Sunderland 2 Watford 2 - Hosts defender Dennis Cirkin nets late leveller as Sunderland share the spoils against Watford in their Sky Bet EFL Championship contest at The Stadium of Light in the North East

Sky Bet EFL Championship, Saturday February 8th

It was that time of year again, off up to the North East with my Step Mum to watch Sunderland at The Stadium Of Light in honour of my late father and her late husband (he has been gone seventeen years this year, how the years fly by eh) to watch his beloved Black Cats and hope and pray they could do the business against Watford in the Sky Bet EFL Championship.

Due to TV coverage (the match was the main lunchtime game on Sky Sports Football) it meant a 12:30pm kick off time so meaning travelling up on the Friday and staying in the Hilton next to the ground, with me having a room overlooking the stadium, which was nice, and a good way to prepare ourselves for the stress and strain of watching Sunderland the following day, it's never normally straightforward and has often ended in disappointment over the years since we have been doing this since my fathers passing in 2008.

We have seen them win on a few occasions though, and there was a bit more optimism this year that we may see a positive outcome in this one as Sunderland have been doing very well this season, they are right in the mix for promotion to the Premier League, and began kick off in fourth spot and just a couple of points off the automatic promotion spots.

There play off spot does look pretty secure now, famous last words!!! I only say this because Sunderland were a massive fourteen points clear of seventh place, and in fact fourteen points clear of fifth, the top four sides had built quite a gap, so those four, including the Black Cats, were the ones battling for automatic promotion realistically.

They welcomed a Watford side to SOL who although in tenth spot and had lost their last three, were only three points off the top six themselves, as is the nature of the championship and how tight it always is, so if they could cause a surprise in this one then they could well find themselves level with the final play off spot.

This wasn't going to be a easy ride then was it, and no doubt ninety minutes of twists and turns emotionally for us as it always is, Sunderland were in happy mood after their triumph at Middlesbrough on Monday night though so needed to take that momentum into this one, and things looked good early on when Sunderland managed to grab the lead in the 16th minute.

Enzo Le Fee's corner was deep and beyond the back post, from where Trai Hume volleyed back across for Luke O'Nien to dive and head home from two yards as the Hornets defence stood and watched. It had been a brilliant start for the hosts and we dared to dream that maybe, just maybe, this would be a routine afternoon for the home side. Le Fee, on loan from Roma of course, had already showed how good a player he was, one of those players who gets you interested every time he gets the ball, a class player indeed.

O'Nien almost scored a second with a glancing header from Hume's cross, but there after they seem to stop the press and allow Watford a lot of the ball, frustrating the home support a bit, althougb despite this Anthony Patterson in the hosts goal barely had much to do, but the Black Cats were stunned just before half time when the visitors equalised.

Mamadou Doumbia, the 18-year-old striker making his first Championship start for Watford, forced a fine save from keeper Patterson with a header and was brought down by Cirkin as he tried to get to the rebound. Penalty, it was a stupid challenge from Cirkin as the striker was running away from goal, so all he had to do was guide him towards the touchline, but it gave the visitors a golden chance to level from nowhere.

And Tom Dele-Bashiru sent Patterson the wrong way from the spot for his first goal since scoring a penalty in the reverse fixture at Vicarage Road in September, a game Watford did actually win, and now we were thinking this will be one of those games again, it nearly got worse in first half stoppage time as well as Ryan Andrews went close to giving Watford the lead when his deflected shot whistled just past the far post.

The home fans were restless to say the least, with some boos at half time being heard around the stadium from the majority of the 41,000 plus crowd, the game was back in the balance after such a positive looking start from the home side, and as we went and got our half time cuppa, we hoped for a better outcome in the second period.

Watford's season looked like it might derail over Christmas and New Year with seven defeats in 10 games, but they threatened a shock win when they went ahead less than a minute after the restart thanks to a magnificent goal from Imran Louza, as after receiving the ball 30 yards out, the Morocco midfielder hit a left-footed shot full of pace and curl that flew into the top corner with Patterson having no chance.

It was a superb goal it has to be said, most of the crowd missed it as they were still coming back from their half time refreshments, but the atmosphere had certainly changed from one of positiveness to despair, they like us were now fearing the worst and the hosts six match unbeaten run looked like it was coming to an end.

