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Rutashubanyuma · Jan 9, 2011

Tale of two penalties at Emirates

Saturday, 08 January, 2011
Leeds denied another famous upset by a late penalty.
Arsenal 1-1 Leeds United
The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON
Third Round Proper
12.45pm, Saturday 8 January 2011
Emirates Stadium, Arsenal FC
Live on ITV1
Winning club receives £67,500 from The FA Cup prize fund
Both clubs receive live broadcast fee of £144,000 each

Leeds United, who famously knocked Manchester United out of The FA Cup last season, came within a whisker of producing another major upset at Arsenal but were denied by a last-gasp penalty from Cesc Fabregas.

Fabregas coolly fired home for a relieved Arsenal in the 90th minute after Robert Snodgrass had earlier put Leeds ahead, also from the penalty spot in the 54th minute in the Third Round tie.

It was a cruel blow for the Championship side who had produced a hugely impressive and well-organised display, but at least they have the consolation of a lucrative replay at Elland Road following a 1-1 draw in north London.

The result means Leeds could not quite recreate the drama of last season when they knocked Man United out of the competition with a goal from Jermaine Beckford at Old Trafford and then earned a dramatic 2-2 draw at Tottenham in the Fourth Round before eventually bowing out in the replay.

This time their dreams are still alive, however, even though the world's oldest Cup competition hasn't always been kind to the Yorkshire club who have lifted it only once in their illustrious history, beating Arsenal in the Centenary Final of 1972 thanks to a goal from Allan Clarke.

They still sing songs about Clarke at Elland Road, of course, and current manager Simon Grayson is doing his best to bring back the glory days after clinching promotion to the Championship, where Leeds are now well placed to go up again – currently sitting fifth, only two points behind an automatic promotion spot. And on this evidence they are certainly on the way back.

Grayson's side certainly looked well drilled and confident in the first half at the Emirates, even though Arsenal created a string of chances to take the lead.

Gunners manager Arsene Wenger had opted to rest key players such as Lucasz Fabianski, Cesc Fabregas, Gael Clichy, Bacary Sagna, Samir Nasri, Jack Wilshere and Theo Walcott and perhaps that affected the fluency of his team who couldn't find a way through.

Andrei Arshavin went close with a snap shot from outside the area which was well saved by Kasper Schmeichel, while Jonathan Howson cleared off the line when Sebastien Squillaci looked certain to score in the 29th minute.

Schmeichel was certainly the busier of the two keepers, also saving twice from Nicklas Bendtner and once from Marouane Chamakh. But it was Arsenal youngster Wojciech Szczesny who was picking the ball out of the net after 54 minutes when Leeds won a clear penalty.

Winger Max Gradel jigged his way into the area down the left and was blatantly tripped by Denilson, who could only watch in despair as Snodgrass converted the penalty with conviction.

It could have been 2-0 after 64 minutes, too, when Szczesny made a superb save to keep out Luciano Becchio from a corner routine.

By that stage Wenger had brought on captain Fabregas in a bid to get Arsenal, who haven't won a trophy since lifting The FA Cup in 2005, back in the game. But they found Leeds' resolute defence difficult to breach.

Snodgrass went mightily close to doubling Leeds' advantage with a 20-yard free-kick that only just slid past Szczesny's right-hand post and the skill and tenacity of the entire Leeds midfield – together with the steely determination of their defence - must give the Yorkshiremen huge hope for the remainder of the season.

In contrast Arsenal, with the honourable exception of the excellent Johan Djourou at centre-half, looked out of sorts. But they did manage a late rally that saved the day in the end.

The home side thought they had won a late penalty when Walcott went down in the area, only to discover the flag was actually up for offside. But seconds later, in the 90th minute, Ben Parker tugged on Walcott's shirt inside the area and Fabregas fired home from 12 yards to clinch a replay.

Arsenal: Szczesny, Eboue, Djourou, Squillaci, Gibbs, Rosicky (Vela 79), Denilson, Song (Fabregas 59), Arshavin, Bendtner, Chamakh (Walcott 68). Subs not used: Fabianski, Ramsey, Clichy, Miquel.
Booked: Rosicky, Denilson

Leeds United: Schmeichel, Connolly, Bruce, O'Brien, Parker, Watt (Bromby 76), Howson, Johnson, Gradel (Hughes 90), Snodgrass, Becchio (Somma 85). Subs not used: Higgs, Collins, Paynter, McCormack.
Booked: Parker, Howson

Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire)
Assistant referees: Adam Watts, Mike Mullarkey
Fourth official: Michael Oliver

Attendance: 59,520

Rutashubanyuma · Jan 9, 2011

Kamara (hat) trick

By Glenn Lavery at Craven Cottage - Saturday, 08 January, 2011
Diomansy's treble guides Fulham into Fourth Round.

Fulham

6-2

Peterborough United

Kamara 32, 55, 77, Etuhu 45+1, Gera 66, Greening 89

Tomlin 71, McCann (pen) 87

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3pm, Saturday 8 January 2011
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Full list of Third Round results

A Diomansy Kamara hat-trick helped send Fulham into the Fourth Round of The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON at the expense of a spirited Peterborough United.

