FA Cup Round-up
16th January, 2008
FA Cup third-round replays:
After Luton managed to get a draw at home to Liverpool, the replay was heading for another tight game, until injury time in the first half, when some bullish defending left Luton short at the back and gifted Babel a golden opportunity which he duly took. After the break Luton fell apart as Liverpool regained confidence, with Gerrard netting a hat trick and Babel getting his second.
Tottenham Hotspur will meet Manchester United in the big game of the fourth round, after securing a 1-0 victory over Reading at the Madjeski Stadium. A first half poachers’ goal from Robbie Keane on 15 minutes was enough to send them through. Stephen Hunt went close for Reading, when his shot came crashing back off the crossbar, but the Royals had no real reply to Spurs.
The shock of the evening came as managerless Bury took a deserved 2-1 win over Norwich. Ben Futcher and Andy Bishop scored for the League Two side, before Dion Dublin netted a consolation goal four minutes from time to give the home side a famous victory.
Millwall booked their place in the fourth round with a win at home to Walsall. Ben May opened the scoring after just 12 minutes, and the home side doubled their advantage just after the break with a Gary Alexander goal. Alex Nicholls closed the gap to one goal, but Walsall’s long unbeaten run was ended as the game finished 2-1 to Millwall.
West Brom beat Charlton on penalties after playing out a 2-2 draw. Bednar and Morrison had West Brom 2-0 up in the 50th minute, before Ambrose scored for Charlton in the 64th minute to make it 2-1. Dickson came on as a sub and scored in the final minute to level the game and take it to extra time. Neither side could find a winner and West Brom eventually walked out 4-3 winners on penalties.
According to our odds comparison service, Manchester United are slim favourites over Arsenal and then Chelsea.
