Sunderland out as Premier League takes Cup hit
LONDON: Sunderland were the biggest casualty as several Premier League clubs tumbled out of the FA Cup third round on Saturday at the hands of lower league giant-killers.
In a match that saw former Manchester United team-mates Steve Bruce and Paul Ince come up against each other at the Stadium of Light, Ince's Notts County scored a 2-1 victory thanks to goals from Craig Westcarr and Lee Hughes.
The Black Cats pulled a goal back with a Darren Bent penalty to ensure a nervous finale but their League One opponents held for a famous win.
Sunderland were joined on the casualty list by Blackpool and West Brom, who were beaten by lower league opponents Southampton and Reading respectively.
Lee Barnard and Guly Do Prado scored the goals for League One Southampton in a 2-0 win at St Mary's against an under-strength Blackpool.
Championship side Reading meanwhile secured their 1-0 victory over the visiting Baggies thanks to a Shane Long goal.
In Saturday's early game Arsenal survived a scare against Leeds before snatching a last gasp 1-1 draw against the Championship side at the Emirates.
Cesc Fabregas scored a last-minute penalty to keep the Gunners in the competition after Robert Snodgrass had given the Leeds the lead, also from the penalty spot, early in the second half.
"I must say at first that it was a very difficult game because it was a real cup game and Leeds were up for it, they played well," said Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger.
"We looked like we would come back, but we were short of time and it was important to keep the momentum and not to go out because that would have been a shocker."
"Even when we equalised we still had three chances at 1-1, but we couldn't take them," Wenger added. "At least we are still in the Cup and hopefully we can do it at Leeds."
Elsewhere, the form book largely held sway although Bolton needed two goals in the last ten minutes from Kevin Davies and Johan Elmander t! o squeez e a 2-0 win over non-league York at the Reebok Stadium.
Wolves meanwhile were held to a 2-2 draw at Championship side Doncaster.
Nenad Milijas put Wolves ahead on 38 minutes before Doncaster hit back with two goals in two minutes from Billy Sharp and James Hayter to lead 2-1 at half-time. But Stephen Hunt levelled for Wolves from the penalty spot in the second half to ensure the Premier League side's survival.
Premier League Stoke were also held by Championship opposition, Tuncay Sanli giving them a 1-1 draw against promotion-chasing Cardiff who had taken the lead at the Britannia Stadium with a Michael Chopra goal on eight minutes.
There were no such problems for Mark Hughes's Fulham, who ran riot at Craven Cottage to swat aside Peterborough 6-2.
Everton also had a comfortable victory away at Scunthorpe, cruising past their Championship opponents 5-1.
Aston Villa meanwhile relieved the pressure on manager Gerard Houllier with a 3-1 victory at Sheffield United.
Kyle Walker scored against his former club while Marc Albrighton and Stilian Petrov netted Villa's other goals against a lone Jamie Ward penalty for the Blades.
West Ham manager Avram Grant also breathed a sigh of relief after his side bounced back from a 5-0 thrashing by Newcastle in midweek to record a 2-0 win over Barnsley.
Saturday's late game sees Stevenage entertain Newcastle at home.
The pick of the third round matches takes place on Sunday, when Manchester United face Liverpool, who will be hoping that caretaker manager Kenny Dalglish can inspire them to victory following the dismissal earlier Saturday of Roy Hodgson.
In a match that saw former Manchester United team-mates Steve Bruce and Paul Ince come up against each other at the Stadium of Light, Ince's Notts County scored a 2-1 victory thanks to goals from Craig Westcarr and Lee Hughes.
The Black Cats pulled a goal back with a Darren Bent penalty to ensure a nervous finale but their League One opponents held for a famous win.
Sunderland were joined on the casualty list by Blackpool and West Brom, who were beaten by lower league opponents Southampton and Reading respectively.
Lee Barnard and Guly Do Prado scored the goals for League One Southampton in a 2-0 win at St Mary's against an under-strength Blackpool.
Championship side Reading meanwhile secured their 1-0 victory over the visiting Baggies thanks to a Shane Long goal.
In Saturday's early game Arsenal survived a scare against Leeds before snatching a last gasp 1-1 draw against the Championship side at the Emirates.
Cesc Fabregas scored a last-minute penalty to keep the Gunners in the competition after Robert Snodgrass had given the Leeds the lead, also from the penalty spot, early in the second half.
"I must say at first that it was a very difficult game because it was a real cup game and Leeds were up for it, they played well," said Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger.
"We looked like we would come back, but we were short of time and it was important to keep the momentum and not to go out because that would have been a shocker."
"Even when we equalised we still had three chances at 1-1, but we couldn't take them," Wenger added. "At least we are still in the Cup and hopefully we can do it at Leeds."
Elsewhere, the form book largely held sway although Bolton needed two goals in the last ten minutes from Kevin Davies and Johan Elmander t! o squeez e a 2-0 win over non-league York at the Reebok Stadium.
Wolves meanwhile were held to a 2-2 draw at Championship side Doncaster.
Nenad Milijas put Wolves ahead on 38 minutes before Doncaster hit back with two goals in two minutes from Billy Sharp and James Hayter to lead 2-1 at half-time. But Stephen Hunt levelled for Wolves from the penalty spot in the second half to ensure the Premier League side's survival.
Premier League Stoke were also held by Championship opposition, Tuncay Sanli giving them a 1-1 draw against promotion-chasing Cardiff who had taken the lead at the Britannia Stadium with a Michael Chopra goal on eight minutes.
There were no such problems for Mark Hughes's Fulham, who ran riot at Craven Cottage to swat aside Peterborough 6-2.
Everton also had a comfortable victory away at Scunthorpe, cruising past their Championship opponents 5-1.
Aston Villa meanwhile relieved the pressure on manager Gerard Houllier with a 3-1 victory at Sheffield United.
Kyle Walker scored against his former club while Marc Albrighton and Stilian Petrov netted Villa's other goals against a lone Jamie Ward penalty for the Blades.
West Ham manager Avram Grant also breathed a sigh of relief after his side bounced back from a 5-0 thrashing by Newcastle in midweek to record a 2-0 win over Barnsley.
Saturday's late game sees Stevenage entertain Newcastle at home.
The pick of the third round matches takes place on Sunday, when Manchester United face Liverpool, who will be hoping that caretaker manager Kenny Dalglish can inspire them to victory following the dismissal earlier Saturday of Roy Hodgson.
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