The hosts seemed disjointed and Watford were now executing a terrific game plan mastered by boss Tom Cleverley, who has been under huge pressure recently, Sunderland huffed and puffed in search of an equaliser, but Watford seemed comfortable now and if they were to get a third, the game would surely be over, the home fans and myself certainly couldn't see a way back for Sunderland, so I was preparing myself and my soul for a disappointing loss.

However, Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris made some changes, and this seemed to galvanize the hosts who began to crank up the pressure on The Hornets, just like the early exchanges in the first period, and in the 89th minute Sunderland's late pressure eventually paid off, and it came from an unlikely source, with left-back Cirkin scoring after Wilson Isidor had flicked on Le Fee's corner. The corner has been completely mis hit, but it turned out to be good enough, could Sunderland go on and net a winner in the five minutes of stoppage time that was to follow.

Well, they should have done, and snatched all three points in injury time but for two crucial saves from Watford's debutant goalkeeper Egil Selvik, who denied both Isidor and substitute Milan Aleksic when one-on-one. It was a crazy and dramatic ending and so nearly ended in the positive outcome we all wanted, but fair play to Selvik who kept his side level as Watford did manage to cling on and earn what was probably a deserved point for them.

Sunderland would have been disappointed not to have won it, although before they levelled they would have taken a point, as it is, the Wearsiders are now seven points behind leaders Leeds, five points behind second-placed the Blades and two points adrift of Burnley in third after drawing a second successive home game, although they are still in a very good spot for the playoffs whatever happens, you'd hope!!!

Anyway, not sure how me or step mum felt afterwards, relieved that they managed to continue their unbeaten run and not lose, or gutted that they could not take one of those late late chances to win it, probably a bit of both, but I for one was exhausted mentally afterwards, and physically too, it does take it out of you doesn't it!!!

No doubt my father was watching from above, miss you so so much Dad, another birthday goes by, he would have been 72 on the day of this game, gone but never forgotten, and I hope your beloved Black Cats can get back to the promised land soon, maybe at the end of the season, who knows.

Full time Sunderland 2 Watford 2

 

Whitstable Town 2 Fleet Town 1 - Goals from Jayden Boulton & Mikey Dalton help Whitstable Town to victory over Fleet Town at The Belmont Ground to reach Isuzu FA Vase Quarter Finals for the very first time

(Whitstable Town full back Jayden Boulton firing the hosts ahead early in the second half)

Isuzu FA Vase Fifth Round Proper, Saturday February 1st

The first day of a new month, February, saw the return of the best competition in the world, The FA Vase, and we were now at the last sixteen stage and one step away from the Quarter Finals, and one step closer to a day out Wembley, serious stuff.

There were eight ties taking place and I decided to make my first ever visit to The Belmont Ground on the Kent coast to take in Whitstable Town Vs Fleet Town, both were at Step Five in the non league pyramid, the hosts playing in the Southern Counties East Premier Division whilst Fleet competed in the Combined Counties League Premier Division South.

Now Whitstable were in the Last 16 for only the second time ever, and the first time for nearly thirty years, they were not exactly setting the league alight, sitting 12th in their division with a very mixed bag of results, however their home form was pretty solid, which might suggest why they had done so well in the Vase as all but two of their ties had been at The Belmont, where they are much stronger.

I actually saw one of those away ties in this years competition, away at another Combined Counties Premier South side in the shape of Corinthian Casuals in the First Qualifying Round, that resulted in a 4-1 success (see my blog on that game here https://pedroslocalfootiefix.blogspot.com/2024/08/corinthian-casuals-1-whitstable-town-4.html), and would be their biggest win in this seasons competition thus far, as then followed several closely fought ties in Kent and one in deepest rural Suffolk, beginning by seeing off fellow SCEFL Premier Hollands & Blair 1-0 at home in the Second Qualifying Round to reach the Proper Rounds of the competition.

Combined Counties Premier North Virginia Water were then beaten 1-0 before fellow SCEFL Premier side Lydd Town were then beaten 2-1, but their most impressive result came in Round Three when they saw off high flying CCPD South Jersey Bulls 2-1 at The Belmont, Whitstable came from behind to win with two goals in the final ten minutes to inflict a rare defeat on a side that had only lost once in the league all season.