His first two goals came either side of Dickson Etuhu's firm drive from the edge of the area, while his third, and Fulham's fifth, after 77 minutes, put a fine gloss on the scoreline before substitute Jonathan Greening made it six in the final minute. Zoltan Gera's far post header had made it 4-0 and ultimately gave Gary Johnson's side a mountain to climb.

Peterborough's Lee Tomlin deservedly got himself on the scoresheet to make it 4-1, and skipper Grant McCann coolly despatched a late penalty, but it was not enough to halt the Premier League side's progress.

Buoyed by their 3-0 victory over West Brom in the week, Fulham rode an early tide of Peterborough pressure until their quality eventually shone through and they now await tomorrow's Fourth Round draw with interest.

Fulham boss Mark Hughes named the same eleven from that win over West Brom and Peterborough were also unchanged from their last match, a 4-1 win over Walsall.

It was the League One play-off contenders who came out of the blocks quickest, winning three corners inside the opening three minutes, though all three amounted to very little. However, just a minute later they came within a David Stockdale glove of taking the lead as the Fulham ‘keeper was required to turn Craig Mackail-Smith's fierce, angled drive over the bar.

Peterborough were the better side in the early exchanges, but Simon Davies had two chances in quick succession to put the hosts ahead. A quick counter-attack led to Damien Duff being released down the right but Davies could not connect properly with the Irishman's centre and he then fired a long range effort just narrowly past the angle of post and bar.

Fulham gradually grew into the game and Clint Dempsey was the next Cottager to try his luck, producing a fine run from deep before some neat footwork afforded him a yard of space to get his shot away, but it curled just past Joe Lewis' right-hand upright.

The American began to pull the strings in his position just behind Kamara and he fed a cute through ball to Davies after 25 minutes although the Welsh midfielder was again narrowly off target with his curled attempt. This concerted spell of Fulham pressure was soon broken up when Tomlin took possession of the ball and burst forward at pace before unleashing a fizzing right-foot drive, which had Stockdale momentarily worried.

However, just after the half-hour mark Fulham took the lead as Davies' corner from the left eventually found itself on the opposite flank where Baird swung in a deep cross for Kamara to nod home at the back post.

Duff should have doubled this lead just six minutes later after being played in by a beautifully weighted pass from the goalscorer, but as Lewis narrowed the angle, the winger could only curl wide from inside the box.

On the stroke of half-time Etuhu did double the advantage, arriving in the box just in time to smash home Duff's low pull-back from the right and this goal put the home side in a commanding position at the break.

Just as they did in the first half, Peterborough began second 45 on the front foot as Mackail-Smith broke clear and flashed a low shot across goal but just beyond the target. It then took an acrobatic clearance from John Pantsil to avert the danger after Stockdale spilled McCann's first corner of the second half.

Half-time substitute Gera, on for Davies, had Fulham's opening second-half effort on 52 minutes and he forced Lewis into an excellent stop. Next up was the Duff, a constant livewire, who hit the inside of Lewis' near post before Kamara took centre stage once more.

The forward latched on to Danny Murphy's wonderful pass down the left, raced into the box and steered the ball beyond Lewis and into the far corner of the net.

If Kamara's second had effectively ended the tie as a contest, on 66 minutes, two Fulham substitutes combined to put a fine gloss on the scoreline. Greening, who replaced Dempsey just four minutes earlier, sent in a delicious cross from the right wing and Gera climbed above everyone at the back post to guide the ball into the far corner, much to the delight of the Fulham faithful.

Despite the four-goal deficit, Gary Johnson's charges refused to lie down and Tomlin, arguably Peterborough's best player on the day, used his electric pace to race into the box and lash home a goal his individual performance had merited.

That gave the visiting hoards something to shout about but their joy was not long-lived as Kamara completed his treble, his first in English football, from close range to make it 5-1, before McCann slotted home an 87th-minute penalty. Greening slipped the ball under Lewis in the last minute to make it 6-2 and Gera might have made it seven from Pantsil's cross but couldn't quite get his shot on target.

It mattered not as Fulham are in the hat for the Fourth Round.

Fulham
12 David Stockdale, 4 John Pantsil, 5 Brede Hangeland (32 Rafik Halliche, 78), 6 Chris Baird, 13 Danny Murphy (C), 15 Diomansy Kamara, 16 Damien Duff, 18 Aaron Hughes, 20 Dickson Etuhu, 23 Clint Dempsey (27 Jonathan Greening, 62), 29 Simon Davies (11 Zoltan Gera, 46)
Substitutes not used 38 Neil Etheridge, 3 Carlos Salcido, 17 Bjorn Helge Riise, 21 Eddie Johnson

Manager Mark Hughes

Peterborough United
1 Joe Lewis, 2 Mark Little, 4 Kelvin Langmead, 5 Gabriel Zakuani, 11 Grant McCann (C), 12 Craig Mackail-Smith, 14 Tommy Rowe, 18 Chris Whelpdale (19 Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, 46), 21 Arron Davies (25 Jonathan Obika, 55), 24 Lee Tomlin, 26 Adam Clayton (9 Kieran Agard, 70)
Substitutes not used 23 Steve Collis, 7 James Wesolowski, 16 Ryan Bennett, 22 Seth Nana Ofori-Twumasi

Manager Gary Johnson

Attendance 15, 936

Referee Lee Mason
Assistant Referees D Richards & D Plowright
Fourth Official D Phillips

Rutashubanyuma · Jan 9, 2011

Hughes looking for Cup spark

By Charlotte Gurney - Saturday, 08 January, 2011
Fulham boss to field strong team against Peterborough.

