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?