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      Luton vs Grimsby delayed as sprinklers soak stunned stars just 15 seconds into FA Cup fourth round clash

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      THE FA CUP tie between Luton and Grimsby was delayed after the sprinklers went off just after kick off.The clash was taking place at Kenilworth Road then had to be delayed shortly while the issue was fixed.
      Luton’s game against Grimsby was paused due to the sprinklersCredit: Rex
      The system malfunctioned and they came on just after kick offCredit: Rex
      Luckily the problem was dealt with and the only issue was a few players got caught in the spray.
      Grimsby Town loanee Andy Smith was right next to one as it went off and could be seen rinsing his hands in the water.
      While Luton defender Tom Lockyer has to jump to avoid the spring sprinkler.
      However, some fans, couldn’t help but tweet about the incident, as one tweeted: “Luton kick off and, almost immediately, the sprinklers spring to life.
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      “Let’s try this kick-off again lads!”
      A second commented: “Making us fishys feel at home!”
      A third wrote: “Town GK Ethan Horvath launches a clearance and the sprinklers come on!
      “Huge cheers all around. Off now.”
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      A fourth said: “Well that’s a first, as Horvath launches the ball upfield the sprinklers come on.
      “At least it’ll keep those fish wet in the away end.
      A fifth added: “Match delayed after 15 seconds as the water sprinklers randomly deploy. Only Luton.”
      The winners of the match will go into the hat of the fifth round of the FA Cup. More

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      Erik ten Hag has his say on Harry Maguire being Man Utd’s ‘fifth choice’ centre-back and urges England star to fight

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      MANCHESTER UNITED boss Erik ten Hag has had his say on claims Harry Maguire is the club’s “fifth-choice” centre-back.Maguire has seen his game time limited this season owing to the strong partnership of Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez.
      Erik ten Hag has urged Harry Maguire to fight for his spot in the squadCredit: Getty
      Maguire could feature from the start against Reading this eveningCredit: Getty
      The League Cup quarter-final against Charlton was the last time Maguire played significant minutes
      When either of the pair has not played, the likes of Victor Lindelof or full-back Luke Shaw have been preferred in the position ahead of Maguire in some recent games.
      But the United manager rebuked the claim of him being fifth in the pecking order and urged the England defender to fight for his place in the team.
      He told reporters: “He’s not our fifth choice. Harry has to fight for his position and things can change — sometimes also really quickly.
      “I think he is making progress and it’s up to him now.”
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      Shaw missed the Carabao Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest and remains 50-50 for the FA Cup clash against Reading tonight.
      This means Ten Hag has no natural left-sided centre halves asides from Martinez – who he will doubtless want to give a rest where he can.
      This means Maguire could step back into the left-sided role despite being deployed more typically on the right this season.
      Alternatively, Lindelof could simply be swapped into the left-sided role instead, though he prefers to play on the right side too.
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      Further up the pitch, compatriot Jadon Sancho is “improving” after returning to first-team training following a prolonged absence.
      On the 22-year-old’s return, Ten Hag said: “He is training with the team & we will see [when he can return to play minutes].
      “He’s improving, he’s making steps & we will make the decision after the training.”
      Should he feature at all, Sancho will more likely see a cameo from the bench than from the start of the clash at Old Trafford. More

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      Why are Reading wearing red and blue striped sleeves against Man Utd?

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      MANCHESTER UNITED are in FA Cup action tonight as they face Reading in the fourth round. The Red Devils overcame Everton 3-1 to reach this stage but now they’re taking on a Championship side.
      Shane Long scored as Reading beat Watford 2-0 in the FA Cup third roundCredit: PA
      Reading beat Watford 2-0 to set up their exciting visit to Old Trafford.
      The former Prem side haven’t been on TV a lot this season, but tonight they’ll be live and direct on ITV4.
      And fans may notice that the Reading shirts’ sleeves are donning a jazzier than usual red and blue striped pattern.
      Traditionally, the entirety of previous Reading home shirts have been white and royal blue hoops.
      Why are Reading wearing red and blue striped sleeves?
      Reading’s home kit for the 2022/23 season was created by University of Reading’s Professor Ed Hawkins, a climate scientist.
      The striped sleeves on Reading’s shirt are meant to represent the rise in average temperatures over the last 150 years.
      The top of the sleeves show predominantly blue stripes, signifying that temperatures used to be chillier.
      Towards the bottom of the sleeve, the stripes become red, showing that the planet is getting warmer.
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      Reading have partnered with the University of Reading in an effort to alter their impact on the environment.
      The kit is made entirely of recycled bottles and the garment itself is completely recyclable.
      The stripes also feature on climate activist Greta Thunberg’s book ‘The Climate Book’, as well as on numerous buses across Reading.
      A win for either side tonight would put them into the fifth-round draw, set to take place on Monday.
      But if the game finishes in a draw, the game will be forced to go to a replay. More

