Sammie Szmodics scored a first-half hat-trick as Blackburn avoided an upset by overcoming League One outfit Cambridge 5-2 in the FA Cup third round.
In the first meeting between the sides in exactly 31 years, Blackburn found themselves behind when Jack Lankester's early curling finish put Neil Harris' team in front.
Szmodics, who was called up to Republic of Ireland squads during Stephen Kenny's tenure, but has yet to win his first Boys in Green cap, swept in an equaliser in the 23rd minute but parity was brief as Sullay Kaikai volleyed in his second of the season to put Cambridge ahead again.
Blackburn's superior firepower was the difference, though, typified by Szmodics, the Championship's leading marksman, who lashed in a second equaliser in the 37th minute before completing his hat-trick in stoppage time, volleying in his 19th of the campaign.
Arnor Sigurdsson's seventh of the season midway through the second half, and Harry Leonard's late header, ensured welcome respite from Rovers' league form.
The match was also a significant one for Ireland Under-17 international Rory Finneran who became Blackburn's second youngest-ever player when the 15-year-old was subbed on.
15-year-old Rory Finneran is subbed on to become @Rovers' second-youngest ever player! 🤩#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/Fra975G1CC
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) January 6, 2024
Ireland striker Sinclair Armstrong opened the scoring for QPR but they lost 3-2, succumbing to a stunning second-half comeback from Premier League Bournemouth, who had Mark Travers in goal.
The Championship strugglers scored two goals in quick succession before the break through Armstrong and Lyndon Dykes at Loftus Road.
Armstrong, who is a current Ireland Under-21 international with one senior cap to his name, scored after a searching ball forward found him with his back facing Bournemouth's goal on halfway.
The Dubliner turned Marcos Senesi with ease and glided through on goal where he produced a placed finish into the bottom-right corner.
But the Cherries came out after half-time firing and goals from Marcus Tavernier, Kieffer Moore and Justin Kluivert secured their seventh win in nine matches in all competitions.
Joao Pedro scored twice late on as Brighton, who had Ireland striker Evan Ferguson in their starting line-up, avoided an upset at Championship side Stoke with a 4-2 comeback win.
The hosts - who had not beaten top-flight opposition in the competition since they reached the final in 2011 - had held the lead for 35 first-half minutes courtesy of Jan Paul Van Hecke's own goal, after which Steven Schumacher's team were the better side.
However, Brighton's Ecuador left-back Pervis Estupinan let fly from 20 yards in the final minute of six added on before the interval and captain Lewis Dunk headed last season's semi-finalists ahead just after the break.
Dunk's raised arm conceded the penalty from which Lewis Baker equalised and it needed Pedro's 14th and 15th goals of the season to see the Premier League team through in the final 19 minutes.
Callum Robinson missed a penalty as Cardiff fell to a 4-0 loss at Sheffield Wednesday.
Josh Windass fired the Owls ahead in the second minute in a whirlwind start to this third-round tie at Hillsborough before goalkeeper Cameron Dawson kept out quickfire spot-kicks from Ryan Wintle and then Robinson.
The 28-year-old stopper was in inspired form for his hometown club, pulling off a string of further saves to keep Cardiff at bay, while Romaine Sawyers' own goal and Liam Palmer's stunning volley put the Owls 3-0 up at half-time. Cardiff squandered a long list of second-half chances and Owls substitute Mallik Wilks completed the scoring in added time.
Sheffield United found it easier at League Two Gillingham as a brace each for William Osula and James McAtee sealed a straightforward 4-0 win at Priestfield.
Tom Cannon scored his third goal in a week as much-changed Leicester moved into the fourth round of the FA Cup following an entertaining 3-2 victory at fellow Championship side Millwall.
Cannon, who has been capped by the Republic of Ireland Under-21s but has been taking time to reflect on his international future after an approach by his birth nation England since last year, scored twice in his first start for the Foxes against Huddersfield on New Year's Day and was one of just four players retained from that game in their line-up as manager Enzo Maresca reminded everyone of the considerable strength of depth at his disposal.
Cesare Casadei and Ricardo Pereira put the Foxes 2-0 up and, after Duncan Watmore halved the deficit, Cannon struck with Zian Flemming setting up a nervy finish late on.
Ryan Fraser had a hand in three goals as Southampton swatted aside League Two Walsall with a professional 4-0 victory.
Winger Fraser produced two fine finishes and set up Sekou Mara as Saints eased to a 19th match unbeaten - one off a club record 20 games without a loss in all competitions.
Che Adams jumped off the bench to slide in a fourth to confirm Southampton's progress to the fourth round and avoid a copy of last year's exit to fourth-tier opposition.
Matty Godden scored a brace as Championship Coventry thrashed League One Oxford 6-2 at the CBS Arena.
The substitute followed up early strikes by Joel Latibeaudiere and Ben Sheaf, while Kasey Palmer's thunderbolt made it 3-1.
Callum O'Hare's second-half penalty made it 4-1 to the hosts who are through to the fourth round for just the second time in six seasons, with Mark Harris and Tyler Goodrham on the scoresheet for Des Buckingham's side.
Ipswich booked their place in the fourth round after goals either side of half-time saw them defeat a spirited 10-man AFC Wimbledon 3-1.
An own goal from Josh Davison and further strikes from Axel Tuanzebe and recent Ireland call-up Jack Taylor saw the Tractor Boys past their League Two opponents.
AFC Wimbledon captain Jake Reeves made it 1-1 from the penalty spot after 17 minutes but the Championship high-flyers were good value for their win, with Dons midfielder Harry Pell sent off just before the hour mark.
Sixth-tier Maidstone reached the fourth round for the first time in their history as they clinched a stirring win over League One Stevenage at the Gallagher Stadium.
Sam Corne's penalty just before half-time proved enough for the National League South side as Steve Evans' men saw both Jamie Reid and Kane Hemmings hit the woodwork early in the second half.
National League Eastleigh will join Maidstone in the fourth round draw after a Chris Maguire penalty sealed a 1-1 draw with Newport at Rodney Parade.
However, there was heartbreak for National League leaders Chesterfield, who led at Watford for much of the game before being denied by a stoppage-time strike from Tom Dele-Bashiru.
Joe Quigley's 28th-minute header for the Spireites evoked memories of their famous run to the 1997 semi-finals, but Mileta Rajovic came off the bench to level and Dele-Bashiru denied the visitors a second chance when he struck in the fifth minute of added time.
Hull required an 87th-minute equaliser to keep their FA Cup hopes alive and seal a 1-1 draw against managerless Birmingham at the MKM Stadium.
Matty Jacob bagged the equaliser, cancelling out Lukas Jutkiewicz's 18th-minute opener for the Blues, marking his first start for the Tigers with a memorable moment to set up a third-round replay at St Andrew's later this month.
League One Bristol Rovers were more than a match for Championship outfit Norwich as they came away from Carrow Road with a well-deserved 1-1 draw.
The hosts took an early lead through Ashley Barnes but, roared on by 1,300 travelling fans, Rovers were quickly back on level terms thanks to a smart finish from Grant Ward.
Former Galway United and Dundalk manager, Ian Foster's reign as Plymouth head coach started with a tricky 3-1 home win over League Two strugglers Sutton.
Argyle relied on 14-goal top scorer Morgan Whittaker, with a stoppage-time deflected looping strike on the run, to seal victory, a day after appointing 47-year-old Foster.
Swansea eased their way into the fourth round with a 2-0 win against League Two strugglers Morecambe.
Second-half goals from midfielders Charlie Patino and Jerry Yates saw the Championship side safely into the hat and secured victory in new manager Luke Williams' opening match in charge.
