Eighteen clubs vied for a spot in the fourth round of the world's oldest football competition this evening as the FA Cup third round replays took place.
The likes of West Bromwich Albion, Sunderland, Stoke City, Fulham, Wigan Athletic and Queens Park Rangers were all in action, but only four of the six Premier League clubs went through.
Fulham pulled off a late comeback to beat Blackpool in extra time, while arguably the game of the day saw Brentford squeeze past Southend. Bolton pulled off the shock of the night by beating Sunderland 2-0 at the Stadium of Light.
In addition to those three matches, the FA Cup replays included Birmingham vs Leeds, Bournemouth vs Wigan, Leyton Orient vs Hull, MK Dons vs Sheffield Wednesday, Stoke vs Crystal Palace and West Brom vs QPR.
You can read updates of how a thrilling night of football unfolded with Sports Mole's play-by-play coverage of all nine matches below.
Good evening! We're all set for another exciting night of FA Cup football as 18 teams try to book their place in the fourth round of the competition.
We will be keeping a particularly close eye on the all-Premier League tie between West Brom and QPR, but will be sure to keep you updated from all the matches across the country!
The majority of tonight's games will get underway in just under an hour's time, while Blackpool vs. Fulham and West Brom vs. QPR kickoff at the slightly later time of 8pm.
Right, let's get straight underway with having a look at each individual match, and there are some mouthwatering clashes tonight. We have potential for major upsets and I'd be surprised if the fabled 'magic of the cup' fails to strike tonight!
BIRMINGHAM VS. LEEDS We'll start with an all-Championship affair between two out-of-form sides. Birmingham have won just one of their last eight matches in all competitions, while Leeds have also struggled recent, picking up just one win in their last five. The two sit 20th and 11th respectively in the Championship table, but league positions often go out of the window in cup ties.
When the two sides met in earlier in the league season, Birmingham picked up a 1-0 win at Elland Road, with the reverse fixture due to be played in April. The original FA Cup match between these two sides ended 1-1 courtesy of goals from Luciano Becchio and Wade Elliott. Could the home advantage prove important in this match?
BIRMINGHAM VS. LEEDS PREDICTION: I'm going to plump for a home win today. The Blues haven't performed well in the league recently, but if Leeds couldn't beat them in their two meetings at Elland Road so far this season, I can't see them doing it at St Andrew's. 2-1 Birmingham.
BOURNEMOUTH VS. WIGAN Bournemouth may be in League One compared to Wigan's Premier League, but they will fancy their chances tonight. Eddie Howe has worked wonders with the club since taking charge and they are unbeaten in 18 matches in all competitions. Wigan must still enter the match as favourites, but Bournemouth's confidence will be sky high.
The two clubs are here courtesy of Bournemouth's fine 1-1 draw at the DW Stadium where Wigan were forced to come from behind.
BOURNEMOUTH VS. WIGAN PREDICTION I think this has the biggest potential for an upset tonight. Bournemouth's form will mean that they will go into the match thinking that they can come away with a win and I think they can too. It may go to extra, perhaps even penalties, but I'm going to stick my neck out and go for a home win.
BRENTFORD VS. SOUTHEND These two sides come into this match in contrasting form. Brentford have lost just once in their last 18 matches in all competitions, while Southend have win just once in their last five - and that was on penalties. Add to that the fact that Brentford are a league above their opponents tonight and you have to back them as overwhelming favourites.
The original tie ended 2-2, with Southend's Barry Corr scoring twice to cancel out Tom Adeyemi and Ryan Creswell's goals.
BRENTFORD VS. SOUTHEND PREDICTION A League Two side beating a League One side may not sound like a huge shock, but this one would be. Unfortunately for the visitors, I don't think that it is going to happen. Brentford are in fine form and, with home advantage, I can't see them losing this one. 3-0 to the home side.
LEYTON ORIENT VS. HULL This one should have been finished 10 days ago on paper, but Leyton Orient earned themselves a replay and will be looking to make the most of it. They sit 15th in the League One table compared to high-flying Hull who are second in the Championship. The Tigers did lose 3-1 at home to Sheffield Wednesday in their last outing, however, which may have knocked their confidence.
