No shocks in Round Four
Robins rock Boro
Rooney hits top double
—– In a positive sign that the top teams are taking the FA Cup more seriously than they may have done in recent years, there are no shocks in the Fourth Round.
League One promotion chasers Bristol City put up the performance of the day. Two down to Middlesbrough at Ashton Gate, they fight back to earn a deserved 2-2 draw.
Blackpool v Norwich City is the only other tie requiring a replay after a 1-1 draw at Bloomfield Road.
A brace from Wayne Rooney hands Manchester United a 2-1 win against Portsmouth at Old Trafford.
He second is an exquisite lob that generates vivid reminders of Eric Cantona’s iconic goal against Sunderland in 1995.
The game also generates more discussion about goal line technology when Pompey’s Pedro Mendes clears after TV replays show the ball had crossed the line but the goal isn’t awarded. It seems what goes around comes around as Mendes had a similar goal chalked off when he was playing for Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford two years ago.
In the clash of the Premiership strugglers at Upton Park, Watford beat West Ham United 1-0.
Blackburn Rovers are the biggest winners with a 4-0 success at Luton Town.
It’s the end of the road for the lowest ranked team. In the first-ever Round Four tie, League Two Barnet lose 0-2 at home to Plymouth Argyle.
Bristol City and Blackpool are the only two teams outside of the top two divisions to go in to the hat for the Fifth Round draw.
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—– In the only Championship game to be played today, Cardiff City move back in to the Play-Off places following a 3-2 win against Leicester City at Ninian Park. Michael Chopra hits a hat-trick for the Bluebirds.
—– Scunthorpe United are the only one of the top four in League One action, and the Iron take full advantage with a 3-0 win against Millwall at Glanford Park to go three points clear.
Yeovil Town move in to the top four with a 2-0 win at Bradford City.
Leyton Orient ease their relegation worries with an emphatic 4-0 win at Crewe Alexandra.
—– Walsall’s lead at the top of League Two is reduced to a single point. The Saddlers are held 1-1 at home by Boston United while Swindon Town beat Macclesfield Town 2-0 at the County Ground.
Rochdale move out of the bottom two and up to 18th with a 5-0 drubbing of promotion hopefuls Milton Keynes Dons at Spotland.
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