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      Man Utd vs Reading: Erik ten Hag’s goes up against Old Trafford legend Paul Ince in FA Cup – odds, TV and stream info

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      ERIK TEN HAG’S desperate hunt for a Manchester United trophy will see them face Reading in the FA Cup fourth round TONIGHT.The Dutch gaffer is under no illusions of the expectation level he has to work to at Old Trafford – and this game will NOT be taken lightly.
      Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag wants trophies – and he wants them NOWCredit: PA
      Paul Ince will be hoping to guide his Reading side to a memorable scalpCredit: Getty
      United fielded a full-strength team for their 3-0 Carabao Cup win against Nottingham Forest in the week.
      And while Ten Hag will demand victory at all costs against Championship Reading, there could be some shuffling of the pack.
      But unfortunately for United legend Paul Ince and his Royals boys, it will just mean hungry United fringe players desperate for their chance to shine.
      The likes of Alejandro Garnacho, Facundo Pellistri and Anthony Elanga will be champing at the bit to prove their worth to Ten Hag if given the call.

      Reading, meanwhile will be hoping to spring a shock – but they will have to put their recent form in the second tier behind them.
      Ince’s troops were whacked 4-0 last time out by Stoke, but were hitting by key players picking up injuries in the lead-up.
      The Royals will be desperate to be able to call upon the services of the nomadic Andy Carroll – he missed the Stoke game as his injury troubles continue to affect his career.
      Here is Sunsport’s big-game preview ahead of the fourth round clash.
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      What is their form like?
      United bounced back from their dramatic defeat to Arsenal by easing to a 3-0 win against fellow Prem side Nottingham Forest in their Carabao Cup clash in the week.
      Ten Hag’s troops have won three, drawn one and lost one of their last five games in all competitions.
      Ince will be looking for a reaction from his players after they were thumped 4-0 by Stoke last time out in the Championship.
      They have won just one of their last five games in all competitions, losing two and drawing the other two.
      Will former Prem star Andy Carroll be celebrating come the final whistle on Saturday?Credit: PA
      What is the team news and any injuries to worry about?
      Anthony Martial, Axel Tuanzebe, Diogo Dalot and Donny van de Beek are all out injured for the game.
      Jadon Sancho and Mason Greenwood are still unavailable, while Luke Shaw is 50-50 to feature after missing the Forest win with illness.
      Reading have doubts over Naby Sarr, Sam Hutchinson and Andy Carroll – three of their most experienced players ahead of the game.
      They all missed the 4-0 drubbing at Stoke – so boss Ince will be desperate they can shake off niggles to feature against United.
      Who will be the star men?
      Ten Hag went full strength for the Carabao Cup win against Forest, such is his desperation to win a trophy.
      But he could well offer some fringe players a chance to shine against Reading. Alejandro Garnacho has become one of the most-talked about players at Old Trafford and could seize the opportunity.
      Andy Carroll will be desperate to roll back the years and come up against United again – but he has been struggling with an ankle injury and could miss out.
      So it could be down to the boss’ boy Tom Ince to prove he still has the skills to compete against the big boys.
      Alejandro Garnacho could be given another chance to impressCredit: Alamy
      Reading boss Paul Ince will be relying on son Tom to provide some sparkCredit: Getty
      What have the managers said?
      Looking ahead to the Reading game after beating Forest in the Carabao Cup, United boss Ten Hag said: “After today, I have something in my head
      “But I have to settle this game down and look into my plans and then I have to look into Reading and then we make a good plan to beat Reading.”
      Reading boss Paul Ince is looking forward to the challenge, saying: “It’s a great game for us. We have to go there, suck in the experience and enjoy it. And try to win the game.
      And on meeting Ten Hag, he added: “It’s always a challenge against any of the top managers. It’ll be nice to chat to him afterwards.
      “And maybe there will be some ideas I can take from him!”
      What are the odds?
      Man Utd 2-13
      Reading 16-1
      Draw 13-2
      Odds courtesy of Betfair
      When is Man Utd vs Reading?
      Man Utd will host Reading on Saturday, January 28 at Old Trafford.
      Is the match on TV and what channel is it on?
      The clash against Reading will be shown live on ITV4.
      How can I live stream it (FREE)?
      You can follow all the action from this fourth-round clash on SunSport’s dedicated match blog.
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      SunSport prediction
      Erik ten Hag has been keen to stress the importance of winning trophies as soon as possible – so this competition will NOT be taken lightly.
      Reading are stuck in mid-table in the Championship, and while the neutral romantics among us might be looking for a shock, everything points to a Utd win, 3-1. More

