FA Cup Third Round Replays Review

Midweek saw the final spots in the FA Cup fourth round confirmed with a number of interesting replays.

Leicester City advanced with a 2-0 win over League One side Fleetwood Town. The Foxes struck an opener two minutes before the interval through Kelechi Iheanacho who created history in the 77th minute with a goal that became the first to be awarded via VAR.

Cardiff City cruised into the fourth round with a 4-1 win over Mansfield Town. The Championship side struck a 34th minute opener from Manga but were instantly pegged back by a leveller from Rose. The League Two side's hopes were ended by two goals in four minutes as Hoilett and Pilkington struck with the former rounding off the win late on.

Sheffield Wednesday advanced after claiming a 2-0 win over League Two side Carlisle United.

The Championship side opened the scoring with a 28th minute effort from Matias with Nuhiu confirming the win in the 66th minute.

West Ham United needed extra time to end the hopes of League One side Shrewsbury Town with a 1-0 win. The crucial strike came with eight minutes left of extra time from Reece Burke. 

League Two side Stevenage exited the competition after a 3-0 loss to Reading.

The Championship side claimed the win thanks to a hat-trick from Bodvarsson as he struck in the 32nd, 44th and 64th minutes.

Wednesday's action began with Swansea City defeating Championship side Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Jordan Ayew put the Swans ahead on 11 minutes with Wolves levelling on 66 minutes through Jota. The winning goal came three minutes later as Wilfried Bony struck.

The only upset of the replays saw League One side Wigan Athletic stun top-flight Bournemouth with a 3-0 victory.

The Latics opened the scoring through Sam Morsy inside ten minutes before two goals in three minutes from Dan Burn and Callum Elder confirmed the upset.

Chelsea advanced into the next round after a 5-3 win on penalties over Championship side Norwich City.

The Blues opened the scoring on 55 minutes through Michy Batshuayi but the Canaries forced extra time as Jamal Lewis struck in added time. Extra time ended with the sides level on score but not in players with Pedro and Alvaro Morata dismissed for the hosts in the 116th and 120th minutes. The Blues came out on top though winning 5-3 in the resulting penalty shootout

United Cut the Gap After Reds Defeat City

After the hectic festive period and FA Cup third round weekend, Premier League action resumed with game-week 23.

Chelsea made it two without a win as they were held 0-0 by Leicester City.

The Foxes did well to hold the Blues especially after the dismissal of Ben Chilwell on 68 minutes.

Crystal Palace moved cleat of the drop zone with a 1-0 win over high-flying Burnley.

The Eagles secured the points with a 21st minute strike from Bakary Sako.




West Ham United moved clear of the drop zone with a 4-1 win over Huddersfield Town.

The Hammers opened the scoring through Mark Noble on 25 minutes with Joe Lolley equalising in the 40th minute but the visitors were to lead at the interval after Marko Arnautovic's effort.

The points were wrapped up by a five minute brace as Manuel Lanzini struck in the 56th and 61st minutes.

Swansea City remain bottom despite claiming a point in a 1-1 draw with Newcastle United.

Jordan Ayew put the Swans ahead on the hour before Joselu denied them the win with a leveller eight minutes later.

Southampton were denied a rare win as they were held 2-2 by Watford.


The Saints opened up a two goal lead into half time after a brace in the 20th and 44th minutes from James Ward-Prowse before Andre Gray cut the gap on 58 minutes. The Hornets levelled late on with Abdoulaye Doucouré striking but Saints were aggrieved as replays showed the ball was touched in by hand.

West Bromwich Albion claimed just their third win of the season with a 2-0 win over Brighton and Hove Albion. The Baggies secured the points with a Jonny Evans opener inside four minutes and 55th minute effort from Craig Dawson.





Tottenham Hotspur extended their unbeaten run with a comfortable 4-0 win over Everton.

Son Heung-Min opened the scoring on 26 minutes before Harry Kane's 12 minute brace made it 3-0. Christian Eriksen completed the brace eight minutes from the end.