Hull almost never even made it to the replay, only being saved by a Nick Proschwitz strike deep into stoppage time to make it 1-1 in the original match. Heartbreak for Leyton Orient, but now they have a chance to turn the Tigers over at their place.
LEYTON ORIENT VS. HULL PREDICTION On paper, there should only be one winner. However, that was the case 10 days ago at the KC Stadium too, so you can take nothing for granted in the FA Cup. Leyton Orient will be buoyed by that result, but I think Hull will bounce back from their defeat to Wednesday and win this one 2-0.
MK DONS VS. SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY This is another intriguing tie as it pits a high-flying League One side against a struggling Championship club. These two could well swap leagues at the end of the season, but Wednesday must be confident after beating Hull away at the weekend. The Dons, meanwhile, have only won one of their last five matches in all competitions.
The original match ended goalless at Hillsborough, and I don't foresee it being a high-scoring match tonight either.
MK DONS VS. SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY PREDICTION This one is among the toughest to call tonight. I think it will be decided by the odd goal, and we may have to wait until extra time for that. I'm not one for sitting on the fence, however, so I'll go for 1-0 MK Dons after extra time!
STOKE VS. CRYSTAL PALACE Another interesting tie as one of the Championship's most exciting teams comes up against the formidable unit of Stoke. The Potters have been impressive at home this season, but their aura of invincibility at the Britannia was shattered by a 4-0 defeat to Chelsea at the weekend, albeit courtesy of two own goals and a missed penalty from Jonathan Walters (sorry for reminding you Jonathan)! Palace have only won one of their last seven in all competitions, however, so their form belies their fourth place in the Championship.
The original match ended goalless at Selhurst Park, with draw specialists Stoke forcing them back to 'fortress Britannia'.
STOKE VS. CRYSTAL PALACE PREDICTION Stoke will still be smarting from that Chelsea defeat, but they got their fair share of bad luck during that match which (surely) won't be repeated tonight. Palace have the potential to spring an upset, but I think Stoke at home will be too tough an ask of the Championship side. I can't see there being many goals, so I'll go for a 1-0 home win.
SUNDERLAND VS. BOLTON This one would've have been an all-Premier League tie last season, but Bolton have suffered something of a fall from grace since their relegation. They now sit 16th in the Championship and have won just once in their last six games. Sunderland's form has been by no means consistent, but a 3-0 win over West Ham at the weekend will give them plenty of confidence.
Bolton squandered a two-goal lead 10 days ago, letting Sunderland come back and clinch a replay with a 2-2 draw courtesy of goals from Connor Wickham and Craig Gardner
SUNDERLAND VS. BOLTON PREDICTION Bolton, like Palace, have the potential to spring an upset but, also like Palace, I don't think that they will. Sunderland will get confidence from their win at the weekend and, coupled with home advantage, I think they will have enough to see off Bolton. 3-1 to the Black Cats!
BLACKPOOL VS. FULHAM Yet another Championship vs. Premier League clash that has the potential to go either way. Blackpool are without a win in six matches and are also managerless following Michael Appleton's departure to Blackburn. Fulham aren't in good form themselves, however, winning just two of their last 15 matches.
Only a Giorgios Karagounis goal 10 minutes from time saved a replay for a full-strength Fulham side at Craven Cottage 10 days ago, the match eventually ending 1-1.
BLACKPOOL VS. FULHAM PREDICTION This is probably the toughest to call of the lot. It really could go either way and I wouldn't be surprised to see it go to extra time and even penalties. Eventually, though, I just have a hunch that Blackpool will come out on top... just.
WEST BROM VS. QPR The only all-Premier League tie of the night is another interesting one. The league table suggests that West Brom should cruise it, but positive results against Chelsea and Tottenham have put a spring in the step of QPR recently. The Baggies, on the other hand, have gone four games without a win in all competitions, with their last win coming against... QPR.
A rare goal from the now-released Kieron Dyer rescued a 1-1 draw for QPR in the original tie after Shane Long had put the Baggies 1-0 up with just over 10 minutes remaining.
WEST BROM VS.QPR PREDICTION The two sides' recent form makes this one tougher to predict than it would have been a couple of weeks ago, but I think that West Brom will just have enough to see off a QPR side who may be more focused on Premier League survival. I'll go for 2-0 West Brom, but with Harry Redknapp in charge of the visitors anything could happen!