And Round Four saw them play away from The Belmont for the first time since the very first Qualifying Round, and they needed penalties to see off Thurlow Nunn Premier Walsham le Willows to reach the Last 16, before they were drawn back at home again for this tie against a Fleet side who are doing well in their division this term, sitting in fifth and just inside the play off zone with only two losses in the league this season.

Now their Vase run has almost all been away from home, after a bye into the Second Qualifying Round their campaign begin at home to Wessex League Division One Hamworthy United where they won 6-2, but since then all their ties have been away from home, the first of those coming in Round One at SCEFL Premier Sutton Athletic where a penalty shoot out was needed to progress.

Rochester was the next port of call as a 1-0 win at Rochester United saw them reach the Third Round Proper for the very first time, and they continued their now historic run in the competition by seeing off Spartan South Midlands Premier Tring Athletic in Hertfordshire, although penalties were needed once again to see Fleet progress, before they then travelled to West Sussex to see off Crawley Down Gatwick in another close 2-1 encounter, and now they are away again in the Last 16, with a trip to the Kent Coast.

So, how would this tie pan out then? Neither side had reached the Quarter Finals of this competition and neither had played each other in the competition before either, there were sure to be plenty of nerves in front of a bumper 1,121 crowd, who could settle the quicker and deal with the pressure of the occasion the best, we would soon find out.

The opening exchanges were cagey, which kind of suggested how big a game this was for both sides, but Whitstable certainly had the better of the openings in the first half thereafter, firing over from a good position after a nice move, and there were two balls fired across goal, one with pace and one a shot that was hit into the ground and went inches wide, and on both occasions just inches away from being poked in at the far stick. And they also saw a lofted effort hit the angle of bar and post, that was three or four good chances that the hosts failed to convert.

Fleet were not without there moments though in the opening half, one effort rocked just wide of the post, and another chance saw them get in behind but the ball across was behind everyone rather than in front, it looked offside when the original ball was played through, but it mattered not as nothing came from it, had it done, there may have been uproar amongst the hosts, it meant the tie was goalless at the break, and still right in the balance.

However, Whitstable flew out of the traps and had taken control of the tie before the hour mark, three minutes into the second period full back Jayden Boulton took aim and fired a lovely effort from outside the box into the far corner, and then eight minutes later in the 56th minute midfielder Mikey Dalton ran onto a ball into the box to fire in off the post and the hosts were now in dreamland and seemed to have one foot in the Quarter Finals.

Fleet though were never going to give up that easily, and they put nerves and doubt back into the hosts support when Ross Stepney managed to head home after a scramble inside the hosts box with 76 minutes on the clock, game back in the balance, and the visitors did hit the woodwork either before or after that goal (I can't remember sorry!!!) but it was certainly a hectic and dramatic ending in store.

The hosts were playing on the counter as Fleet searched for that leveller to take the tie to penalties, they weren't helped when substitute Kai Tanner, who had only come on the pitch in the 66th minute, was sent off for a challenge just outside his box, it meant the visitors would have to play the eight minutes of added on time a man light.

It was tense to say the least, and five minutes into stoppage time Whitstable had a golden chance to seal the deal when they went clean through on goal, but the effort was fired wide, meaning Fleet probably had one last chance to salvage the tie, and nine minutes into added on time a scramble inside the hosts box was not converted by the visitors meaning the hosts could clear and hear that sweet sweet sound of the final whistle, meaning the celebrations could begin.

Commiserations to Fleet Town, their record Vase run was over, fair play to them for getting back into this game and for the run they have had this season, but well done to Whitstable Town who reach the Quarters for the very first time, the club could not have been more hospitable towards me, looking after me and allowing me into the ground for free along with a programme, tea and cake in the boardroom, and a nice key ring with the club badge on it, I couldn't be more happier for them and show any more gratitude towards them for a lovely day.

They now await Monday's Quarter Final draw, the dream continues.....

Full time Whitstable Town 2 Fleet Town 1

 

Southend United 0 Barnet 3 - Bees defender Danny Collinge nets two headers to help Barnet see off a disappointing Southend United to grab first win in a month & go second in the Vanarama National League

Vanarama National League, Saturday January 18th

I was invited along to Roots Hall this weekend by one of my best mates as he was taking his son to his first football game (he tried a couple of years ago but the then six year old wasn't that interested) but now he plays football and has a much bigger interest in it, so I accompanied them along with my mates father too, so three generations of their family, and me, very privileged.