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      FA Cup round-up: Leeds thump Accrington Stanley to reach fifth round as Leicester squeeze past League Two Walsall

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      LEEDS booked their place in the FA Cup fifth round for the first time since 2016 after easing past Accrington Stanley.Jack Harrison’s stunner got Jesse March’s side up and running in the first half.
      Jack Harrison scored Leeds’ opener with a sensational strikeCredit: AFP
      Junior Firpo’s first Leeds goal put the Premier League side in controlCredit: AFP
      Youri Tielemans missed a penalty against WalsallCredit: PA
      But Kelechi Iheanacho scored the winner for Leicester with another FA Cup goalCredit: Reuters
      Junior Firpo’s first Leeds goal, thank to a glorious assist from Patrick Bamford paved the way for the Premier League side to progress.
      Luis Sinisterra’s strike two minutes all-but confirmed there would be now giant-killing.
      However, the hosts did have something to smile about.
      Leslie Adekoya scored a late consolation goal to salvage some pride.
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      The Accrington ace became the youngest scorer in this season’s FA Cup aged just 18 years and 285 days in the process.
      In the day’s other 12.30pm kick off, Leicester left it late to secure their passage to the next round.
      The Foxes struggled against their lower league opposition and needed Kelechi Iheanacho’s long-range goal to secure their passage.
      The Nigerian’s deflected effort came after Youri Tielemans missed a penalty after striking the inside of the post.
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      The goal was Iheanacho’s 17th FA Cup goal – the most of any player in the competition since his 2016 debut. More

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      Arsenal icon Ian Wright backs Albert Sambi Lokonga as clip of Martin Odegaard venting frustration vs Man City goes viral

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      ARSENAL legend Ian Wright has leapt to the defence of Albert Sambi Lokonga after Martin Odegaard appeared thoroughly frustrated with him during their 1-0 defeat to Man City.Mikel Arteta’s men were dumped out of the FA Cup on Friday night as Nathan Ake’s second-half strike handed the Premier League champions a spot in the fifth round.
      Albert Sambi Lokonga played 45 minutes against Man City on Friday nightCredit: Getty
      Martin Odegaard looked furious with Lokonga at one stage during the gameCredit: Getty

      Ian Wright has defended Lokonga due to his lack of game timeCredit: Rex
      Lokonga, 23, who has started just 10 games so far this season, replaced Thomas Partey at half-time.
      And a clip went viral after the match of club captain Odegaard furiously gesturing to him for being out of position.
      Lokonga was then the first player to head down the tunnel after the full-time whistle and failed to acknowledge the travelling fans.
      But Gunners icon Wright was quick to shut down any negative talk about the midfielder during his post-match analysis.
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      Speaking on ITV, he said: “With someone like Sambi, he needs minutes, he needs to be playing, he needs to be able to understand and be more wary of where he is and what he needs to do and where he needs to be dropping in.
      “You’ve got to kind of sense that danger and that’s why he needs the minutes in games of this quality, because that’s where you learn.”
      Former Everton and Crystal Palace man Yannick Bolasie, who was a team-mate of Lokonga’s at Anderlecht, also defended the Arsenal man.
      He tweeted: “He’s a young player. Many people have done this but doesn’t mean he’s being disrespectful, I think people just looking for opportunities to get on his back which I don’t think is fair. His qualities will shine through.”
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      One fan then told Bolasie they “respectfully disagree” with his take.
      Before the Congolese international, 33, added: “My bro I’m not disagreeing about clapping the fans, that should be set in stone.
      “I’m just saying I know him and I know he expects a lot of himself because he’s a quality baller just wants to do well so badly for the club, sometimes in the moment head gets fried.”
      Arsenal will look to bounce back from their defeat to Man City when they travel to Everton in the Premier League next Sunday.
      They then host Brentford, before a mouth-watering clash against Pep Guardiola’s men at the Emirates on February 15.
      Arteta’s side currently hold a five-point lead over the defending champions and also have a game in hand. More