Well, doesn't that bring us nicely to the kickoff time of seven of our nine games tonight. Let the FA Cup third round replays commence!
KICKOFFS Sunderland vs Bolton has the honour of being the first match to kickoff tonight, swiftly followed by the rest of course. We'll keep you updated from events from around the country.
No action to report so far after five minutes in the 7.45pm kickoffs. Shall we try to predict which team is going to be first to score? Why not! I'm going for... Brentford (although Bournemouth is also a tempting choice)!
PENALTY SHOUT! There's a huge appeal from Brentford at Griffin Park - they want a foul for Prosser's tackle on Donaldson, but the referee is having none of it!
By the sounds of things Brentford have also started on top in their match with Wigan. The Cherries have had a couple of attempts on goal, but both have gone over the bar.
DISALLOWED GOAL! Wednesday think that they have taken the lead in style through a fine Corry strike, but the linesman has his flag up for offside!
INJURIES A couple of early injuries to report. Leeds replace Adam Drury for Aidy White while Jermaine Johnson has also been forced off for Wednesday in their match against MK Dons.
CROSSBAR! Brentford are coming closer to fulfilling my prediction of being the first team to score! Harry Forrester has just hit the bar with a fine half-volley from 25 yards out.
KICKOFFS All of the matches are now underway as Blackpool vs. Fulham and West Brom vs. QPR begin 15 minutes after everyone else.
GOAL! We have our first goal of the day and it's come for Wigan! Mauro Boselli has put the Latics 1-0 up against Bournemouth.
Smith is keeping Southend in their match against Brentford by the sounds of things. He has just pulled off good saves from Forrester (again) and an even better one from Donaldson.
More on that Wigan goal: Arter gave the ball away 35 yards from his own goal and Boselli took a touch before lashing his shot in from the edge of the area. Still the only goal so far tonight.
DISALLOWED GOAL! Leyton Orient think that they have taken the lead, but Mooney is deemed offside! Almost had a shock on the cards there!
Sunderland are piling the pressure on Bolton at the Stadium of Light as the snow begins to fall, but the visitors are holding firm so far.
GOAL! BRENTFORD 1-0 SOUTHEND
PENALTY TO MK DONS! We'll bring you more on that Brentford goal in a second, but MK Dons have a penalty against Wednesday after Bowditch had his shirt tugged in the area.
GOAL! MK DONS 1-0 SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY (Shaun Williams)
Williams makes no mistake with his spot kick at Stadium MK! At Brentford, it was Hayes who got his side's goal, tapping in at the back post having been found by Lee Hodson's cross.
The only surprising thing about that Brentford goal is that Forrester didn't get it. He is in fine form tonight, and forces the Southend keeper into another good save.
GREAT CHANCE! Leyton Orient should be ahead, simple as that. Gary Sawyer's cross found the head of Jimmy Smith, but he headed over from just six yards out.
Gardner has had a few shots on goal for Sunderland at the Stadium of Light, but Bolton keeper Lonergan has been equal to each one so far.
OFF THE BAR! Southend almost get an equaliser against Brentford! Hurst's brilliant cross finds Straker, whose header is tipped onto the bar before he inexplicably puts the rebound wide! Should have been 1-1!
GOAL! BIRMINGHAM 1-0 LEEDS (Wade Elliott)
He scored in the original match and he's done it again tonight! Elliott gets the opener for Birmingham, converting Nathan Redmond's cross at the far post in the 36th minute.
GOAL! LEYTON ORIENT 0-1 HULL (Nick Proschwitz)
Proschwitz has done the same! He was Hull's saviour in the first leg and now has broken the deadlock against a Leyton Orient side who really should be in the lead!
Lonergan is having a good game in goal for Bolton today. He pulls off another fine save from Johnson's free kick.
PENALTY TO CRYSTAL PALACE!
PENALTY MISSED! Palace miss a golden chance to take the lead against Stoke! Zaha is brought down by Shawcross, but Easter's penalty was tipped onto the post by Sorensen!
Smith of Southend and Lonergan of Bolton seem to be having a competition of the best keeper performance tonight! Smith may have just taken the lead after a trio of saves in quick succession to keep his side in the match!