Now the hosts were not having the season they had hoped for so far, and were down in 14th in the division having won eight, drawn nine and lost eight, so quite a mixed and inconsistent campaign so far, they did come into this one off the back of two successive wins though so were looking to turn the corner and maybe have a play off charge perhaps, they were only six points off the top seven at kick off.

The Blues were up against a Barnet side who were looking to go top of the table if results went their way, they sat third in the division and were just a point off leaders Forest Green Rovers, in fact a draw may well have been enough to see them go top on goals scored perhaps, the visitors had drawn their last four games though and hadn't won a league game for a month, could they get that illusive win today and maybe head to the summit, only time would tell.

Another decent crowd of just under 7,000, with almost 400 from North London, were there to see how this one would unfold, the opening twenty minutes see the hosts have the best opening when a cross found an unmarked Nathan Ralph who saw his header blocked on route to goal, but just past the midway point of the first half Barnet were to take the lead with their first effort at goal, defender Danny Collinge rising highest to head home Anthony Hartigan's corner.

It was a poor goal to concede as the hosts left the defender totally unmarked to send his header home, and things went from bad to worse for the home side when Barnet doubled their money twelve minutes before the break when a nice move saw a backheel send Myles Kenlock in down the left before his cross went in off home defender James Golding, Barnet were now cruising and the frustration and discontent amongst the home crowd was starting to show.

The boos at half time certainly suggested that, Southend had barely threatened and looked very blunt up front, Barnet themselves had converted the only two chances they had created in the opening forty five minutes, but they had looked more composed on the ball and just looked the more comfortable side in this contest, with the Blues looking very short of ideas if truth be told, they certainly had plenty to discuss in the changing room at half time for sure.

Changes would need to be made you felt from the hosts too if they were to get back into this game, Jack Bridge was brought on to try and bolster the hosts attack and the Blues thought they had pulled one back when a loose ball was forced home from close range, however visiting keeper Evans was fouled prior to this, so the goal was ruled out, much to the dismay of the home crowd and players.

It probably was a foul though, even if the hosts didn't agree, and on the hour mark the Blues made two more changes, one of those being Macaulay Bonne for Charlie Kendall, which drew discontent from some home fans who then aimed brief chants at their bench of 'You don't know what your doing', it's clear some fans are not happy with manager Kevin Maher and how things are going this season, although the fact they do still have a club after what happened last season is probably a good thing to remember, maybe.

The hosts certainly though were showing more fight and desire in the second period but they were unable to force a route back into the contest as Barnet remained fairly comfortable and kept their opponents at arms length,  and with sixteen minutes remaining Collinge headed home his second goal of the contest, again from a corner, to take his tally to three goals for the season and it secured the points and a first win in a month for the visitors.

So. not a good day at the office for the hosts, is Maher under pressure, am sure most Blues fans still want him in charge, but you get the feeling some in the home crowd today are getting tired of him and his side now, it's been a frustrating season for them so far, but it's funny what two or three wins can do, and they have an FA Trophy tie to look forward to next weekend, so maybe a run to Wembley will help too, maybe.

For Barnet it was a very good away showing, and with York losing today it meant they leapt above them and into second, remaining a point behind Forest Green who remain at the summit, oh and my mates boy enjoyed himself despite the result, so that for me was the biggest result of the day!!!

Full time Southend United 0 Barnet 3

Right, shall we see what else happened in the division today, and how it affects the table:-

Braintree Town 1 (Robinson 17) Solihull Moors 0

Eastleigh 1 (Shade sent off 24, Francillette 27) Altrincham 2 (Newby 6, Crawford 71)

Forest Green Rovers 1 (Sercombe 71) Rochdale 0

Maidenhead United 4 (Abrahams 33,75, McCoulsky 36, Latty-Fairweather 53) AFC Fylde 1 (McFayden 60)

Oldham Athletic 1 (Monthe 41) Aldershot Town 3 (Barrett 44, 45+3, 51)

Tamworth 3 (McGlinchey 17,36, Milnes 66) Boston United 0

Wealdstone 1 (Boldewijn 86) Hartlepool United 1 (Madine 21)

Woking 1 (Beautyman 64(pen)) Ebbsfleet United 1 (Akinola 74(og))

York City 1 (Akinyemi 83) Sutton United 2 (Davies 15,24)

Forest Green stay top after they netted a narrow home win over play off chasing Rochdale, York lost at home to another play off chasing side in Sutton, that allowed Barnet to go second as said in my report in todays game at Roots Hall, one of the most eye catching results of the weekend saw relegation threatened Braintree net a big 1-0 home win over play off chasing Solihull Moors, it was a result that took the hosts to 19th and two points above the relegation spots. The other one being Aldershot's superb win at Oldham, which saw the Shots go four clear of the bottom four as a result.

