Cup Exit - Just What Hughton Wanted?

Last updated : 24 January 2010 By Footy Mad - Editor

Reporter Steve Sutton was at the Hawthorns and said Hughton's side played out the first half "as though they weren't up for it".

So we won't be taking any interest in the FA Cup draw this afternoon.

ELSEWHERE IN THE FA CUP ...

Leeds striker Jermaine Beckford was the FA Cup hero again as he slotted home a last-gasp penalty at White Hart Lane to earn a fourth-round replay against Tottenham after a 2-2 draw.

Casper Ankergren will also take the plaudits after saving Jermain Defoe's first-half penalty but it was Beckford who twice equalised to add to his strike in the previous round when he netted the winner against Manchester United.

Peter Crouch grabbed the opener but Beckford replied after the break, then the Leeds striker won and scored his stoppage-time spot-kick after Roman Pavlyuchenko looked to have earned Spurs the win.

Reading produced another upset as Gylfi Sigurdsson's late goal gave them a 1-0 victory over Burnley at the Madejski Stadium.

The Royals had won a replay at Liverpool in the last round, and added another Barclays Premier League scalp after a battling second-half display.

Sigurdsson, who had been a doubt because of a foot injury, latched onto a long ball into the penalty area with just three minutes left to send the Coca-Cola Championship side into the fifth round.

The result was no more than the hosts deserved for their efforts, as Brian Laws' side were made to pay for a lack of any real ambition.

Elsewhere, a late goal from Ben Watson denied Notts County a famous win over Wigan.

The League Two side, who have been hit by financial problems throughout the season, went ahead thanks to Lee Hughes' 20th goal of the season.

Ben Davies' stunning free-kick doubled County's advantage before Jason Scotland pulled one back for Roberto Martinez's side.

County could not hold off a late Wigan onslaught though, and the Latics drew level through Watson's cool finish with seven minutes left.

Holders Chelsea booked their place in the last 16 of the competition with a comfortable 2-0 win at Preston.

The Blues saw off the threat of an upset despite a spirited effort from Darren Ferguson's side with the goals coming from Nicolas Anelka and Daniel Sturridge.

Wolves' Ronald Zubar struck late on to ruin Crystal Palace's chances of a shock at Molineux.

Darren Ambrose played Alan Lee in for Palace's opener before Mick McCarthy's side drew level with a long-range strike from David Jones eight minutes before the break.

Ambrose's excellent free-kick put Palace back in front but Zubar's 25-yard effort earned a replay for McCarthy's side.

Fulham had to work hard to beat 10-man Accrington Stanley at the Crown Ground.

Accrington, who sit 70 places behind Fulham in the league standings, went behind to an Erik Nevland goal before Michael Symes turned home an equaliser.

The home side's chances of a shock took a blow just before half-time when Darran Kempson was sent off and Fulham took advantage of their numerical superiority by taking the lead through a well-worked Damien Duff goal.

Bjorn Helge Riise then crossed for Gera to seal the Cottagers' 3-1 win.

Portsmouth ended a miserable week on a high with a 2-1 win over Sunderland at Fratton Park.

The home side, beleaguered by financial problems, went behind to a Darren Bent strike before John Utaka's double put Avram Grant's through.

Aston Villa survived a scare to beat League One side Brighton at Villa Park.

Nathan Delfouneso gave Villa an early lead but Tommy Elphick's goal pegged them back before Ashley Young and Fabian Delph handed Martin O'Neill's side a 3-1 lead.

Nicky Forster pulled one back for Brighton but Villa held on for the win.

Birmingham secured a 2-1 win over Everton in the all-Premier League tie at Goodison Park.

Goals from Christian Benitez and Barry Ferguson put Birmingham 2-0 up before Leon Osman gave the home fans some hope with a well-taken header in the second half.

League One side Southampton overcame Championship Ipswich at St Mary's.

Strikes from Wayne Thomas and Michael Antonio gave the Saints the lead before Pablo Counago pulled one back for Roy Keane's men.

Gretar Steinsson and Johan Elmander scored second-half goals to see off Sheffield United and give Owen Coyle his first win as Bolton manager.

And two late goals gave Cardiff a 4-2 win over Championship rivals Leicester.

Jay Bothroyd broke the deadlock for Cardiff before Michael Morrison and Dany N'Guessan put Leicester 2-1 ahead.

Peter Whittingham's free-kick put Cardiff level before Chris Burke and Ross McCormack sealed the win for the Bluebirds.

In the day's other game James McEveley snatched a last-gasp winner for Derby against Doncaster.

ELSEWHERE IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP ...

Brett Ormerod struck a dramatic last-minute winner to hand Blackpool a 3-2 Coca-Cola Championship victory over Watford which carried them into the play-off places.

The veteran hitman scored just moments after Keith Southern had drawn Ian Holloway's side level, goals from Henri Lansbury and Tom Cleverley having put the Hornets 2-1 up.

Charlie Adam had put Holloway's men ahead with his 12th goal of the season and was a constant driving force as the Seasiders bounced back from their dismal 2-1 home defeat at the hands of lowly Sheffield Wednesday on Tuesday.

The Owls stretched their winning streak to three matches as Marcus Tudgay's brace helped them to a 2-1 victory over fellow strugglers Peterborough.

The result extended Wednesday's cushion over the Championship relegation zone to five points as Alan Irvine celebrated his first home match in charge with three points against the bottom-placed visitors.

In Saturday's other game, Willo Flood marked his home debut with a fortuitous goal as Middlesbrough fought back to claim a point from a 1-1 draw against promotion-chasing Swansea.

Boro looked set to suffer a seventh defeat in eight games when Gorka Pintado fired the visitors in front shortly after the interval.

But former Celtic midfielder Flood levelled the scores in unconventional fashion when his attempted cross from the right sailed over Swansea goalkeeper Dorus de Vries and into the top corner.

Although there was a significant slice of luck involved in Boro's equaliser, the hosts will feel they deserved at least a point from a largely even encounter.

And they may have gone on to claim all three points had Leroy Lita taken one of the numerous chances to come his way early on.

Plymouth's clash with Barnsley was postponed on Friday.