GREAT SAVE! The first real piece of action in our game of the day as Rob Green pulls of a superb one-handed save to deny the in-form Lukaku's header. Myhill is forced to make a save of his own up at the other end as the West Brom man is at full stretch to keep Bothroyd's shot out.
HALF-TIMES! All of the 7.45pm kickoffs have now reached half time! Here's a quick round-up of the scores so far...
Birmingham 1-0 Leeds; Bournemouth 0-1 Wigan; Brentford 1-0 Southend; Leyton Orient 0-1 Hull; MK Dons 1-0 Sheffield Wednesday; Stoke 0-0 Crystal Palace; Sunderland 0-0 Bolton.
OFF THE POST! There are still two matches 15 minutes behind the rest, however, and Fulham have almost taken the lead in one of them. Karagounis's corner was drilled in to Baird, whose header zipped across goal and off the post.
Other than that, though, there's not too much happening in the 8pm kickoffs. The all-Premier League clash between West Brom and QPR has not provided many exciting moments so far!
HALF-TIME! We've reached the halfway stage in both our 8pm kickoffs too, and both Blackpool vs Fulham and West Brom vs QPR remain goalless!
If everything stays the same we will have FOUR matches going into extra time! And with just one goal separating the sides in the other five matches that could increase in the second half!
The 7.45 kickoffs are beginning to get back underway, starting with Leyton Orient vs Hull, which is currently 1-0 to the away side.
Stoke almost make a perfect start to the second half of their match, but Price was equal to Whitehead's effort, and the danger is cleared. Still 0-0 in that one!
GREAT CHANCE! Oh Southend should be level in their match against Brentford! Michael Timlin fires wide of the goal when he really should have scored. Still 1-0 to Brentford!
Mignolet finally has to make his first save of the game, denying Sordell when the striker was on-on-one with him.
PENALTY TO BRENTFORD!
More details on that in a second, but a quick update that the two 8pm kickoffs, currently both goalless, are now back underway.
BRENTFORD PENALTY MISSED! Huge moment for Southend's chances in this match! Forrester, who has deserved a goal for his performance, steps up to take the penalty but Smith saves it. The Southend keeper has been phenomenal tonight. That's the third penalty we've had tonight and the second that has been missed!
PENALTY TO BOLTON!
GOAL! SUNDERLAND 0-1 BOLTON (Marvin Sordell)
Unbelieveable, ANOTHER penalty! This time it is successful, however, as Sordell converts after Colback had brought down Pratley in the box. It's been all Sunderland today, but they find themselves behind now!
OFF THE LINE! How Southend are still in their match against Brentford I will never know. They should be about four or five behind, but Smith is having the game of his life in goal. He saves another shot before Phillips clears the ball off the line. STILL just 1-0 to Brentford...somehow.
CHANCE! Hull should probably be two up. Simpson races his way through until he is one-on-one with the Leyton Orient keeper, but he can't convert his effort. Still 1-0 to the Tigers.
GOAL! STOKE 1-0 CRYSTAL PALACE
GOAL! BRENTFORD 1-1 SOUTHEND (Barry Corr)
I'll get to the Stoke goal in a moment, but first to a scarcely believable Southend equaliser! Barry Corr rises to head in Leonard's cross after Brentford had squandered countless chances to extend their lead!
GOAL! SUNDERLAND 0-2 BOLTON (Marvin Sordell)
GOAL! BIRMINGHAM 1-1 LEEDS (Ross McCormack)
The goals are coming thick and fast now! Let's start with that Stoke goal. It was Jones who got it, nodding in Matthew Etherington's cross at the far post to open the scoring. Sordell has doubled his side's lead and his personal tally by taking advantage of the Black Cats' failure to clear their lines, while McCormack has put Leeds level by slotting in Diouf's pullback! Phew!
GOAL! MK DONS 2-0 SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY (Dean Bowditch)
GOAL! BRENTFORD 2-1 SOUTHEND
PENALTY TO LEEDS!
GOAL! BIRMINGHAM 1-2 LEEDS
Here we go again! Another flurry of goals, and the floodgates have well and truly opened! Dean Bowditch may have sealed the three points for MK Dons against Wednesday, his free kick eluding everyone and flying into the far corner of the net. Clayton Donaldson has restored Brentford's lead, his shot deflecting off Prosser on its way in. Smith has been exceptional in goal today but there was nothing he could do about that one! Then Birmingham's Robinson is adjudged to have handled the ball in the area and Diouf stepped up to chip his penalty down the middle. Always good to see a 'Panenka dink'.