Tamworth, fresh from their immense performance at home to Premier League Spurs last weekend, saw off relegation threatened Boston United at The Lamb ground to increase their gap to the bottom four to eight points and up to 15th in the table, Maidenhead United netted four in their important game down at the bottom of the league to take all three points against AFC Fylde and see them go a point above the drop zone in the process with that win.

Just four points separate sixth placed Altrincham and 13th placed Hartlepool, whilst only five points cover 17th down to 21st, it is certainly a tight league table in places so plenty of things to play for right now, could be an interesting few months to see what way some sides go and who is celebrating/commiserating come the end of the season. 

Billericay Town 1 Sheppey United 0 - De-Carrey Sheriff goal just before midway point of first period enough for Billericay Town to defeat Sheppey United & reach the isthmian League Velocity Cup Semi Finals

Isthmian League Velocity Cup Quarter Finals, Tuesday January 14th

I popped over to New Lodge on Tuesday evening to take in a Isthmian League Velocity Cup Quarter Final between Premier Division high flyers Billericay Town and One South East top six side Sheppey United and with it only being a fiver to watch as well, this was very good value for this level, or any level in fact.

The hosts are enjoying a very good season at the sharp end of the Premier Division and are currently in second place and a point behind leaders Dover Athletic, who they did beat recently at The Crabble Ground down on the Kent coast, although they did fail to go top at the weekend after a disappointing loss at Horsham, however they now turned their attention to League Cup action and a semi final berth at stake.

The Blues run to the Quarters saw them net home wins over local rivals and One North Division outfit Basildon United 4-1 before they then saw off fellow Premier Division side Cheshunt 3-0, so a fairly comfortable route to this last eight tie, again they were at home, and now welcomed a Sheppey United side who are sitting one spot and five points off a play off spot in the South East Division.

Sheppey would no doubt put up a fight as well despite the hosts being favourites to progress to the last four, as after they knocked out fellow South East Division side Herne Bay on penalties, they defeated Margate, who are flying high in the South East Division, 4-2 at Hartsdown Park, and then in the last round humbled Premier Division Dartford, who are fourth and three points behind Billericay, 3-0 at home, setting up this Quarter Final at New Lodge.

The Blues then would have to be wary then, but just before the midway point of the first period the hosts got their noses in front when a lovely through ball from Ansu Janneh saw De-Carrey Sheriff in on goal, and he duly rounded keeper Aiden Prall before slotting the ball into the empty net and give the majority of the 227 in attendance something to cheer.

They should have been cheering more thereafter when The Blues had another one on one chance when Todd Miller got in on goal, but this time keeper Prall was able to save the effort, it was a great chance to double the hosts lead but it remained 1-0 with the game still in the balance although the hosts had certainly edged the opening forty five minutes.

Sheppey were certainly more threatening in the second period though and had openings to level the game, The Blues were just trying to keep as much as the ball as they could and did create chances too, the best one a cross seeing goal scorer Sheriff somehow head wide of an open net with keeper Prall stranded, but as the game entered it's final moments it looked as if it would drift to it's conclusion.

But, with the game in it's final minute of the ninety, drama ensued, as Janneh, who of course had assisted with the games only goal, saw the ball strike his hand just inside his own box as he attempted to bring the ball out of his box and after a few seconds thought the referee decided to point to the spot, much to the dismay of anyone connected with the hosts.

Whether it was meant or not who knows, but the referee deemed it deliberate and even booked Janneh for his troubles, which seemed a but harsh to me, but it handed Sheppey a golden chance to net a late leveller and potentially force a penalty shoot out (no extra time in this competition), however, Gil Carvalho saw his spot kick brilliant saved by hosts keeper Sam Donkin, with many of the home fans shouting 'Justice!!!' as they certainly did not think it was a penalty.