Bournemouth claimed a first ever win over Arsenal with a 2-1 victory.

The Gunners went ahead with Hector Bellerin's 52nd minute strike but a four minute double from the Cherries secured the win as Callum Wilson levelled on 70 minutes before Jordon Ibe secured the points on 74 minutes.

Liverpool became the first team to defeat Manchester City this season as they edged a seven goal thriller with a 4-3 victory.

The Reds went ahead with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's ninth minute opener before Leroy Sané equalised five minutes before half time.The hosts regained the lead with three goals in nine minutes with Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mané and Mohamed Salah all striking superb efforts for 4-1. City battled back with goals from Bernardo Silva (84) and Ilkay Gundogan (90) but were unable to avoid their first loss of the season.

Manchester United closed the gap on their city rivals with a 3-0 win over Stoke City.

Antonio Valencia gave the hosts an advantage inside ten minutes with Anthony Martial doubling the lead seven minutes before half time. The points were wrapped up by Romelu Lukaku in the 72nd minute.

FA Cup Third Round Results

Premier League Gameweeks 21-22 Results

City Fifteen Clear While Gunners Edge Eagles

The final two games of the game-week took place on Wednesday and Thursday evening.

Wednesday saw Manchester City extend their lead at the top to 15 points after a 1-0 win at Newcastle United. 

The crucial goal came on 31 minutes as Raheem Sterling continued his scoring streak.

Thursday night saw Arsenal overcome city rivals Crystal Palace with a 3-2 victory.

The Gunners opened the scoring through Shkodran Mustafi on 24 minutes before Andros Townsend levelled four minutes after half-time. 

A rapid brace after the hour from Alexis Sanchez looked to have wrapped up the points at 3-1 but a frantic finish saw James Tomkins cut the gap for the Eagles who were unable to complete the comeback.

City Benefit Without Playing While Reds Rout Swans

Game-week 20 began the second half of the Premier League season with a bumper Boxing Day featuring eight games, the remaining two games in the following days will follow in a smaller post.

Tottenham Hotspur romped to a 5-2 win over Southampton in Tuesday's early game.

Harry Kane opened the scoring on 23 minutes to break Alan Shearer's record for PL goals in a calendar year before doubling the lead six minutes before the break. Dele Alli and Heung-Min Son extended the lead further before Sofiane Boufal cut the gap for the Saints which was restored three minutes later by Kane's hat-trick effort. Saints had the last say as Dusan Tadic stuck eight minutes from the end. 

Bournemouth and West Ham United remain either side of the relegation zone after a 3-3 draw.

The Hammers struck the opener inside seven minutes through James Collins with the Cherries drawing level with a 29th minute equaliser from Dan Gosling.  Nathan Aké put the hosts ahead on 57 minutes before a seven minute brace from Marko Arnautovic looked to have sealed an away win, Callum Wilson denied such a win with an added time leveller. 


Chelsea close the gap on the top two with a 2-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion. 

The Blues went ahead two minutes into the second half through Alvaro Morata and wrapped up the points on the hour mark with Marcos Alonso's strike.

Huddersfield Town and Stoke City moved clear of the drop zone with a share of the points in a 1-1 draw. 

The Terries wasted no time in taking the lead as Tom Ince fired them ahead inside nine minutes. They were to be denied a win though as Ramadan Sobhi struck his second goal in as many games on the hour. 

Manchester United secured a point late on as they drew 2-2 with Burnley.

The Clarets flew out of the blocks with Ashley Barnes striking the opening goal  with just three minutes on the clock. The lead was doubled on 36 minutes by Steven Defour's effort. United pulled one back on 52 minutes with Jesse Lingard's slotting in before he struck a second late on to salvage a point.

Watford ended their losing streak with a 2-1 win over Leicester City.

The Foxes struck the opening goal through Riyad Mahrez eight minutes before the break but would go into the interval level as Molla Wague scored against his former club.  The Foxes gifted the points to the Hornets though as Kasper Schmeichel was unfortunate to deflect into his own net on 65 minutes. 

