NON-LEAGUE Chorley kept their heroic FA Cup dream alive by beating Wayne Rooney’s Covid-hit Derby 2-0.
The Rams were forced to field the kids as – similarly to Midlands rivals Aston Villa – the whole first-team set-up are in self-isolation with Manchester United legend Rooney watching on from home.
Scrappy. Very scrappy. But Chorley won't mind!
They take the lead against Derby
#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/4gkebIZNG6
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) January 9, 2021
Eight groundsmen camped out overnight at Chorley to defy bitterly cold conditions and get the game on following a pitch inspection.
And they were rewarded when top scorer Connor Hall bundled in after ten minutes to become the first player to net in the first three rounds of the FA Cup in three years.
Rooney’s side struggled in his absence, failing to muster a single effort on goal in the first 45.
They came back into it after the break but struggled to create enough chances.
And Chorley finally put the result beyond doubt when Mike Calveley stabbed in the all-important second goal after 84 minutes.
National League North mid-table Chorley celebrated progressing in the last round by belting out Adele’s Someone Like You so perhaps the third-round victory over Rooney’s Derby calls for a special rendition of Set Fire to the Wayne.
Everton 2-1 Rotherham United AET
Carlo Ancelotti’s Everton needed an injury-time winner from Abdoulaye Doucoure to scrape past a spirited Rotherham United at Goodison Park.
The Toffees thought they had won the game in normal time when Cenk Tosun reacted fastest to poke home from James Rodriguez’s free-kick with five minutes to play.
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But VAR graph lines proved that Tosun was millimetres offside and the goal was scrubbed off – some beginners luck for VAR newbies Rotherham, playing their first game with the controversial technology.
Tosun had ended a 14-month goal drought inside ten minutes at Goodison Park by dinking the ball past Chelsea loanee Jamal Blackman after Anthony Gordon’s lovely turn and pass split the Rotherham defence open.
But Carlo Ancelotti’s side did not use the early lead to their advantage and let Rotherham back into the tie.
The Millers put a complacent Everton under huge pressure and finally were rewarded when Matthew Olosunde rolled the ball into the corner of the net 11 minutes into the second-half.
But they could not make the most of their VAR reprieve and Rodriguez eventually did turn provider for former Watford midfielder Doucoure who smoothly stroked the ball home three minutes into extra time to put Everton in the fourth round.
Everton lead Rotherham in style
Lovely dink from Cenk Tosun
#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/pR69KufgIM
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) January 9, 2021
Stoke City 0-4 Leicester City
The Foxes clearly fancy themselves for a first-ever FA Cup crown and Brendan Rodgers picked a strong side for this trip to the Bet365 Stadium.
James Justin showed that Premier League quality with a stunning opener, cutting onto his right-foot and curling home from range.
Sam Vokes had just squandered a great opening from close-range for the hosts but Marc Albrighton popped up to score after 59 minutes.
Ayoze Perez made it three after Stoke gave away the ball too easily, allowing a counter-attack to be finished off by the Spaniard, before Harvey Barnes’ powerful effort rounded off a clinical performance.
Bristol Rovers 2-3 Sheffield United
Chris Wilder’s side battled to a much-needed victory at League One Bristol Rovers after a mad four minutes at the Memorial Stadium.
Lys Mousset and Joe Day competed for a cross in the Blades’ opener, which went down as a own-goal by the Rovers man.
But Alfie Kilgour put the hosts on the board with his own towering header, sending the sides into the break level.
An end-to-end tie was turned back towards the Premier League side on 59 minutes when Oli Burke raced through on the break to bury a one-on-one.
Max Ehmer popped up for a 62nd-minute strike from a set-piece and yet United were ahead mere seconds later.
A smart move down the right saw Jayden Bogle race into the box for a near-post finish.
Blackburn 0-1 Doncaster
An upset at Ewood Park with Taylor Richards the Donny hero after being allowed all the time and space he could possibly need to race up the middle of the pitch.
The young midfielder then unleashed a fizzing effort that beat the outstretched palms of Aynsley Pears.
Blackburn knocked on the door and fired off 20 shots to five, but could not find an equaliser and had their Carabao Cup win over Doncaster in August avenged.
Boreham Wood 0-2 Millwall
Kenneth Zohore’s 31st minute effort gave Millwall a half-time lead away at National League Boreham Wood.
Boreham Wood were playing in the first third-round FA Cup tie of their history.
But Shaun Hutchinson dashed their dreams of progression by heading in for the Lions after 74 minutes.
Scott Malone was a creative bright spark for the men from The Den, assisting both goals in the 2-0 win.
Norwich 2-0 Coventry City
Norwich scored TWO goals in the first seven minutes of a barnstorming opening to their victory against Coventry.
Kenny McLean and Jordan Hugill scored within one minute of each other on six and seven minutes to give the Canaries a flying start at Carrow Road.
Daniel Farke’s 20-year-old shot-stopper Daniel Barden kept Norwich in front in the second-half denying Maxime Biamou on multiple occasions.
Bournemouth 4-1 Oldham
After the tie was swapped from a frozen Boundary Park to the South Coast, Bournemouth feasted on their lower-league opponents.
David Brooks opened the scoring via a deflection before Oldham went into the break level thanks to Dylan Bahamboula.
In the second-half, the Cherries made their superiority count with Rodrigo Riquelme scrambling home a winner.
West Ham target Josh King scored twice late on to seal Bournemouth’s spot in Monday’s draw.
Stevenage 0-2 Swansea
Championship high-flyers Swansea carried their strong form into the FA Cup and led early on thanks to Wayne Routledge’s close-range finish.
Stevenage have become something of a cup specialist in recent years and gave a good showing at a misty Lamex Stadium.
But Viktor Gyokeres sealed the Swans’ passage to the fourth round with his first goal since joining on loan from Brighton.
Stevenage debutant Luke Norris had a low penalty saved by Freddie Woodman late on.
Exeter 0-2 Sheffield Wednesday
The Owls secured their first-ever win at Exeter with goals in either half.
Adam Reach buried a powerful effort after 27 minutes and Tony Pulis’ men left it late to seal the victory.
Callum Paterson waited patiently for Liam Shaw’s cross to roll home the second in stoppage time.
Wycombe 4-1 Preston
Wycombe put away Championship rivals Preston early on at Adams Park, Fred Onyedinma notching a third-minute header.
Joe Jacobson and Josh Knight then scored to kill the tie in the first-half, sending the Wanderers through to the fourth round for only the third time.
Preston had nicked a point late on in their league meeting last month but there were no such heroics this time around, Emil Riis Jakobsen scoring a consolation from the spot.
Alex Samuel buried a quick move to confirm the win on 82 minutes.
Nottingham Forest 1-0 Cardiff
Lyle Taylor’s thumping volley gave Nottingham Forest the lead against Cardiff.
A side-footed slammer after just three minutes from Gaetan Bong’s cross into the box, caught Neil Harris’ Bluebirds off guard.
And they never recovered with Michael Dawson’s side taking a spot in the fourth-round draw.
Luton 1-0 Reading
Luton had the better of the all Championship clash at Kenilworth Road.
George Moncur’s effort after 30 minutes gave Nathan Jones’ side a deserved win against familiar foes in the shape of the Royals – it was the third meeting between the sides already this season.