The Blues then nearly sealed the tie immediately after this but saw Prall beat away an effort from the hosts, and after six or so minutes of stoppage time, The Blues were thankful to hear the final whistle and claim a narrow win against the Kent side, taking their place in the Semi Finals as a result.

Full time Billericay Town 1 Sheppey United 0

Millwall 3 Dagenham & Redbridge 0 - Mihailo Ivanovic, Casper de Norre & Ra'ees Bangura-Williams all netted as Championship Millwall comfortably saw off National League Dagenham & Redbridge to progress into Round Four of the Emirates FA Cup

Emirates FA Cup Third Round Proper, Monday 13th January 

On Friday Night whilst watching the Third Round tie between Aston Villa & West Ham United on ITV, I decided I fancied watching an FA Cup tie this weekend live and in the flesh, so decided to make the hour or so trip into London on Monday night and to The New Den for one of only two ties in the whole round that included a non league side.

That team was Vanarama National League side Dagenham & Redbridge as they made the fairly short trip to take on EFL Championship side Millwall in South Bermondsey, South London, the hosts were obviously favourites to win this tie as they were some four levels above their opponents but this is the FA Cup so you just never knew, all the pressure was on the hosts, and the visitors had nothing to lose.

Millwall's league form had been rather mixed too, they sat 14th in the Championship and had lost three of their last six having only won one of those games too, The Daggers were down in 15th spot in the National League although they had recorded three wins in their last six league games, yes that means nothing in a game like this but winning games can only breed confidence, so they would be coming into this with some sort of momentum and would of had no fear you would have thought.

Add to this that The Daggers had knocked out EFL opposition in the shape of AFC Wimbledon & Crewe Alexandra in the previous two rounds, both who are flying high in the top five of League Two, Millwall would have to be on their guard in this one, but you felt that if the hosts showed up and played to their maximum, their would be only one winner.

And after Sunday evenings Fourth Round draw, the sides knew that they would be travelling to Championship Leeds United in early February if they won this tie, a bigger incentive for the visitors you would say if they could stun their opponents this evening, however if Millwall were to get the job done as many expected, it would see an all Championship tie of course, no doubt they were hoping for a better draw, still a chance to progress all the same, and more prize money too, which always help.

The Lions enjoyed plenty of possession in the first period, almost 61% in fact, but for much of the first half they struggled to convert that into clear chances, which was certainly frustrating the home support around me that's four sure, whereas the travelling support were certainly generating a big atmosphere in an otherwise sparsely attended match at The Den, and loudly cheered as early Millwall efforts from Joe Bryan and Femi Azeez sailed over the bar.

The visiting allocation behind the goal were certainly enjoying their evening out, and were loving the hosts inability to really make the most of the possession they enjoyed, but the home side deservedly took the lead on the half hour mark, and it was certainly a very interesting way to find the net too, Mihailo Ivanovic managing to head the ball into the net whilst lying down on the turf in the six yard box, this after seeing his initial volley well saved by Daggers keeper Elliot Justham. It's hard to explain so maybe watch the highlights online!!!

It meant the hosts went into the break with the lead, but only a slender one despite dominating the ball, and at 1-0 The Daggers were always a moment away from levelling up the contest, and the non league side enjoyed their best spell of the game early in the second half as a Josh Rees effort deflected behind, and then Millwall somehow survived a scramble from the resulting corner that ended with midfielder Jake Hessenthaler's volley into the ground reaching the welcome arms of Lukas Jensen.

Despite this though the hosts were rarely troubled and were soon looking to add to their lead to potentially kill off this cup tie, Ivanovic missed a clear chance to double his side's lead before Casper De Norre did just that with twenty minutes to go with a fine volley at the far post following a deep cross from Bryan at the end of a move started by the Belgian midfielder. Game over for sure, you could not see The Daggers fighting back from two goals down.

It was really how many Millwall may get thereafter as they continued to probe for a third and maybe more after that, although some of the home fans around me were still moaning when the hosts passed the ball around rather than try and attack, with me thinking to myself erm your comfortably two goals ahead and are cruising into Round Four, ah well can't please some I guess.

However, they were to be treated to perhaps the moment of the night in the 85th minute when substitute Ra'ees Bangura-Williams, fresh from signing a new long-term contract, went on a wonderful solo run, beating several defenders before applying a lovely finish across keeper Justham and into the far corner for his side's third goal with a neat left-footed finish to wrap up new boss Alex Neil's first win since taking over from Neil Harris at the end of December.

