger’s team into the quarter-finals.  However, Orient, who came into the match in excellent form, having only lost one out of their last 20 matches dug in and found an unlikely equaliser.  Substitute Jonathan Tehoue powered past two weak Arsenal challenges then fired a shot underneath Manuel Almunia’s legs.  It earned the League One side a 1-1 draw and a money-spinning replay at the Emirates, but it will be an extra game that Arsenal could do without, considering they are the only club in England to still be fighting it out on four different fronts.

At least Arsenal remain in the competition, as London rivals and cup holders Chelsea bowed out in a dramatic penalty shootout against Everton.  Fixture congestion has meant that this fourth round replay was played on fifth round weekend, three weeks after the initial 1-1 draw at Goodison Park.  Chelsea got on top for large periods, but once again, struggled to put their opponents away.  In extra-time, Frank Lampard had the Blues ahead for the first time in the tie and it looked to be good enough, despite Maroualine Fellani having a goal ruled out for offside.  Another unfriendly twist was in the way for the under pressure Carlo Ancelotti and it came in the 118^th minute.  Branislav Ivanovic’s unnecessary challenge on Phil Jagielka gave Everton a soft free-kick.  England left-back Leighton Baines went on to produce a stunning curling shot, which left Petr Cech flat-footed.  Although Baines saw his penalty saved by Cech in the shootout, Chelsea went on to gift Everton a passage through into the next round.  Nicolas Anelka’s very casual run-up was punished, as his effort was saved by Tim Howard.  After an accidental clash with Johnny Heitinga, Ashley Cole looked unsettled and his penalty was truly shocking.  He leaned back, went for power and the ball headed towards Gatwick airport!  Everton skipper Phil Neville dispatched the Toffees final kick with consummate ease, to set-up a fifth round tie at home to Reading.  It was Everton’s first win at Stamford Bridge since November 1994 and inflicted Chelsea’s seventh penalty shootout defeat in their last eight encounters.  Surely, Ancelotti must now win the Champions League if he doesn’t want to be collecting his P45 from Roman Abramovich at the end of the season.

Manchester United can consider being very fortunate that they are still in this season’s FA Cup, after limping past brave Crawley Town at Old Trafford on Saturday night.  Sir Alex Ferguson admitted afterwards that Crawley were very unlucky to not earn what would have been a deserved replay.  Wes Brown headed home the only goal, flicking in Darren Gibson’s cross on 29 minutes.  After the break, Crawley’s performance was so good; it looked more Premiership than non-league.  In stoppage time, Richard Brodie eluded a sleeping Wayne Rooney at the back post and powered his header over Andreas Lindgaard, but onto the crossbar and out of play.  Sometimes, this competition can show its cruelty alongside the epic romance stories.  The plaudits deservedly went to Crawley, but it was Manchester United who claimed the prize of a place in the sixth round.

COOL: Another goal for Tevez, another win for Man City

Manchester rivals City overcame a stubborn Notts County outfit on Sunday afternoon in their fourth round replay.  Despite Roberto Mancini’s team deserving their victory and a clash with Aston Villa next week, the 5-0 scoreline did flatter them massively.  County controlled the early exchanges and were very unlucky not to be ahead, when Karl Hawley’s wonderful curling drive struck the woodwork.  Patrick Vieira headed in two goals from corners; one in both halves and it was only in the last five minutes that the League One side opened the floodgates.  Carlos Tevez, who came on for the broody and lazy Mario Balotelli, scored the third, then set-up the fourth for new strike partner Edin Dzeko.  A powerful volley from Micah Richards completed the scoring in injury time.  There were positive signs of Tevez and Dzeko beginning to form a deadly strike force on Sunday and I’d suggest Balotelli begins to drop his disgusting attitude if he doesn’t want to be warming his backside on the seats at the City of Manchester stadium on a regular basis.

In other results, Bolton Wanderers made the sixth round for the first time since 2005.  They overcame Fulham 1-0 at Craven Cottage.  Ivan Klasnic, who scored the winner in a fourth round replay at Wigan the previous Wednesday, got the deciding goal in West London.  The only consolation for Mark Hughes was the return to first-team action for Bobby Zamora, five months after a sickening injury he picked up against Wolves.  Zamora looked fairly sharp and with more games and fitness, could be the tonic Fulham need to lift their dispiriting campaign so far.  West Ham’s poor league position was forgotten on Monday night, as the demolished Burnley 5-1 at Upton Park.  There was a stunning goal from Thomas Hitzlsperger on his Hammers debut; this also after a frustrating spell out through injury and two goals from Carlton Cole.  Birmingham City and Stoke City complete the teams to make the last eight, after comprehensive 3-0 home successes against Sheffield Wednesday and Brighton respectively.