Fulham

v

Peterborough United

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Third Round Proper
3pm, Saturday 8 January 2011
Craven Cottage
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FA Cup legend Mark Hughes has hailed the competition as one of the greatest in the world.

The Fulham boss has also promised to field a strong side and not underestimate League One side Peterborough in their Third Round tie at Craven Cottage.

In an illustrious playing career, Hughes lifted the trophy on four occasions. His first success came with Manchester United as a 21-year-old in 1985 and his last triumph was with Chelsea 12 years later.

And as a manager, the Welshman hasn't done too badly in The Cup either, guiding Blackburn Rovers to two Semi-Finals in 2005 and 2007.

"The FA Cup is a fantastic competition," he said. "It can come back and bite you on the backside if you make too many changes and inadvertently affect the dynamic of the team.

"Obviously it's a big game for Peterborough and they'll come with a big following because it's a big day out. If you don't understand that on the day, then you can get caught out cold."

Hughes knows all too well the effects of fielding an under-strength team in the competition after his Manchester City side suffered an embarrassing 3-0 home defeat to Championship side, Nottingham Forest, a year ago.

"I made a lot of changes that day," said Hughes. "I'm not saying that I'm not trusting the players that I've got on the bench but we don't want to weaken the team by virtue of the fact that they haven't played many games together.

"I won't be making that many changes."

Fulham currently lie 14th in the Premier League and have only won two of their last eleven matches but the Welshman is confident that a good Cup run can bolster their League form.

"The FA Cup is one of the big competitions and you'd be surprised what a good Cup run can do for your league results," he added.

Rutashubanyuma · Jan 9, 2011

Giantkilling at Broadhall Way

By Declan Taylor - Saturday, 08 January, 2011
Stevenage stun Newcastle to take FA Cup revenge.

Stevenage

3-1

Newcastle United

Mike Williamson (og) 50, Michael Bostwick 55, Peter Winn 90

Joey Barton 90

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5.30pm, Saturday 8 January 2011
Broadhall Way, Stevenage FC
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Full list of Third Round results

Almost 13 years to the day since Newcastle United dumped Stevenage out of The FA Cup Fourth Round with a controversial Alan Shearer goal - Stevenage have their revenge.

After a quiet first half, Graham Westley's men assumed control in the second period and opened the scoring when Stacey Long's effort was deflected in by Newcastle's Mike Williamson.

And they all but secured the win when Michael Bostwick doubled the advantage five minutes later.

Newcastle were reduced to the men with 20 minutes left to play - but it didn't stop them grabbing a superb consolation through Joey Barton in stoppage time.

With three minutes left on the clock, it may have set up a grandstand finish, but Peter Winn swooped almost immediately with Stevenage's third.

Newcastle had famously been held to a 1-1 draw by Stevenage at the Fourth Round stage back in 1998.

And in the replay, Shearer was on target in a 2-1 win for the Toon - but many thought the goal hadn't crossed the line.

Certainly no Shearer this time, and in fact manager Alan Pardew was without his two first-choice strikers Andy Carroll and Shola Ameobi.

But the hat-trick hero from Newcastle's 5-0 win in midweek, Leon Best, retained his place in the starting line-up, although he was taken off at half-time for youngster Nile Ranger.

Best couldn't get going and barely touched the ball in a first half short of FA Cup magic - and goalscoring opportunities.

In the second half the game come to life when Long worked himself a yard of space on the edge of the box and drilled goalwards. His initial effort appeared to be flying wide, but a wicked deflection off Williamson was enough to beat Krul.

There was no deflection needed as Bostwick doubled the advantage with a long-range effort of his own five minutes later.

The Magpies were struggling to hit back and their task became harder 20 minutes from time when substitute Cheick Tiote was dismissed for a high challenge - just 12 minutes after coming on.

And there was no shutting up shop from the hosts who pressed hard for a third goal.

They did get it through Winn deep into stoppage time, but only after Barton's long-range consolation for Newcastle.

Teams

Stevenage
16 Chris Day, 25 Ronnie Henry (18 David Bridges, 84), 5 Jon Ashton, 14 Mark Roberts, 3 Scott Laird, 24 Michael Bostwick, 21 John Mousinho, 8 Stacy Long, 17 Peter Winn (11 Yemi Odubade, 90), 20 Chris Beardsley, 2 Lawrie Wilson.
Subs not used 1 Ashley Bayes, 6 Luke Foster, 9 Charlie Griffin, 12 Ben May, 23 Rob Sinclair.