So, all in all it was a comfortable night for the hosts, and they now set up a Fourth Round clash away to fellow Championship side Leeds United, that will be tasty for sure, whereas for The Daggers this was a step to far for them against higher league opposition in a performance they probably won't be pleased about although they did make it tough for their opponents nonetheless. 

Full time Millwall 3 Dagenham & Redbridge 0

Right, there were quite a few ties this weekend, thirty two to be precise, including the one I attended, let's see how the other sixty two sides got on this weekend and see if their were any 'cupsets'???

Thursday January 9th

Sheffield United 0 Cardiff City 1 (Ashford 19)

Everton 2 (Beto 42, Ndiaye 90+8 pen) Peterborough United 0

Fulham 4 (Muniz 26, Jimenez 49(pen), Andersen 65, Castagne 85) Watford 1 (Vata 33)

Thursday night saw no real shocks although Cardiff winning their all championship tie at Bramall Lane was a surprise perhaps giving where both are in the table, Everton, who sacked manager Sean Dyche hours before their tie with League One Peterborough, managed to see off their lower league opponents whilst Fulham thrashed Watford at The Cottage.

Friday December 10th

Wycombe Wanderers 2 (Hanlan 17, Bradley 27) Portsmouth 0

Aston Villa 2 (Onana 71, Rogers 76) West Ham United 1 (Paqueta 9)

League One Wycombe beating Championship Portsmouth at Adams Park was technically a shock although with the hosts flying high and the visitors struggling in their divisions maybe it wasn't a surprise, whilst in the all Premier League encounter at Villa Park, the hosts came from behind to hand Hammers boss Graham Potter a defeat in his first outing as their new manager.

Saturday December 11th

Early Kick Offs

Birmingham City 2 (Yokoyama 1, Dykes 77) Lincoln City 1 (Makama 90(pen))

Bristol City 1 (Twine 45+1) Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 (Ait-Nouri 10, Gomes 21)

Middlesbrough 0 Blackburn Rovers 1 (Weimann 70)

Liverpool 4 (Jota 29, Alexander-Arnold 45, Danns 76, Chiesa 90) Accrington Stanley 0

There were no surprises in the early slate of games on Saturday, with all games going the way they were expected too. League One giants Birmingham got through, Wolves got a welcome win after all their struggles in the Premier League this season, Blackburn won their all Championship tie at Riverside, and Premier League leaders saw off Accrington Stanley at Anfield.

Afternoon Kick Offs

Leicester City 6 (Justin 8,63, Mavididi 35, Buonanotte 38, Vardy 51(pen), Faes 90+3) Queens Park Rangers 2 (Varane 18, Kolli 45+2)

AFC Bournemouth 5 (Kluivert 27, Ouattara 34,44, Semenyo 47, Jebbison 90+2) West Bromwich Albion 1 (Taylor 14)

Brentford 0 Plymouth Argyle 1 (Whittaker 82)

Chelsea 5 (Adarabioyo 39,70, Nkunku 50, Joao Felix 75,77) Morecambe 0 

Exeter City 3 (Mitchell 22,40, Harper 64) Oxford United 1 (Phillips 14, Goodrham sent off 81)

Norwich City 0 Brighton & Hove Albion 4 (Rutter 37,45+2, Enciso 59, March 74)

Nottingham Forest 2 (Yates 40, Sosa 68) Luton Town 0

Reading 1 (Wing 77) Burnley 3 (Foster 71, Flemming 100 ET, 109 ET) (aet)

Sunderland 1 (Aleksic 64) Stoke City 2 (Cannon 4(pen), Ennis 112 ET) (aet)

One huge surprise in the afternoon slate saw Championship bottom side Plymouth Argyle, who had not won an away game all season, stun Brentford at The Community Stadium, League One Exeter also saw off Championship Oxford United, apart from those two, all other ties went the way expected, with PL sides Leicester, Bournemouth, Chelsea, Brighton & Forest all getting through.  Burnley needed extra time to see of League One Reading, whilst Stoke saw off Sunderland after extra time in the all championship tie at SOL.