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      Preston vs Tottenham: Spurs’ mission to end 15-year trophy drought continues with tricky FA Cup clash – Stream, TV, odds

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      TOTTENHAM continue their hunt to end a 15-year trophy drought when they take on Preston North End in the FA Cup this evening. Harry Kane’s superb strike recently inspired Spurs to a gruelling victory over Fulham following their damming North London derby defeat to Arsenal.
      Harry Kane led Tottenham to a 1-0 win against FulhamCredit: Rex
      Preston convincingly dispatched of Huddersfield in the third roundCredit: Getty
      And it was also captain Kane who helped Spurs get to the fourth round of English football’s oldest cup competition during their home encounter against Portsmouth.
      But now, the North London outfit travel to Championship side Preston who recovered from a one-goal deficit to beat Huddersfield in the previous round.
      However, the visitors will be oozing with confidence as Preston’s last victory over Spurs came way back in 1966.
      When is Preston vs Tottenham?

      Preston’s intriguing FA Cup tie against Tottenham will take place TONIGHT- Saturday, January 28.
      It is scheduled to get underway at 6pm UK time.
      Deepdale in Preston is the allocated arena for this fourth-round fixture and it can host approximately 23,408 supporters.
      Spurs humiliated Preston 5-1 when the side’s last met in a 2008 League Cup encounter.

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      What TV channel is it on and can it be live streamed?

      Preston vs Tottenham will be broadcast LIVE on BBC One in the UK.
      Coverage is expected to commence from 5:40pm UK time – 20 minutes before kick-off.
      Viewers also have the option to stream the entire action on the BBC Sport website or BBC iPlayer app.

      Can I watch it for FREE?
      Yes! Prston’s FA Cup fixture against Tottenham can be watched for FREE in the UK as long as you hold a valid TV license.
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      What is the team news?
      Manchester City starlet Liam Delap will sit this one out as he is cup-tied having already featured for Stoke.
      And the forward is set to be joined by Troy Parrott who cannot face his parent club.
      Emil Riis Jakobsen and Sean Maguire are also likely to miss out due to injuries, but Preston boss Ryan Lowe will be delighted to welcome Ben Whiteman and Brad Potts back into the fold.
      Elsewhere, Lucas Moura continues his recovery period for Tottenham while Bryan Gil is a doubt.
      But Antonio Conte will be tempted to throw his latest recruit Arnaut Danjuma in from the start.
      Latest odds
      90 min only

      Preston 7/1
      Draw 4/1
      Tottenham 1/3

      To qualify (incl ET and Pen)

      Preston 4/1
      Tottenham 1/6

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      Mikel Arteta gives injury update on Thoma Partey after Arsenal midfielder forced to come off in FA Cup loss to Man City

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      MIKEL ARTETA says Thomas Partey will have an MRI scan after limping off during Arsenal’s FA Cup defeat at Manchester City.The Premier League leaders were knocked out of the competition as Nathan Ake sealed a 1-0 win for their closest title rivals.
      Mikel Arteta is sweating on the extent of Thomas Partey’s injuryCredit: Reuters
      The star will undergo an MRI scan after suffering a blow to his ribs at Man CityCredit: Rex
      However, the Gunners suffered a huge scare as their influential Ghanaian midfielder, 29, suffered a blow to his ribs during the opening period.
      Partey was taken off at the break and replaced by Albert Sambi Lokonga.
      And afterwards his manager admitted he did not want to “take any risks” with his star.
      Arteta said: “He felt something and we didn’t want to take any risks, so he could not continue.
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      “He had some discomfort and it was getting worse and worse, so he could not continue. He wasn’t comfortable to continue.
      “Obviously tomorrow, the day after he will have to have an MRI scan and see what he has.”
      Arteta will now face an anxious wait to discover the extent of the damage, especially with fellow midfielder Mohamed Elneny also out with a knee problem.
      Arsenal have been trying to bring in reinforcements to bolster the middle of the park this transfer window and have had an opening bid rejected by Brighton for Moises Caicedo.
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      The Ecuadorian World Cup ace, 21, has now begged the Seagulls via a bombshell social media post to leave him leave with talks between the two clubs set to continue.
      When asked about a move for Caicedo, Arteta added: “You know that I am not going to comment on any players until anything is done, and I will continue like that.
      “As I said before, we have been pretty active in the market.
      “We have some necessities and if something else is available, the club is willing to try to do it when it is reasonable and hopefully it’s a player that can improve our squad.” More