GOAL! LEYTON ORIENT 1-1 HULL
GOAL! STOKE 1-1 CRYSTAL PALACE
Even more late goals, and these two are big ones! Leyton Orient, who have had two goals disallowed already today, finally score a legitimate one, albeit a fortuitous one, as Dean Cox's cross loops of Jakupovic in the Hull goal, levelling the sides at 1-1! Palace also net a late equaliser, and it's yet another penalty. Williams was felled in the box and Murray stepped up to convert it for the Eagles.
GOAL! WEST BROM 0-1 QPR (Jay Bothroyd)
The goalrush has even touched our 8pm kickoffs! QPR take the lead at the Hawthorns - something of a shock lead I think you'll agree - as Bothroyd powers a header past Myhill from Faurlin's cross.
FULL TIME: SUNDERLAND 0-2 BOLTON
That's it, Sunderland are OUT of the FA Cup at the hands of Bolton, who will go on to the fourth round to face Everton.
END OF 90 MINUTES: LEYTON ORIENT 1-1 HULL
GOAL! BLACKPOOL 1-0 FULHAM
FULL TIME: MK DONS 2-0 SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY
END OF 90 MINUTES: STOKE 1-1 CRYSTAL PALACE
First let's get to that goal at Blackpool! Nathan Delfouneso got the goal with less than 10 minutes in the match remaining. Can Fulham respond in the closing stages or will another Premier League scalp be claimed by a Championship club?
MK Dons have also sealed their progress into the next round, where they will face the winner of the West Brom vs QPR match.
FULL TIME: BRENTFORD 2-1 SOUTHEND
FULL TIME: BIRMINGHAM 1-2 LEEDS
FULL TIME: BRENTFORD 0-1 WIGAN
So all of the 7.45pm kickoffs have reached the end of 90 minutes! Brentford squeeze past a resilient Southend to book a fourth round tie with current holders Chelsea, Leeds pull off a late comeback to beat Birmingham, setting up a showdown with Tottenham in the next round, and Wigan avoid a shock away to in-form Brentford and they will face Macclesfield in the next round.
There are still matters to be solved, however. Four matches are still in play, including two extra time matches and the all-Premier League tie between West Brom and QPR.
GOAL! STOKE 2-1 CRYSTAL PALACE (Jonathan Walters)
GOAL! BLACKPOOL 1-1 FULHAM (Kieran Richardson)
Two BIG goals go in in quick succession! First, Jonathan Walters looks to have put his weekend horror show behind him as he nods Stoke back ahead from close range in the first half of extra time. Then Fulham grab a dramatic late equaliser in their match against Blackpool through Kieran Richardson! We look like having a third match going to extra time!
Two BIG goals go in in quick succession! First, Jonathan Walters looks to have put his weekend horror show behind him as he nods Stoke back ahead from close range in the first half of extra time. Then Fulham grab a dramatic late equaliser in their match against Blackpool through Kieran Richardson! We look like having a third match going to extra time!
FULL TIME: WEST BROM 0-1 QPR
Harry Redknapp's Rangers revival rolls on (newspapers are free to use that as a headline tomorrow if they want)! QPR shock West Brom at the Hawthorns to continue their impressive run of results and set up a fourth round tie at home to MK Dons, who beat Sheffield Wednesday earlier today.
END OF 90 MINUTES: BLACKPOOL 1-1 FULHAM
Kieran Richardson's dramatic late volley forces extra time in Fulham's match against Blackpool. It's the second time that they have scored late against the Seasiders in the FA Cup this season!
HALF TIME IN EXTRA TIME We've reached the halfway stage of extra time in our two 7.45pm kickoffs still going. Leyton Orient and Hull are still locked at 1-1 and will go to penalties if that doesn't change in the next 15 minutes or so, while Stoke have taken the lead against Crystal Palace.
OFF THE POST! Blackpool so nearly regain the lead in extra time! Tom Ince hammers a shot goalwards but it comes off the foot of the post before Schwarzer denies Basham! The Fulham keeper again denies Ince before Broadfoot skies the rebound!