For some teams, Wembley is now only one game away.  A Premiership dominated final eight looks more likely now, so if you want a giant-killing, cheer on Reading and Leyton Orient to produce.

FA Cup 4th round review - Crawley continue their stunning run

Non-league Crawley Town took the main plaudits after another pulsating weekend of FA Cup action and now, have a dream tie at Old Trafford as a major reward.

HISTORY: Crawley are the first since 1994 to reach the last 16

The Blue Square Premier side, conquerors of Swindon Town and Derby County in earlier rounds, took their third league scalp of the competition in the form of Torquay United.  The League Two side were beaten 1-0 at Plainmoor, with the only goal coming from Matt Tubbs, his 25^th goal of a prolific season.  Some of Crawley’s playacting wasn’t welcomed by the opposition, with two red cards and the non-league side also seeing two penalties being saved by the experienced Scott Bevan.  Nevertheless, they deserve their day out at Manchester United in round five, becoming the first non-league side since Kidderminster Harriers in 1994 to reach the last 16.

Manchester United got to round five after another efficient if unconvincing performance, this time at Southampton.  Sir Alex Ferguson had to bring Nani and Ryan Giggs on to turnaround a match that they looked destined to lose, once Richard Chaplow had fired the Saints into a lead on the stroke of half-time.  Once they had width available, the Premiership leaders were on top for large parts of the second half, with Michael Owen equalising and poacher Javier Hernandez snatching another goal from Giggs cute pass, sealing a 2-1 victory.  If the Mexican continues his rich vein of form, Wayne Rooney will be getting concerned about his place as a permanent fixture in the Manchester United starting 11. 

Crawley weren’t the only side to do some giantklling at the weekend, as both Leyton Orient and Brighton dumped out Championship opposition away from home.  Orient put in an incredible performance at Championship promotion contenders Swansea City, and ended up on the right side of a 2-1 scoreline.  They needed some luck, courtesy of an 88^th minute own goal from the Swans skipper Alan Tate.  You had to feel for Tate; it was the perfect own goal, which he probably couldn’t execute any better if he had done it another 90 times!  Brighton, League One leaders went to high-flying Watford and won 1-0.  Like Orient, they needed some fortune.  Ashley Barnes’s 14^th minute winner was a tame effort, which Watford goalkeeper Rene Gilmartin let through his fingers like a bar of soap!  Even Peter Enckleman could have saved Barnes’s shot, it was that bad!

Leyton Orient will now encounter a London derby against Arsenal in the next round.  Once again, the Gunners needed a late Cesc Fabregas penalty to keep them alive.  This time, it was enough to see off a brave Huddersfield Town challenge, 2-1 at the Emirates.  Nicolas Bendtner broke the deadlock, but once Sebastian Squillaci was sent off, Arsenal looked on the backfoot throughout.  Alan Lee equalised for Huddersfield, but Fabregas broke their hearts and keeps Arsene Wenger’s side fighting in all four competitions.  

THRASHING: Fulham crushed Spurs, with Danny Murphy on target twice

At least they didn’t crumble like North London rivals Tottenham.  Spurs put in a defensive display of such inepitutde, it will put smiles on the faces of their next Champions League opponents, AC Milan in a fortnight’s time.  Tottenham lost 4-0 at Fulham; Danny Murphy scoring two penalties against his former side.  Michael Dawson made two rare errors and got sent off for the second mistake, whilst Sebastian Bassong and William Gallas looked disorganised and disjointed throughout; terrorised by the power of Moussa Dembele.  Dembele completed the rout before half-time and the dejection could be written all over Harry Redknapp’s face.

RESCUE: Edin Dzeko's first goal saved Man City at Notts County

Another high-profile side that struggled was Manchester City.  Roberto Mancini’s millionaires struggled to a 1-1 draw at the oldest club in the Football League, Notts County.  For the likes of David Silva, it must be seen as a nightmare to play at Meadow Lane, when it was Soccer City in Johannesburg last summer.  Neil Bishop headed County infront with an hour gone, and Paul Ince’s side got within ten minutes of an upset, before £27million January signing Edin Dzeko spared City’s blushes, with a priceless equaliser.  Notts County showed great commitment throughout and deserve their second bite at the cherry.  Cup holders Chelsea also have to play again, scrapping to a 1-1 draw in Merseyside against Everton.  Louis Saha took advantage of some slack marking by John Terry to head the Toffees infront, just as he did in the 2009 final between these two sides.  Carlo Ancelotti turned to Salomon Kalou to rescue a replay.  The Ivorian scoring just three minutes after coming off the substitute’s bench.  Ramires hit the post in the dying stages, but a draw was the fair result.