Newcastle United
26 Tim Krul, 2 Fabricio Coloccini, 6 Mike Williamson, 12 Danny Simpson, 7 Joey Barton, 17 Alan Smith (24 Cheick Tiote, 58), 4 Kevin Nolan, 10 Wayne Routledge, 11 Peter Lovenkrands(38 Philip Airey, 78), 20 Leon Best (30 Nile Ranger, 46)
Subs not used 33 Ole Soderberg, 8 Danny Guthrie, 28 Tamas Kadar, 31 Shane Ferguson.

Referee Andre Marriner

Rutashubanyuma · Jan 9, 2011

Magpies lead day of Cup shocks

By - Saturday, 08 January, 2011
Notts County lead the way on a day of FA Cup Third Round upsets.
The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON
Third Round Proper
Saturday 8 January 2011
Winning club receives £67,500 from The FA Cup prize fund

County celebrate Cup upset

Notts County celebrate a famous Third Round victory over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.

There was no shortage of magic in The FA Cup Third Round with Notts County claiming perhaps the biggest scalp on a busy day of Cup shocks.

Sunderland have been flying high in the Premier League this season and their form has even prompted whispers that Steve Bruce's side are on the verge of European qualification.

But their League One opponents, managed by Paul Ince, burst out of the blocks and took the lead after just five minutes through Craig Westcarr. Then, with 15 minutes remaining, Lee Hughes doubled the visitors' lead.

Darren Bent threw his side a lifeline nine minutes from time, but County held on for a famous victory.

Another Premier League side who were dumped out by lower-league opposition were West Brom after going down 1-0 at Reading.

And a much-changed Blackpool side were also dispatched by League One Southampton after second-half goals from Lee Barnard and Guly.

Wolves will have to face Doncaster again after the Championship side held them to a 2-2 draw. Doncaster had gone into half-time 2-1 up, but Stephen Hunt's penalty secured a draw for Mick McCarthy's side.

Likewise, Stoke face a tricky trip to Cardiff after the Bluebirds held them to a 1-1 draw at the Britannia.

Conference Premier side York almost clung on to force a replay against Premier League Bolton - but two goals in the last seven minutes put Wanderers in the hat for Round Four and ended York's Cup dream.

Blackburn edged Championship high-flyers QPR 1-0, while Everton surged past Scunthorpe at Glanford Park.

Everton may have lost top scorer Tim Cahill to international duty, but the Toffees ran riot at Scunthorpe.

The Iron have the worst home record in the Football League and it showed as their Premier League opponents raced into a 2-0 half-time advantage.

Scunthorpe pulled one back through Michael Collins but Seamus Coleman, Marouane Fellaini and Leighton Baines all struck to wrap up an emphatic 5-1 scoreline.

Aston Villa and West Ham also put some mixed league form behind them to book their place in Round Four, overcoming Sheffield United 3-1 and Barnsley 2-0, respectively.

Rutashubanyuma · Jan 9, 2011

Eriksson doesn't regret leaving Italy for England "honour"

Published 23:00 08/01/11 By Ralph Ellis

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It is 10 years to the day since Sven Goran *Eriksson resigned as manager of Lazio to become England boss – and he says that all his friends in Italy told him he was crazy.
A decade down the line there are many who would say the 62-year-old Swede is a tad on the *barmy side himself.
But Leicester's manager takes on his old club *Manchester City today insisting he doesn't regret a minute of moving here, and that his love for the country's football burns as bright as ever.
Eriksson said: "Many people in Rome asked me if I was crazy when I *resigned from Lazio.

"They were very *successful then and the fans didn't *understand – but it was not *crazy. *Absolutely not.
"To be England manager is a big honour.
"You recognise when you come to this country how big football is at club level.
"The atmosphere around the game is the best. Germany might come close, but in Italy the football is good.
"It is only Milan and Genoa who have real football stadiums, all the rest are running tracks and the atmosphere is not the same.
"If Lazio are mid-table, there are 30,000 in a *stadium which takes 80,000 and the whole *atmosphere is *different.
"Here football is so much better."

Rutashubanyuma · Jan 9, 2011

Vieira hints at end of season retirement

Published 23:00 08/01/11 By Bill Mills

Patrick Vieira, the Manchester City midfielder, has revealed that he may retire at the end of the season.
The French veteran, 34, realises that by spending so much time on the substitute's bench this term is ushering him towards the end of his playing career.
"There's a 50 per cent chance I'll stop playing. Doing it in June wouldn't bother me – it would be an easy decision," he admitted.
"I accept the fact that the end is soon, because I'm in tune with reality. I've fabulous memories, but that was before – it's now a different period because I live in the present."

But Vieira, whose contract ends this summer, is unlikely to go into club management and boasts a high profile in African charity and educational work.

Rutashubanyuma · Jan 10, 2011

Penalty debate after United win

[video]http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/facup/story/English-FA-Cup-Roundup-Jan-9[/video]

Updated Jan 9, 2011 12:16 PM ET
Dimitar Berbatov and Kenny Dalglish naturally disagreed about the penalty which settled Manchester United's 1-0 FA Cup win over Liverpool.
Berbatov insisted referee Howard Webb was right to award United a decisive penalty in the first minute of their narrow victory over 10-man Liverpool in their third-round clash at Old Trafford on Sunday.
The Bulgarian striker went down under pressure from Daniel Agger in the box after just 30 seconds, and World Cup final official Webb had no hesitation in pointing to the spot, allowing Ryan Giggs to fire home what turned out to be the winner.