Evening Kick Offs

Leeds United 1 (Ramazani 59) Harrogate Town 0

Manchester City 8 (Doku 8,69(pen), Mubama 20, O'Reilly 43, Grealish 49(pen), McAtee 62,72,81) Salford City 0

Coventry City 1 (Kitching 26) Sheffield Wednesday 1 (Musaba 90+3) (aet; Coventry City won 4-3 on penalties)

Its was a tale of two League Two sides travelling to higher league opposition in the evening slate on Saturday, both lost but Harrogate pushed Championship Leeds all the way in their West vs North Yorkshire contest at Elland Road, however Salford City was humbled at The Eithad as Man City netted eight with James McAtee netting his first senior hat-trick of his career. In the all championship tie at The Coventry Building Society Arena, Coventry City won on penalties against Sheffield Wednesday, this after the visitors had forced extra time courtesy of a 93rd minute leveller.

Sunday January 12th

Hull City 1 (Puerta 80) Doncaster Rovers 1 (Molyneux 51) (aet; Doncaster Rovers won 5-4 on penalties)

Tamworth 0 Tottenham Hotspur 3 (Tshikuna 101 ET og, Kulusevski 107 ET, Johnson 118 ET) (aet)

Arsenal 1 (Gabriel 63) Manchester United 1 (Bruno Fernandes 52, Dalot sent off 61) (aet; Manchester United won 5-3 on penalties)

Crystal Palace 1 (Eze 4) Stockport County 0

Ipswich Town 3 (Phillips 18, Clarke 24, Taylor 37) Bristol Rovers 0

Newcastle United 3 (Miley 16, Gordon 49(pen), Osula 61) Bromley 1 (Congreve 8)

Southampton 3 (Sulemana 20, Dibling 35,65) Swansea City 0

Biggest stories or ties on Sunday came at The Lamb Ground and The Emirates, Tamworth, the lowest ranked side left in the cup and just one place below the only other non league side left in the draw in Dagenham & Redbridge, pushed Premier League Spurs all the way until they finally succumbed in extra time to bow out heroically. Had this happened in previous seasons then the National League side would have earned a money spinning replay in North London, but alas replays have been scrapped this season, a big shame. And holder Man United survived sixty minutes against Arsenal with ten men before they won the tie in a shootout to pour more woe on an Arsenal side who are stumbling somewhat right now. League Two Doncaster knocked out Championship Hull on penalties in another surprise, Palace saw off a dogged Stockport, Ipswich brushed past Bristol Rovers, Newcastle came from behind to see off League Two Bromley, and The Saints put there league woes behind them to net a comfortable win over Swansea at St Marys. 

Tuesday January 14th

Leyton Orient 1 (Kelman 20, Clare sent off 113 ET) Derby County 1 (Brown 24) (aet; Leyton Orient won 6-5 on penalties)

Mansfield Town 0 Wigan Athletic 2 (Aasgaard 48,54)

Preston North End 2 (Osmajic 32,47) Charlton Athletic 1 (Berry 40)

All these sides knew who they would be facing in Round Four if they managed to win, Orient held their nerve against Championship Derby in a shoot out meaning the League One side now have a huge home tie against Premier League champions Man City, Wigan set up a home tie with Fulham after they defeated Mansfield, and Preston edged out Charlton to set up a home tie with League One Wycombe.    

 

The draw for Round Four, the Last 32 of the competition, was made on Sunday evening, let's see what ties that churned out shall we:-

Fourth Round Proper (ties to be played weekend of 7th/8th/9th February)

Manchester Utd v Leicester City

Leeds United v Millwall

Brighton v Chelsea

Preston North End v Wycombe Wanderers

Exeter City v Nottingham Forest

Coventry City v Ipswich Town

Blackburn Rovers v Wolverhampton Wanderers

Wigan Athletic v Fulham

Birmingham City v Newcastle United

Plymouth Argyle v Liverpool

Everton v AFC Bournemouth

Aston Villa v Tottenham Hotspur

Southampton v Burnley

Leyton Orient v Manchester City

Doncaster Rovers v Crystal Palace

Stoke City v Cardiff City

With eighteen of the twenty Premier League sides getting through, you would have thought plenty of the sixteen ties would have been all PL ones, well only four came out as it turned out, and for the others some have potential banana skins to avoid, Forest, Wolves, Fulham, Newcastle, Liverpool, Man City & Palace all have away ties at lower league opposition, and there are also three all championship ties as well, will we have any 'cupsets' in Round Four?