West Bromwich Albion remain in the drop zone after drawing 0-0 with Everton.

The draw sees the Baggies remain 19th and three points off safety while the Toffees continued their unbeaten start under Sam Allardyce. 

Tuesday's action ended with Liverpool regaining fourth with a 5-0 thrashing of bottom side Swansea City.

The Reds raced into the lead with a sixth minute opener from Philippe Coutinho. The narrow lead lasted into the interval before the hosts ran riot in the second half, Roberto Firmino firing in a brace either side first Anfield goal for local lad Trent Alexander-Arnold.  The rout was completed with eight minutes to go as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain scored the Red's fifth. 

City Cruise Continues While Gunners/Reds Draw

The midway point of the Premier League season saw game-week 19 come just before the festive period.

Friday night saw a six goal thriller at the Emirates as Arsenal and Liverpool shared the points in a 3-3 draw. 

The Reds struck first through Philippe Coutinho in the 26th minute before a Mo Salah doubled the lead on 52 minutes. However, the Gunners staged a stunning comeback as they took a 3-2 lead in just over four and a half minutes, Alexis Sanchez headed in ahead of a long range screamer from Granit Xhaka.

The leading goal came from Mesut Ozil but for all their effort they were to claim only a point as the Reds secured a draw with Roberto Firmino's 71st minute leveller. 

Saturday's early kick-off saw another Mersey-London clash as Everton and Chelsea shared the spoils in a 0-0 draw.  The stalemate was welcomed more by the hosts as they remained in the top half while the visitors only narrowed the gap at the top.


Brighton & Hove Albion returned to winning ways with a 1-0 win over Watford. 

The Seagulls claimed the three points with a second half strike in the 64th minute from Pascal Gross.

Manchester City continued their record breaking winning streak in traditional style with a 4-0 rout of Bournemouth.

Sergio Aguero began the scoring  with a 27th minute effort before Raheem Sterling doubled the advantage eight minutes after half-time. Aguero struck his second and City's third before Danilo rounded off the rout in the 85th minute. 

Southampton's run with out winning continued as they were held 1-1 by Huddersfield Town.

Charlie Austin put the Saints ahead with 24 minutes on the clock before Laurent Depoitre secured a point for the Terriers in the 64th minute.

Stoke City remain out of the drop zone after a comfortable 3-1 win over West Bromwich Albion.

The Potters went ahead with an 18th minute from Joe Allen before Eric Choupo-Moting doubled the lead just before the interval. Salomon Rondon pulled a goal back for the Baggies seven minutes after the restart but the points wee wrapped up late on by a strike from Ramadan Sobhi. 

A battle at the bottom saw Swansea City and Crystal Palace share the points in a 1-1 draw.

The Eagles went ahead with just before the hour mark as Luka Milivojevic converted a penalty but the points were to be shared as Jordan Ayew levelled in the 77th minute. 

Newcastle United moved clear of the danger zone with a 3-2 win over West Ham United. 

Marko Arnautovic fired the Hammers ahead inside seven minutes only for the Magpies to draw level just four minutes later through Henri Saivet. The visitors completed the comeback in the 53rd minute as Mo Diame struck before Christian Atsu made it 3-1 on the hour. The hosts cut the gap through André Ayew on 69 minutes but were unable to avoid defeat. 

Tottenham Hotspur extended their unbeaten run with a 3-0 win against Burnley.

Spurs claimed the win with a seventh hat-trick of the year from Harry Kane, he struck a penalty inside seven minutes before adding efforts in the 69th and 78th minutes. The latter seeing him draw level with Alan Shearers's record of 36 league goals in a calendar year. 

Leicester City denied Manchester United as they secured a last-gap 2-2 draw.

Jamie Vardy put the Foxes ahead on 27 minutes with Juan Mata levelling six minutes before half-time before giving United the lead on the hour. Leicester suffered a blow with the dismissal of Daniel Amartey on 73 minutes but the ten men were not dented too much as they claimed a point in added time with Harry Maguire's strike.