Berbatov told ITV1: "Of course it was a penalty. There was enough contact for me to lose my balance and people know I do not go to ground easily.
"I thought Liverpool put in a good performance and I thought their 'keeper Jose Reina was their best player and made some good saves, but we were the better side."
The other major talking point of Dalglish's first game back in charge of the Reds was the sending-off of captain Steven Gerrard just after the half-hour mark.
The midfielder left the ground as he launched himself into a tackle on Michael Carrick, with Webb taking his time to calm some raised tempers before showing the red card.
Goalscorer Giggs would not be drawn on the incident, saying: "I couldn't see it myself but the players' reactions tend to tell you a lot and the players round the ball were not too happy and once the decision is made you have to get on with it.
"That early goal helped us, as did the sending-off, but we had chances to finish off the game and you are a bit nervous when you don't take them.
"Defensively we looked good and we could have scored more today."
Dalglish was less then happy with the two key decisions, but praised his side's commitment after playing an hour of the game a man down.
"The two decisions are important factors in the game, but if you went into detail about them it would take away from the commitment of the players," he said.
"It's difficult to come here, they are top of the league and when you are down to 10 men and lose a goal in the first minute you need to show commitment, and the players did that and they had great support here today as well.
"We also brought three young lads on to try and freshen it up as our guys had put in so much effort."
When pressed on the penalty and red card incidents, he added: "I did not think the penalty was a penalty kick.
"The sending off... Is anyone who leaves the ground to get sent off now? The thing was that Howard Webb stepped away from the incident and then blew his whistle after one of our lads kicked the ball."

Rutashubanyuma · Jan 10, 2011

Saints draw United, Boro get Royals

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Updated Jan 9, 2011 3:19 PM ET
Manchester United have been sent to Southampton in the FA Cup fourth-round draw, while Stevenage host Reading and Tottenham must go to Fulham.
United's reward for beating Liverpool in the third round on Sunday is a clash at League One side Southampton.

Saints, who beat Premier League side Blackpool 2-0 on Saturday, will face Sir Alex Ferguson's men at St Mary's on the weekend of January 29/30.
There could be as many as five all top-flight ties, with Bolton drawn at home to Wigan, Fulham up against Spurs, winners over Charlton on Sunday, and Aston Villa taking on Blackburn.
Holders Chelsea will travel to Everton after overcoming Ipswich on Sunday, while the winners of the replays between Doncaster and Wolves and Stoke and Cardiff will also meet.
League Two side Stevenage, who caused the shock of the round by beating Newcastle 3-1 on Saturday, will welcome Reading to the Lamex Stadium, while Birmingham take on Coventry in a midlands derby.
Leeds and Arsenal will replay next week with a home tie against League One promotion hopefuls Huddersfield awaiting the winner, while West Ham will be at home to Nottingham Forest and Watford play Brighton.
The winners of Manchester City's replay with Leicester will head to Notts County, surprise winners at Sunderland on Saturday, while Swansea will play Leyton Orient and Burton Albion will travel to Burnley.

The winner of Monday's game between Crawley and Derby will head to Torquay, while Sheffield Wednesday will be at home to the winner of the replay between Wycombe and Hereford.
The FA Cup Fourth Round draw: Torquay v Crawley Town/Derby, Watford v Brighton, Bolton v Wigan, Arsenal/Leeds v Huddersfield, Fulham v Tottenham, Everton v Chelsea, Southampton v Man Utd, Swansea v Leyton Orient, Burnley v Burton Albion, Birmingham v Coventry, Doncaster/Wolves v Stoke/Cardiff, Notts County v Leicester/Man City, Stevenage v Reading, Aston Villa v Blackburn Rovers, West Ham v Nottingham Forest, Sheff Wed v Wycombe/Hereford.
Ties to be played over the weekend of 29-30 January.

Rutashubanyuma · Jan 10, 2011

FAC: Chelsea 7-0 Ipswich Town

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Updated Jan 9, 2011 12:30 PM ET
Chelsea went some way to lifting the gloom at Stamford Bridge as they began their defence of the FA Cup with a crushing 7-0 win over Ipswich.
The managerless visitors proved ideal cannon fodder for Carlo Ancelotti's faltering double winners, who went into Sunday's game on their worst Premier League run for almost 15 years.
Ancelotti's decision to continue last season's policy of fielding some youngsters in the early rounds of the cup did not backfire, with Daniel Sturridge and Frank Lampard scoring twice, Salomon Kalou also finding the net and Nicolas Anelka ending the personal goal drought that has coincided with Chelsea's two months of misery.

