Emirates FA Cup replays in a flash
Some upsets but also some crackers in the Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round Replays
Tuesday night saw the return of this seasons Emirates FA Cup replays to the already thriving fixture list. With only two games taking place tonight (both on tv) there was a added onus on the previous evening with eight games taking place in tandem.
As it turned out the overall majority were decided in normal time. Matches involving domestic rivals however seemed destined to go the full distance, as both Bradford and Yeovil discovered. Bradford stayed deadlocked with League One opponents Bury until a penalty shootout brought a four two win for the visitors. In the nights only all League Two clash Yeovil drew one all with Carlisle United in normal time. Both teams exchanged red cards in extra time before the visitors from Cumbria won through five four on penalties. They are at home to Championship Hull City in the next round.
After their troubles in the televised first game between the teams, Premier League Aston Villa prevailed over League two Wycombe Wanderers. The jump from Adams Park to Villa Park would always be testing for any lower league side and Wycombe coped, but not quite enough to force a fourth round tie with Manchester City. Ciaran Clarke and Idrissa Gueye stifling their gutsy opponents.
In the nights only televised game Championship Bristol City lost by a solitary goal to Premier League West Brom. On Saturday they beat Middlesbrough one nil in the final minute. Here they were not quite so lucky. For a team twenty second in the Championship however, league priority is a must and their run was fun while it lasted.
Elsewhere Championship MK Dons were expected victors over their League two opponents Northampton Town by three goals to nil. Much troubled Bolton Wanderers eventually prevailed over National league Eastleigh after being behind early on and in the nights only all Championship clash Reading beat Huddersfield five two. After the visitors led two nil, an early red card for Huddersfields Jon Hogg changed the game after he appeared to pull back Matej Vydra. Lucas Piazons free kick was ultimately dispatched and Reading came roaring back after the break.
At Fratton Park League Two Portsmouth incredibly beat Ipswich Town by two goals to one. Two first half goals put the hosts two nil up before on Arsenal loanee Ainsley Maitland-Niles pulled one back with a stunner. Piotr Malarczyk’s late red card spelled the end for the Tractor Boys from Suffolk however.
On Wednesday we await the rematch between Leicester City and Tottenham at the King Power, live on BBC 1 and Liverpool take on Exeter City at Anfield (probably minus Jerome Sinclair) live on BT Sport 1.