OFF THE POST! Blackpool so nearly regain the lead in extra time! Tom Ince hammers a shot goalwards but it comes off the foot of the post before Schwarzer denies Basham! The Fulham keeper again denies Ince before Broadfoot skies the rebound!
GOAL! STOKE 3-1 CRYSTAL PALACE (Jonathan Walters)
His two own goals and missed penalty at the weekend will seem like a distant memory now! Jonathan Walters gets his second of the game, both coming in injury time, to surely seal his side's progress into the next round. Stoke now lead 3-1!
LEYTON ORIENT 1-2 HULL (Tom Cairney)
Heartbreak for Leyton Orient! Hull nick a goal in the 120th minute through Tom Cairney's strike from the edge of the box. Surely there is no time for an equaliser now and Hull have avoided the lottery of a penalty shootout and look destined for the fourth round!
HALF TIME IN EXTRA TIME: BLACKPOOL 1-1 FULHAM
It's been end-to-end stuff in the first half of extra time at Bloomfield Road but it remains 1-1! Could we see penalties in this match?
FULL TIME: LEYTON ORIENT 1-2 HULL (after extra time)
It's all over for Leyton Orient. They put in a spirited performance and didn't go down without a fight but Cairney's last-minute winner puts Hull through to the fourth round to face Barnsley.
Crystal Palace look to be heading the same way as Leyton Orient unless they can pull off something truly special in the closing stages here. There's about two minutes left of their game and they trail Stoke 3-1.
GOAL! STOKE 4-1 CRYSTAL PALACE (Cameron Jerome)
Make that 4-1! Cameron Jerome well and truly finishes the match off by putting the Potters three goals ahead. They've just had too much for Palace in extra time.
FULL TIME: STOKE 4-1 CRYSTAL PALACE (after extra time)
Sure enough, there's the final whistle. Palace managed a late equaliser in normal time but Stoke's superiority shone through in extra time as they scored three goals to eventually run out 4-1 winners. They've earned themselves a home tie against the Premier League champions, Manchester City, in the fourth round.
So just one match still in progress, and both sides are going for it in extra time! Ince squanders a one-on-one with Schwarzer before Richardson's lobbed effort falls agonisingly wide at the other end!
GOAL! BLACKPOOL 1-2 FULHAM (Brede Hangeland)
Oh my word it's another sucker punch for Blackpool! Brede Hangeland rises highest from a Karagounis corner to power a header into the back of the net! Fulham, who were 1-0 down in the 93rd minute, are now on the verge of progressing to the fourth round!
FULL TIME: BLACKPOOL 1-2 FULHAM (after extra time)
Heartbreak for Blackpool! They would have been dreaming of a fourth round tie away to either West Ham or Manchester United in the closing stages of normal time, but Kieran Richardson's 94th equaliser brought them back down to earth with a bump. Then, as if that late goal wasn't enough, Fulham got another in extra time to clinch the win!
So there we have it! All of our FA Cup third round replays for the night have finished, and it has been another fascinating night of cup football. People say that this competition is not as important as it used to be but for me there is still nothing like the magic of the FA Cup! Let's have a quick recap of tonight's scores...
Birmingham 1-2 Leeds; Bournemouth 0-1 Wigan; Brentford 2-1 Southend; Leyton Orient 1-2 Hull (aet); MK Dons 2-0 Sheffield Wednesday; Stoke 4-1 Crystal Palace (aet); Sunderland 0-2 Bolton; Blackpool 1-2 Fulham (aet); West Brom 0-1 QPR.
I got four of my nine predictions right in terms of match winners, and a big fat zero right when it came to the score! Still, that's the beauty of the FA Cup, it is one of the most unpredictable competitions in world football!
Shock of the day has to go to Bolton, who beat Sunderland 2-0 at the Stadium of Light courtesy of a Marvin Sordell brace. Performance of the day would go to Paul Smith in goal for Southend who, despite ending up on the losing team, made a string of phenomenal saves including one from a penalty that could be described as world-class. Not bad for a League Two shot-stopper!
Right, that's all from me tonight! Thank you again for joining Sports Mole for a scintillating night of FA Cup football. We had missed penalties, scored penalties, plenty of late drama and even a shock or two - it wouldn't be the FA Cup without it! Good night!
Written by
Barney Corkhill
Barney Corkhill
