Leeds defeated Manchester City 5-2 in a FA Cup lesson yesterday. Harry Kewell just missed his hat trick after scoring his second to put the game beyond doubt. Four goals were scored in a rip-roaring start to the game as Manchester City took the lead with a second minute goal by Shaun Goater. Ian Harte replied for Leeds before Ian Bishop grabbed City's second on 11 minutes. Leeds then drew level on 20 minutes through Alan Smith. Harry Kewell had put Leeds ahead 3-2 before half-time while Lee Bowyer made the gap wider after the break. Arsenal and Leicester City drew their fourth round tie 0-0 at Highbury where Arsene Wenger decided to leave Nigerian striker Nwanko Kanu on the bench for the majority of the game despite the controversy over his availability this past week. In a tight contest that the Londoners will be glad to have survived, ten men were booked and one sent-off. Leicester lost Darren Eadie in the 81st minute following a second bookable offence.
John Aldridge's Tranmere Rovers produced the shock of the FA Cup fourth round, defeating high flying Sunderland yesterday, but there could yet be a sting in the tail as the FA will decide on Monday whether the result stands. The game at Prenton Park ended in chaos. With Wayne Allison's goal separating the two sides, Rovers defender Clint Hill was dismissed by referee Rob Harris deep in injury time. However, the First Division side appeared to put substitute Stephen Frail on the field as a replacement with nobody coming off. Eventually, after a touchline dispute involving Sunderland boss Peter Reid, Andy Parkinson came off.
The other shock result yesterday was the defeat of 1988 winners Wimbledon by First Division Fulham at Craven Cottage. Irish under-21 international Steve Finnan was on target in a 3-0 win. Elsewhere in the fourth round there were wins for Coventry, Aston Villa, Newcastle, Everton, Charlton, Bolton, Preston and Cambridge, while Sheffield Wednesday and Wolves drew. In the third round replays there were wins for Gillingham and Nottingham Forest, while in the English Premiership Bradford and Chelsea drew 1-1.
Today's FA Cup results:
Manchester City 2 Leeds United 5 – Full-Time - Goater(M) :02, Harte(L) :08, Bishop(M) :11, Smith(L) :20, Kewell(L) :41 :88, Bowyer(L) :66
Arsenal 0 Leicester City 0 – Full-Time - sent-off Eadie(L) :81
The fourth round replays will be played as follows:
Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Sheffield Wednesday - Tuesday, January 18 - 7.45pm GMT
Leicester City vs Arsernal - Wednesday, January 19 - 7.45pm GMT
The fifth round draw was made this evening and the matches will be played the week ending January 29, 30.
The draw:
Gillingham or Bradford City vs Sheffield Wednesday or Wolves
Everton vs Preston
Liverpool or Blackburn Rovers vs Newcastle United
Coventry City vs Charlton Athletic
Cambridge United vs Bolton
Aston Villa vs Leeds United
Fulham vs Tranmere
Chelsea or Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal or Leicester City