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Ancelotti, who handed rare starts to 17-year-old Josh McEachran and 20-year-old Patrick van Aanholt, will be praying Sunday's win helps inspire his established stars, like the rested Didier Drogba, Florent Malouda, Michael Essien and Ashley Cole, to kick-start their ailing league campaign.
Despite the number of changes and standard of opposition, Chelsea - looking to become the first club to win a hat-trick of FA Cups since the 1880s - continued to be dogged by a lack of cutting edge in the opening half-hour.
Sturridge, rewarded with a start after scoring five times for the reserves on Thursday, saw one chance closed down by Marton Fulop and another balloon off target.
They were almost made to pay by the team who had boss Roy Keane sacked on Friday.
A fine break involving Scotland and David Norris ended in the former unleashing a left-footed piledriver which Petr Cech could only beat away.
Chelsea surged down the other end and Anelka looked to have put them ahead but Troy Brown produced a brilliant clearance off the line from the Frenchman's low finish.
Lampard blasted over after good work down the left from Van Aanholt and McEachran's drive was deflected behind off Connor Wickham.
A lovely Chelsea move was then spoilt by a horrible finish from Anelka, who made amends by providing the breakthrough in the 33rd minute after Ipswich gave the ball away in midfield.
Chelsea sprung forward and Anelka's finish hit Fulop and squirmed towards the line before Kalou made sure.
It was 2-0 less than a minute later, Sturridge tucking home Jose Bosingwa's low cross after more poor defending from the visitors.
Lampard's weak 20-yard shot was straight at Fulop as Chelsea looked to kill off the tie before half-time.
Ipswich captain David Norris was booked for a poor tackle on John Terry and Lampard made him pay from the resulting 41st-minute free-kick, with Carlos Edwards flicking the ball into his own net.
Anelka's mis-hit finish was straight at Fulop at the start of the second half but the striker finally ended his barren spell in the 49th minute, finding the bottom corner after a neat exchange with Kalou.
Ipswich had been preparing a substitution at the time and immediately withdrew Scotland for Ronan Murray.
Chelsea began to play with a swagger and Sturridge made it 5-0 three minutes later, curling superbly into the top corner from just inside the box.
Ancelotti threw on another youngster, with Gael Kakuta replacing Kalou.
Peters drilled wide in search of a consolation before the highly-rated Wickham was replaced by Tamas Priskin.
Chelsea lost Van Aanholt to injury for the final 20 minutes, with Jeffrey Bruma entering the fray.
The home side were in cruise control but Ipswich pressed the self-destruct button again twice in a minute to hand Lampard a quickfire double.
The England midfielder blasted home from 15 yards after the visitors failed to clear a corner, and then bundled home Branislav Ivanovic's low cross.
It was party time at Stamford Bridge and Ramires fired over with the outside of his right foot before Chelsea fans showed their support for the under-pressure Ancelotti, who responded with a wave.
Kakuta, Anelka and Ivanovic all had chances to make it 8-0 in stoppage-time before the final whistle ended Ipswich's torture.

Rutashubanyuma · Jan 10, 2011

Kenny glad to be back in groove

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Updated Jan 9, 2011 2:20 PM ET
Kenny Dalglish says "it was a no-brainer" to take charge of Liverpool again and has dismissed the critics who doubt his managerial abilities.
Some pundits claim Dalglish has been out of the game too long to be successful at a top-flight club - but the Scot hit back at them on Sunday.

The 59-year-old took his place in the Reds' dugout for the FA Cup third-round defeat at Manchester United for the first time since quitting the club 19 years and 11 months ago.
He has not managed anywhere since a brief spell in charge at Celtic over a decade ago but when the call came to temporarily take charge after Roy Hodgson's departure, he did not have a second thought.
After the game at Old Trafford, Dalglish swept the concerns that he has been away too long to one side and also batted away a question about how he would deal with the pressure.
"I'll deal with the pressure the same way everyone else deals with it," he said.
"You go about your job to the best of your ability and what happens happens.
"How do you know you can do anything unless you try it? I'll give it everything I've got to put this club in a better position.
"Whether that will be sufficient for everyone I don't know but I can't see into the future.
"All I can do is promise what I did when I signed for the club in 1977 - they will get 100 per cent effort from Kenny Dalglish and that is the way I'll go about it."
Dalglish cut short a cruise holiday in the Middle East, returning to England on Saturday night, after receiving a phone call from the club's principal owner John Henry asking if he would take control until the end of the season.

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"For me it was a no-brainer. Whatever other people think about it, they are entitled to their opinion, but I'm the one making the decision and I made the one which was best for myself and the club," said the Scot, who met his squad for the first time at 10.30 this morning.
"I was happy on a boat and then I got a phone call from John Henry - being a professional athlete I was at the bar - saying he had spoken to Roy and would I like to come to look after the team.
"It's great to be back, it would have been better in more pleasant circumstances considering the result.
"For me it is a fantastic journey for me over the next six months."
Despite the 1-0 loss against United, having played the game for an hour with 10 men after the sending off of Steven Gerrard, Dalglish saw plenty of positives to encourage him that a turnaround in fortunes was not far away after a disappointing six months under Hodgson.
"We are not going to be pleased to lose a match but the most important thing for us is that we got a great deal of effort and commitment from the players and that was matched by the supporters," added Dalglish, who dismissed suggestions he had already lined up a new assistant manager to help him.
"The reception of the fans was fantastic, unbelievable. It crossed my mind to do a Mourinho or a Gary Neville and run down the touchline to the corner but I never made it.
"The fans have always had a special place for us and thankfully they have a long memory and they could remember happier times and hopefully we can bring those back.
"It is brilliant to be back in the job and it is amazing how quickly your memory comes back to you - it doesn't seem that long since I was in the dressing room.
"And not one of the boys can be faulted for their performance.
"We might pass it better, we might finish it a bit better but this is a difficult place to come and when you concede a penalty in the first minute and a man sent off it is always going to make it difficult.
"But if we get everyone pulling in the same direction we have a chance to improve things."

