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Soccer: Liverpool tough obstacle to Leeds' Cup ambitions

David O'Leary's Leeds, who edged past Yorkshire rivals Barnsley 1-0 at Elland Road, will have home advantage against Liverpool in the tie of the FA Cup fourth round, which was drawn yesterday. Liverpool made it into the hat after Gerard Houllier's men defeated Rotherham 3-0 at Anfield.

Following Teddy Sheringham's last minute winner at Fulham, Manchester Utd host Premiership rivals West Ham next, who they defeated 3-1 at Old Trafford on New Year's Day.

Dave Jones celebrated a winning return to the game after Wolves knocked Nottingham Forest out of the FA Cup in their first game under their new manager. A late strike from Adam Proudlock secured a fourth-round tie away to either Wycombe or Grimsby for the First Division club.

Dagenham and Redbridge manager were left to reflect on what might have been after Charlton scored a late equaliser to avoid a cup shock at The Valley on Saturday.

The non-league side were just four minutes away from causing the upset of the third round when John Salako scored with a deflected shot to earn a 1-1 draw. The winners of the replay will meet Tottenham, who were made to fight at Third Division Leyton Orient before Irishman Gary Doherty scored the only goal in stoppage time.

Conference side Kingstonian were the day's only non-league winners after they beat Third Division Southend 1-0 at Roots Hall. Their reward is a fourth-round date at Bristol City.

Chelsea's away-day blues will be put to the test when the cup holders travel to First Division Gillingham, while two other top flight clubs pitched against each other - at Maine Road - are Manchester City and Coventry.

Southampton have home advantage against Sheffield Wednesday; Derby travel to Blackburn and the winner of tonight's tie between Premiership strugglers Bradford and Middlesbrough will face either Wimbledon or Notts County. Stockport must travel to Cardiff or Crewe.

Everton manager Walter Smith hopes the win will boost his side's flagging morale. They face local rivals Tranmere, who are managed by former Republic striker John Aldridge, in the next round.

"We've been suffering from a lack of confidence because of the run we've had," said Smith. "Hopefully this will give us some confidence because we need a bit of that."

Arsenal avoided any upset at Carlisle by winning 1-0 and manager Arsene Wenger claimed Patrick Vieira is being targeted by opposition players following an horrific two-footed tackle by Richard Prokas.

A furious Wenger, whose team travel to Luton or QPR next, claimed the Carlisle midfielder's lunge might have ended Vieira's career. "Vieira is such an important man in the midfield for Arsenal that I am scared some people go out just to try to do him," he said.

Carlisle boss Ian Atkins said: "That was two very committed players going for the ball and when that happens someone sometimes gets hurt."

There was no such joy for giantkillers Morecambe and the non-leaguers' run was ended by Ipswich, who won 3-0 at Christie Park. Ipswich boss George Burley, whose side will face the winners of the Sunderland-Crystal Palace replay in the next round, admitted Morecambe had made life difficult for his Premiership high-fliers.

Burley said: "I was pleased we got an early goal but then we seemed to let it drop, and all credit to Morecambe, they came back into the game." (PA)

Filed by Seán Folan

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