Coventry City may not have won in eight Championship matches, but they came mighty close to upsetting Carling Cup finalists Birmingham City.  Having been 2-0 up in 25 minutes, through Marlon King and Richard Wood, Aidy Boothroyd will be disappointed to have not forced the Premiership side at least back to the Ricoh Arena.  David Bentley scored a stunner before half-time, and in the second half, Birmingham had recovered from their hangover, with the pesky Kevin Phillips scoring the winner in a 3-2 victory.  Nottingham Forest also came close, but not quite good enough.  They were defeated 3-2 at West Ham; Nigerian Victor Obinha scoring a hat-trick.  Elsewhere, Reading won a bruising match at Stevenage Borough, coming through 2-1; Shane Long scoring an 87^th minute winner and Stoke City won 1-0 at Wolves, through the head of lanky German defender Robert Huth.  The Potters can have Thomas Sorensen to thank though, for saving a stoppage time penalty from Nenad Mijias. 

Nineteen teams remain, with three replays required.  Wembley is getting ever closer in the 2010/11 FA Cup sponsored by Eon, and Crawley Town can see it as; ‘We’re only 2 games away!’  Well done to them, they deserve all the plaudits as the romance of the cup continues to inspire us all.

FA Cup 2nd round review - Dover and FC United of Manchester steal the headlines again

ANOTHER action-packed weekend of FA Cup action, saw the stars of round one, repeat the process in the second round of competitive action.  Eighteen ties went ahead, and league clubs found it difficult in the chilling sub-freezing temperatures.

Having defeated Gillingham in the first round, Dover Athletic were at it again against league opposition, this time overcoming league two side Aldershot Town 2-0.  Adam Birchall, who scored in the first round win at the Priestfield Stadium and scored eight goals previous to Saturday, added another two to his starring collection.  Dover will be disappointed however to get a trip to Huddersfield Town in round three, Huddersfield smashing Macclesfield Town 6-0, with six different goalscorers.

CREDITABLE: Nicky Platt has FC United on their way

FC United of Manchester’s amazing adventure continued, as they worked incredibly hard to earn a very creditable 1-1 draw at runaway league one leaders Brighton.  Nicky Platt, who netted in their sensational first round success against Rochdale, scored the opener for the visitors.  They were eight minutes away from another scalp, before Brighton assistant manager and 37-year old veteran Mauricio Taricco rescued an equaliser for Gus Poyet’s side.  Sam Ashton saved a last-minute penalty from Elliott Bennett to keep FC United in the tie.  The winners of the replay, at Bury’s Gigg Lane next Wednesday will take on last year’s losing finalists Portsmouth next.

SCRAP: Stevenage got the better of AFC Wimbledon

Goals from Josh Walker, who had just joined on loan from Watford and Yemi Odubade, were enough for Stevenage Borough to ease past Blue Square Premier League leaders AFC Wimbledon.  Stevenage, who had knocked out Milton Keynes Dons on penalties in round one and denied the dream match-up between Wimbledon/Dons were very strong throughout and thoroughly deserved their success, despite Wimbledon’s bravery throughout.

Both Swindon Town and Leyton Orient scrapped to 1-1 draws away from home in televised games.  Scott McGleish rescued a late equaliser for Orient against Droylsden, whilst Swindon was held by Crawley Town on Friday night.  Andy Drury grabbed a double, including a stunning equaliser to grab a replay for Luton Town at in-form Charlton Athletic.  Zamaretto Premier League side Swindon Supermarine, the lowest ranked side in the competition gave Colchester United a major scare, before succumbing to a David Mooney strike in a 1-0 defeat.  Northampton couldn’t repeat their Carling Cup success, going down 3-2 at Sheffield Wednesday, who are now under Milan Mandaric’s guidance, having taken over the club and Southampton advanced comfortably, cruising past Cheltenham Town 3-0 at St. Mary’s. 

With Arsenal v Leeds, Stevenage v Newcastle and Manchester United v Liverpool on the cards in round three, the FA Cup is now really starting to hot up.