Rutashubanyuma · Jan 10, 2011

Wenger relieved to avoid shock

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Updated Jan 8, 2011 6:13 PM ET
Arsene Wenger admitted it would have been a real "shocker" had Arsenal crashed out of the FA Cup as a last-minute penalty from captain Cesc Fabregas denied npower Championship side Leeds a famous victory at the Emirates Stadium.
It had looked as if the Gunners were set for a third-round exit for the first time since 1996 after Robert Snodgrass' penalty early in the second half.

However, with just moments remaining, substitute Theo Walcott was tugged back by Ben Parker, and Fabregas stepped up to blast the spot-kick past Kasper Schmeichel, who had been in superb form.
"I must say at first that it was a very difficult game because it was a real cup game and Leeds were up for it, they played well," said Wenger.
"It was the kind of game where you felt that it was important not to go 1-0 down.
"When we were 1-0 down I felt that Wojciech [Szczesny] kept us in the game with a good save from [Luciano] Becchio's header.
"We looked like we would come back, but we were short of time and it was important to keep the momentum and not to go out today because that would have been a shocker."
Wenger continued: "Even when we equalised we still had three chances at 1-1, but we couldn't take them.
"At least we are still in the Cup and hopefully we can do it at Leeds."

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With a two-legged Carling Cup semi-final ahead, and also fighting for the Barclays Premier League ahead of the resumption of European action against Barcelona, Wenger will not have wanted to add another fixture to their congested schedule.
However, after again failing to make the most of first-half chances, notably through Andrey Arshavin who failed to convert when clean in on goal after 11 minutes, the final outcome could have been much worse.
"It was not exactly the wish I had before the game but it was the second worst wish," said Wenger, who had made some nine changes from the team which drew 0-0 with Manchester City. "The worst would have been to go out.
"We go to Ipswich on Wednesday, we play West Ham on Saturday and then the replay of the FA Cup is after that.
"It is a good warning that we got today, but we knew before the game that Leeds went to Old Trafford last year and won, and they had a draw at Tottenham.
"Overall this team have belief in that competition, from last year certainly.
"They did very well, very aggressive but in a good way, not a negative way, they closed us down everywhere and we had problems to pass through their lines.
"They were dangerous as well and it was important for us not to give a goal away, but we did.
"Leeds were well organised, they were quickly on us and maybe our game was not quick enough to get out of their pressure."

Rutashubanyuma · Jan 10, 2011

FAC: Tottenham 3-0 Charlton Athletic

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Updated Jan 9, 2011 12:40 PM ET
Former Charlton man Jermain Defoe's brilliant brace gave Tottenham a 3-0 home win over his former club in the FA Cup third round on Sunday.
Spurs put a sluggish first half behind them at White Hart Lane to take the lead through pacy youngster Andros Townsend, who fired past goalkeeper Rob Elliot to mark his debut with a goal.
Defoe, who started his career with the Addicks, made it 2-0 with a low drive before rounding off the victory by stabbing home from 18 yards for his fifth of the season. Spurs will travel to Fulham in the fourth round.

