Sunday
The FA Cup third round continued on Sunday afternoon with most matches kicking-off at 2.01pm.
Championship sides Charlton Athletic and West Bromwich Albion locked horns at The Valley where Dara O’Shea was in central defence for the visiting ‘Baggies’ who scored the only goal to progress to the next round. Callum Robinson started for Sheffield United and scored after 8 minutes as they had quite a struggle to overcome non-league AFC Fylde by two goals to one at Bramall Lane. James McCarthy started for Crystal Palace who lost to the only goal from visitors Derby County at Selhurst Park. Young Jason Knight was an unused substitute for the visiting ‘Rams’. Middlesbrough played out a one all draw with Tottenham Hotspur at the Riverside Stadium where Troy Parrott was an unused substitute for the visitors. Conor Masterson was an unexpected inclusion in the QPR side which crushed visitors Swansea City by five goals to one at Loftus Road where Olamide Shodipo was a 69th minute substitute for the hosts.
The Merseyside Derby meeting of Liverpool and Everton at Anfield saw Seamus Coleman in action for the visiting ‘Toffees’ who lost to the only goal from their hosts who played a side largely comprised of reserves and teenagers. There was a 6.16pm kick-off time scheduled for the meeting of League One side Gillingham and West Ham United with Southampton loanee Thomas O’Connor starting as expected for the hosts who also included goalkeeper Jack Bonham. The visitors went through to Round Four with a two nil victory.
Saturday
There were a number of FA Cup third round contests set to kick-off at 12.31pm on Saturday afternoon which had Irish involvement.
The New Den hosted the meeting of Championship side Millwall who included Jayson Molumby and Alex Pearce in their starting eleven as they secured a three nil victory over League Two side Newport County who included Padraig Amond and Mark O’Brien in their side. Aiden O’Brien was an unused substitute for the ‘Lions’. Birmingham City included Dan Crowley in their starting eleven and he opened the scoring after just four minutes against their fellow Championship side Blackburn Rovers for whom Daragh Lenihan started with Derrick Williams a 39th minute substitute. The ‘Blues’ went on to win the match by two goals to one. Burnley duo, Jeff Hendrick and Kevin Long both started against League One side Peterborough United at Turf Moor with Hendrick scoring the third goal after just 23 minutes as the ‘Clarets’ secured a four two victory. Rochdale manager Brian Barry-Murphy named Eoghan O’Connell. Jimmy Keohane and Jimmy Ryan in his starting eleven for their exciting one all draw with visitors Newcastle United.
Later in the day at 3.01pm, Brighton & Hove Albion played host to Championship side Sheffield Wednesday with Shane Duffy starting and Aaron Connolly a half-time substitute as they lost to the only goal. Cyrus Christie who has had a run of matches for Fulham in recent weeks retained his starting position for the two one victory over visitors Aston Villa and Conor Hourihane. The winning goal was scored by substitute Harry Arter just two minutes after he entered the fray midway through the second half. In form Southampton gave starting roles to Shane Long and Will Smallbone and the teenager gave the ‘Saints’ the lead just two minutes into the second half following a knock down from Long. Fellow teenager Michael Obafemi was introduced from the bench on 78 minutes for the two nil victory over Championship side Huddersfield Town. James McClean was rested by Stoke City who included Nathan Collins in their starting eleven for their one nil defeat at fellow Championship side Brentford while Stephen Ward was unused on the bench. Adam Idah will deservedly grab the headlines following his hat-trick for Norwich City in their four two victory over Preston North End at Deepdale. Alan Browne and Sean Maguire were rested by the hosts who included Adam O’Reilly on their substitute bench.
There was a 5.31pm kick-off time set for the meeting of struggling sides AFC Bournemouth and Luton Town which may saw goalkeeper Mark Travers start while Gavin Kilkenny was an unused substitute for the hosts who earned a comfortable four nil victory. James Collins was an unused substitute for the visitors. Wolverhampton Wanderers and Matt Doherty will face a replay at Manchester United after the sides played out a scoreless draw at Molineaux while Ronan Curtis and his Portsmouth colleagues progressed to the next round with a two one victory at Fleetwood Town.