• FA Cup

Villa dumped out of FA Cup by Blades

ESPN staff
January 4, 2014
Ryan Flynn scored Sheffield United's late winner at Villa Park © Getty Images
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Aston Villa were dumped out of the FA Cup after League One strugglers Sheffield United came away with a shock 2-1 victory from their third-round clash at Villa Park, while Cardiff won at Newcastle in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's first game in charge.

Villa were behind after 20 minutes when Jamie Murphy's effort deflected off Ciaran Clark into the net, wrong-footing Jed Steer.

The hosts got themselves back in it when Nicklas Helenius fired the ball in low with 15 minutes remaining, but the visitors were in front again soon after, Ryan Flynn blasting into the top corner. The Blades, just a point above the relegation zone in the third tier, saw out the remaining nine minutes to seal victory.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was the centre of attention before kick-off at St James' Park © Getty Images
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Cardiff came from behind to see off Newcastle 2-1. Papiss Cisse broke the deadlock just past the hour, prodding home the ball when it fall to him after Moussa Sissoko had burst into the box.

Solskjaer then turned things around for Cardiff with two astute substitutions, first Craig Noone coming off the bench to fire in from distance with his first touch before former Manchester United striker Fraizer Campbell nodded home from close range with 10 minutes left.

Southampton edged a seven-goal thriller at St Mary's, seeing off Burnley 4-3. Nathaniel Clyne opened the scoring against the Championship's second-placed side with a 25-yard strike into the top corner, and Southampton doubled their lead shortly before the half hour with Rickie Lambert turning and firing home from the edge of the box. However six minutes after the restart Burnley got themselves back in the game through Sam Vokes' header, and they were level soon after through Danny Ings' 20th goal of the season, a powerful finish at the near post.

The hosts then seemingly put the game to bed with two quick-fire goals, Jay Rodriguez stabbing home against his former club on 66 minutes before Adam Lallana struck from 20 yards seven minutes later. Burnley weren't done, however, Kevin Long bundling home three minutes from time, but Southampton held on.

Ross Barkley opened the scoring for Everton © Getty Images
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Everton made light work of Queens Park Rangers with a 4-0 win at Goodison Park. With the match delayed in kicking-off by 10 minutes because of traffic congestion, Ross Barkley put Everton ahead on 35 minutes when he fired past Julio Cesar after latching onto Bryan Oviedo's pass.

Everton weren't done before the half was out, however, with Nikica Jelavic grabbing his first of the season on his first start since September, scoring from outside the box just before the interval. Jelavic scored his second of the afternoon on 68 minutes, volleying in after good work from Oviedo, but the striker spurned his chance of a hat-trick by hitting a penalty against the bar. However a fourth goal eventually came through Seamus Coleman's fine finish.

Hull came through their clash at Middlesbrough with a comfortable 2-0 win. With 10 minutes gone, Aaron Mclean went through one-on-one with Dimi Konstantopoulos and finished low past the Middlesbrough goalkeeper. Nick Proschwitz then put Hull two goals to the good on 61 minutes

Norwich came from behind to earn a replay against Fulham after a 1-1 draw at Carrow Road. Having fluffed a decent chance earlier on, Darren Bent made amends by heading in the opener for Fulham five minutes before the break. However Robert Snodgrass drew Norwich level in first-half injury time, heading in Josh Murphy's cross from four yards.

Stoke were too strong for Championship leaders Leicester at the Britannia Stadium, emerging 2-1 winners. Kenwyne Jones nodded home just past the quarter-hour mark from Oussama Assaidi's cross. Charlie Adam then stretched Stoke's lead with a left-footed strike past Kasper Schmeichel on 55 minutes. David Nugent set up a nervy finish after coming off the bench to loop a late header into the net for Leicester.

Crystal Palace kept up their impressive recent form with a 2-0 win at managerless West Brom. Dwight Gayle found the back of the net on 23 minutes after catching Ben Foster wrong-footed, before Marouane Chamakh sealed the victory in injury time.

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