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Spurs manager Harry Redknapp, who had hoped David Beckham would be in the stands to watch Sunday's match, announced that a loan deal for the star had fallen through before kick-off, and that the midfielder would come to the club just to train for a month.
On this evidence Townsend, who recently had his season-long loan terminated at Ipswich, may prove to be as exciting an option as the former England captain. The 19-year-old winger quickly made an impression on the game, beating two players with step-overs on the right before flashing a dangerous low ball across the box in the second minute.
Townsend won a free-kick in the 14th minute which Niko Kranjcar curled just wide.
Charlton, without a manager and 45 places below Spurs in the league ladder, looked threatening at times but the hosts controlled most of the possession in the opening half hour.
Roman Pavlyuchenko tested Elliot with a long-range shot 19 minutes in before Charlton captain Christian Dailly threw himself in front of Defoe to block the striker's shot moments later.
However, Spurs were becoming wasteful in possession and lacked the spark regularly offered by the likes of Rafael van der Vaart and Luka Modric - both of whom were on the bench.
Charlton pushed for an opener as the game reached the half-hour mark when midfielder Scott Wagstaff surged down the right to cross for Joe Anyinsah but Sebastien Bassong scrambled clear from inside the box.
Former Tottenham man Johnnie Jackson then beat Sandro down the left but Wagstaff shot just wide from 10 yards while under pressure from Wilson Palacios.
Then Jose Semedo then crossed for Jackson but his ball went just over the Addicks midfielder's head.
Redknapp looked to Modric for inspiration, the Croatian coming on for the poor Palacios at the break.
The home side came out looking to make an immediate breakthrough and Pavlyuchenko could have scored had it not been for a diving block from another former Spurs man, Gary Doherty.
The opening goal came just under four minutes into the half when Townsend picked up Sandro's pass, got the ball out from under his feet and rifled a deflected shot past Elliot from 20 yards.
Spurs, now playing with the attacking verve often seen at White Hart Lane this season, looked for a second. Elliot produced a fine diving save to deny Pavlyuchenko before Modric's quick feet allowed him to wriggle past three Charlton but his shot went a yard wide.
Defoe poked wide from 20 yards but he soon made amends by putting Spurs 2-0 up just before the hour.
Kranjcar laid the ball to the striker, who dummied a shot before despatching a low 18-yard drive to score against the club where he began his career.
Now bristling with confidence, Defoe charged at the Charlton defence, won the ball back after being challenged, and fired past Elliot to make it 3-0 - after seeing his first effort blocked.
Cudicini was called into action as they slowed down with 15 minutes left when he palmed over a fierce shot from Charlton substitute Kyel Reid.
Townsend looked desperate to score his second and went close in the 79th minute when he shot a yard wide.
Modric's introduction was proving to be a masterstroke as he continued to cause problems for the away side.
The Croatian had a strong shot blocked by a wall of Charlton defenders and he was then brought down by Therry Racon on the edge of the box. Elliot produced a fine save to tip the resulting free-kick from Benoit Assou-Ekotto around the post.
Cudicini tipped over Akpo Sodje's 18-yard strike in the dying minutes as Charlton looked for a consolation before the Italian denied Doherty in injury time with a point-blank save from the former Spurs man.

Rutashubanyuma · Jan 10, 2011

Adler: Come and get me, United

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Updated Jan 9, 2011 9:29 AM ET
Bayer Leverkusen goalkeeper Rene Adler has issued a 'come and get me' call to dream club Manchester United.
The Red Devils are understood to have scouted the Germany international goalkeeper as they prepare for the expected retirement of Edwin van der Sar at the end of the season.

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The 25-year-old has a £15million get-out clause in his contract if United come calling and he admits he would love to follow in the footsteps of his hero Peter Schmeichel.
Adler, who has 18 months left on his current deal, told the Sunday Mirror: "I have told the Leverkusen board that I am not willing to discuss any new contract until April.
"I just want to achieve a Champions League spot with my team here now.
"The board of the club are aware of the special clause in my contract.
"As a kid, my friends were interested in cartoons, MTV and German TV programmes, but I was the only interested in one person - Peter Schmeichel - who was in goal for Manchester United.
"I thought he was fantastic and loved every minute he was on TV with United.
"My whole bedroom was full of Schmeichel posters and United things. I had one or two other heroes in football like Paul Gascoigne and Zinedine Zidane.
"But nobody, in my eyes, was as impressive as Schmeichel."

Rutashubanyuma · Jan 10, 2011

Villa keen on Dortmund keeper

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Updated Jan 7, 2011 5:31 AM ET
Aston Villa are understood to have held talks with Borussia Dortmund goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller.
Gerard Houllier has already confirmed he is considering his options in the goalkeeping department and Weidenfeller appears high on his list.

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German sources claim that Houllier has already spoken with the 30-year-old, who is out-of-contract in the summer.
Because his deal is due to expire at the end of the season, there is nothing preventing any club from outside the Bundesliga holding talks with Weidenfeller.
Now the keeper admits he is considering his options because his next deal will be the 'most important' of his career.
"This is going to be the most important deal in my whole career, this is why I am definitely sorting out all my options," he told Kicker-Sportmagazin.
"I will just sign after I have thought things over. Of course, I do not want to delay a decision for weeks or months.
"But if I am staying on, I will not sign for one or two more years. I want to be a part of Borussia (Dortmund) for longer than that.
"I am not the kind of guy that joins a club where he is to be cut off from the outside world. This would not be me playing then."
Weidenfeller has been with Dortmund since 2002 and became first-choice the following year when Jens Lehmann departed for Arsenal.

Rutashubanyuma · Jan 10, 2011

Spanish La Liga Roundup, Jan. 9

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Updated Jan 9, 2011 4:03 PM ET
Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat trick as Real Madrid twice came from behind to win 4-2 against Villarreal on Sunday, keeping the team within two points of Spanish league leader Barcelona.
The Portugal forward made it 1-1 by side-footing home Mesut Oezil's pass in the ninth minute, two minutes after Villarreal midfielder Cani had flicked the ball over goalkeeper Iker Casillas to open the scoring.
Villarreal's slick passing game troubled Madrid, and Bruno Soriano's exquisite 18th-minute pass put Ruben Castro through alone on goal to lob Casillas for a 2-1 lead.
However, Ronaldo headed in Xabi Alonso's swerving free kick inside the crowded Villarreal area just before the break to equalize.

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