FA Cup

Subterms

    More stories

    • 250 Shares139 Views

      in Soccer

      Sean Dyche loses it during press conference and breaks down what is wrong with VAR after shocking Calvert-Lewin red card

      by

      SEAN DYCHE admitted VAR is beginning to “test his patience” as he raged at referees consulting the pitchside monitor before making decisions.Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin was controversially sent off during the Toffees’ goalless draw with Crystal Palace in the FA Cup third round on Thursday night.
      Sean Dyche raged at VAR during his post-match press conference on ThursdayCredit: BBC SPORT
      He does not understand decisions being made by officialsCredit: BBC SPORT
      Dominic Calvert-Lewin was sent off for this tackle during Everton’s draw with Crystal PalaceCredit: Getty
      The attacker, 26, appeared to beat Nathaniel Clyne to the ball and cleanly bring it away with a sliding challenge.
      But referee Chris Kavanagh was instructed to go to the monitor on the touchline, before he then dismissed Calvert-Lewin after watching several replays.
      And Dyche was critical of referees having to go to the monitor as it almost always leads to the official changing their original decision.
      Speaking in his post-match press conference, the Everton boss said: “I have no clue what that’s there for.
      READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
      “I hope I’m not just speaking for myself but every fan must go, ‘what is the point?’, because we all know the outcome which is that they agree with everything that they’re told, unless someone can tell me 10 incidents that aren’t.
      “I don’t know what the stats are but the chances of something getting turned over are minuscule, so don’t bother.
      “Let’s just get on with it, afterwards we might debate it but what’s the point in doing it there and then unless you change it?
      “We’ve had all sorts already by the way. VAR moments where you go, ‘how is that?’ You explain it afterwards but where does it live?
      Most read in Football
      FREE BETS – BEST BETTING OFFERS & NEW CUSTOMER BONUSES
      “(Anthony) Martial at home to us, a penalty, you can clearly see his legs collapsing before there is any contact but then they go ‘yeah, but there was a contact’. If you slow down everything, you’re going to find what you’re looking for.
      “I’m a fan of VAR but I just don’t get all this delaying and looking at the screen for a minuscule chance they’ll turn it over.”
      Dyche also went on to question who is in charge of any single game given both the on-field referee and the VAR are consulting one another about various calls.
      He added: “VAR seems a bit confused at the moment.
      “We’re unsure, we’ve had a number this season where I don’t know who is refereeing and while I am a fan, I think it needs tidying up and for whatever reason I thought it was getting tidied up but it seems to have stepped back a little bit.
      “I remain a fan at this stage but it is beginning to test my patience. Apart from the offsides that are obvious, what’s got a chance now of being let play and what’s got a chance of getting called back? We don’t actually know.
      “We just keep our fingers crossed and hope that we get on the right side of it and we generally haven’t.”
      Dyche refused to confirm one way or another whether Everton will appeal the Calvert-Lewin sending off.
      If the decision is upheld, he will miss the replay with Palace at Goodison Park, along with Premier League games against Aston Villa and Fulham.
      Dyche said: “We’ll wait and see. I’ll double-check the process but in the end it’s one of those risk and reward things, is it worth it or not worth it?
      Read more on The Sun
      “I don’t think anyone even knows what’s going to happen with these decisions now. Certainly tonight it was one where I didn’t know and then after seeing it I went, ‘where does that live?’
      “We’ll see, we’ll analyse it and get an outside view and then we’ll decide.” More

    • 225 Shares159 Views

      in Soccer

      Do TONIGHT’S FA Cup games have replays or are extra-time and penalties used if it is a draw?

      by

      FA CUP action has returned – and the third round has thrown up some blockbuster ties.But fans are still confused about whether extra time and penalties are used if required or if there are replays for the teams who cannot be separated after 90 minutes.

      PA:Press Association

      Some rounds of the FA Cup continue to use replays to decide ties Will there be replays for the FA Cup fifth round?
      FA Cup replays have become a huge part of English football’s most famous cup competition.
      And there have been extensive changes in recent years regarding whether they are included.
      In the 2020-21 and the 2021-22 season, all replays were scrapped due to fixture congestion.
      But they were brought back for the  third and fourth rounds of the 2022-23 campaign.
      However, there will be NO replays in the fifth round which means that all encounters will be concluded on the night More

    • 288 Shares99 Views

      in Soccer

      Wigan vs Man Utd FA Cup preview: Erik ten Hag’s men make the short trip to League One side for third round tie

      by

      MANCHESTER UNITED make the short trip to Wigan Athletic to cap off the FA Cup third round fixtures.The Red Devils will be hoping they can go one better in the competition this year and lift the prestigious trophy for the first time since 2016.
      Manchester United last lifted the FA Cup in 2016Credit: Times Newspapers Ltd

      Wigan beat Manchester City 1-0 to become 2013 FA Cup winnersCredit: EPA
      Erik ten Hag’s men were narrowly beaten in the FA Cup final last campaign by bitter rivals Manchester City.
      This season has been a nightmare for Man Utd as they have struggled to find any consistency in their performance.
      The Red Devils currently sit 8th in the Premier League table and are out of the Carabao Cup and Champions League, meaning the FA Cup is their only hope of silverware.
      Meanwhile, Wigan sit 17th in League One but would be much higher if they weren’t on the receiving end of an eight-point deduction at the start of the season.
      READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
      In 2013, the Latics stunned Man City to lift the FA Cup trophy for the first time in their history.
      When is Wigan vs Man Utd?

      Wigan vs Man Utd will take place on Monday, January 8th.
      Kick off will be at 8.15pm GMT.
      The DW Stadium will host.

      What TV channel is Wigan vs Man Utd on and can it be live streamed FREE?

