Close Cup call for United

Black Cats run continues

Scunthorpe match club record

—– In the day’s only quarter-final, a controversial penalty saves Manchester United’s FA Cup quest.
With Middlesbrough 2-1 up at the Riverside, George Boateng - who gave Boro the lead - is adjudged to have handled in the area.
Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate, known to have come out on the wrong end of penalties before in his career, takes the decision with admirable good grace: “We don’t like to complain about referees really but he’s [Boateng] a yard away when it’s flicked so I’m not quite sure what he can do to adjust his position.”

—– Backed by over 8,000 supporters at Barnsley, Sunderland notch their ninth win (2-0) in eleven games to go third in the Championship.
While the Black Cats appear to be timing their promotion run to perfection, fellow candidates Southampton and Preston North End are stuttering just at the wrong time. Saints lose 1-2 at Stoke City while North End go down 0-2 at strugglers Hull City.
In the crunch relegation contest, despite staying in bottom place, Leeds United give their survival hopes a massive boost with a 1-0 win against Luton Town at Elland Road.

—– The meeting of the top two in League One ends all-square as Scunthorpe United and Nottingham Forest battle out a 1-1 draw in front of a record crowd (8,906) at Glanford Park. The Iron also equal a club record unbeaten run of 15 league games which has stood since the 1971-72 season.
An early Phil Jevons penalty gives Bristol City a 1-0 win against Brentford at Ashton Gate as the Robins move up to second.
Yeovil Town take over in third after a 2-1 win at Cheltenham Town.
Doomed Rotherham United have a Sodje of a day at Millmoor. Striker Akpo Sodje hits four goals as Port Vale come away from South Yorkshire with a 5-1 win.

—– Walsall reduce the gap at the top of League Two to three points with a 1-0 win against Chester City at the Bescot Stadium.
Third-placed Swindon Town maintain their chase with a 2-0 win against Accrington Stanley at the County Ground.
Stockport County and their keeper Wayne Hennessey’s record-breaking run comes to an end at Barnet. Ollie Allen’s deflected opener in a 1-3 defeat is the first goal they’ve conceded in 862 minutes.
In Mike Bateson’s first game back at Plainmoor as chairman, Torquay United breath life back into their Football League survival hopes with a 3-0 win against Wycombe Wanderers.