      Wigan vs Man Utd will be broadcast live on ITV1.
      You can live stream the match for FREE via the ITVX app/website.
      Alternatively, you can keep up to date with all the action by following SunSport’s live blog.

      Team news
      Wigan are expected to be without the defensive duo of Tom Pearce and Jason Kerr for their FA Cup clash with Man Utd.
      Most read in FA Cup
      Forward Stephen Humphrys missed the Latics’ 1-1 draw with Barnsley on New Year’s Day but will be pushing to return for Monday night.
      For Man Utd, Rasmus Hojlund was absent for the defeat to Nottingham Forest due to illness.
      Luke Shaw also didn’t feature at the City Ground after sitting out with a minor issue.
      Andre Onana has delayed linking up with Cameroon for Afcon so he can play between the sticks against Wigan on Monday night and Tottenham on January 14.
      Sofyan Amrabat has already flown off to join the Morroco squad, meaning he will be unavailable for the trip to the DW.
      Lisandro Martinez and Casemiro returned to training this week, but the Wigan clash may come too soon.
      Harry Maguire, Tyrell Malacia, Mason Mount, Victor Lindelof and Anthony Martial are expected to remain out.
      What are the odds?
      Match result
      Read more on The Sun

      Wigan – 14/1
      Draw – 5/1
      Man Utd – 2/9

      *Odds courtesy of Ladbrokes and are correct at the time of publication. More

    • 313 Shares159 Views

      in Soccer

      I’m a Sunderland star and lifelong fan but all my pals are Newcastle, I can’t wait to knock bitter rivals out of FA Cup

      by

      DAN NEIL has dreamt of wearing Sunderland’s red and white stripes in a Tyne-Wear derby since he could kick a ball.And he reckons the Championship promotion chasers could pull off an FA Cup shock against Saudi-backed neighbours Newcastle on Saturday.
      Sunderland fan Dan Neil hopes he will be celebrating against Newcastle on SaturdayCredit: Getty
      A season-ticket holder with his dad and grandad from the age of six — around the same time he joined the club’s academy — talented midfielder Neil was brought up in Jarrow where Mackems are a rare breed.
      Most of his mates at school were Toon fans and they have been texting him and asking for tickets since the clubs were drawn together last month — for their first meeting since March 2016.
      Neil saw his first derby in October 2008 as Kieran Richardson’s stunning free-kick secured a 2-1 win — the Black Cats’ first home derby win for 28 years.
      And in the Stadium of Light’s   press  room,   surrounded by images of the side who beat Leeds 1-0 in the 1973 FA Cup final — legendary boss Bob Stokoe, keeper Jim Montgomery and match- winner Ian Porterfield — Neil, 22, said: “When I heard the draw, I was delighted.
      READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
      “You never know whether you’re going to ever play in one of these games.
      “Being a fan growing up, it’s a game I have always dreamed of. I’ve seen a lot of derbies, gone to most of the home ones from 2008 and watched highlights of ones from before I was even born and it’s just a massive game.
      “The rivalry is fierce and I’m sure the atmosphere is going to be unbelievable.
      “These are the type of games you want to play in.
      Most read in Football
      HOW TO GET FREE BETS ON FOOTBALL
      “It’s a massive chance as a team and as an individual to really make a name for yourself and put yourself down in   history around this area.
      “If you can get on the scoresheet, you’re written down in history.”
      A lot has changed since the sides’ 1-1 Premier League draw at St James’ Park on March 20, 2016.
      Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund bought the Magpies in October 2021 and have spent £374.6million on players so far.
      Sunderland’s current squad has cost about £10m.
      Neil, who is being monitored by Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham, added: “It’s a derby so it gets magnified but as a Championship squad, we’re just relishing  the chance to play against a Premier League team.
      “We go into every game believing we can damage an opponent and if we keep them out, we’ve got a good chance of scoring.

      “The derby is a different type of game and we need to just rest and recover, get ourselves right mentally, work in training and stick together.
      Read more on The Sun
      “I’m under no illusion, it’s going to be a tough game.
      “But it’s a magical Cup and anything can happen.” More

    • 238 Shares99 Views

      in Soccer

      Six lower-league FA Cup stars to watch including England hero’s brother, goal ace and forgotten Premier League cult hero

      by

      THE FA CUP third-round is always one of the biggest weekends in the football calendar as Premier League, EFL and non-league sides mix it up.SunSport’s JUSTIN ALLEN takes a look at six players below the top-flight to look out for this weekend in the world’s oldest domestic cup competition.
      Jobe Bellingham (left) will relish facing Premier League Newcastle on SaturdayCredit: Rex
      Paul Appiah (right) stars for Maidstone, the lowest-ranked team left in the CupCredit: Gary Stone
      Eastleigh’s 6ft 4in defender Ludwig Francillette is ready to face NewportCredit: Rex
      JOBE BELLINGHAM (Sunderland)
      REAL MADRID and England star Jude Bellingham’s younger brother is enjoying his breakthrough season with the Black Cats.
      And what a game for the 18-year-old midfielder to show his talents this weekend as the Black Cats face their bitter rivals Newcastle in Saturday’s big North East derby at the Stadium of Light.
      PAUL APPIAH (Maidstone United)
      ROOKIE defender will be turning out for the National League South club against Stevenage on Saturday on loan from Leicester.
      The 21-year-old is highly rated and already appeared four times in the EFL Trophy for the Foxes Under-21s side but been sent to the Kent team to get more week-to-week action against senior players. Was superb for the Stones in their second-round win over Barrow.

      LUDWIG FRANCILLETTE (Eastleigh)
      The 6ft 4in ace, 24, is from Guadeloupe and came through the youth system at Newcastle and has two seasons under his belt at League Two club Crawley. Will be hoping to snub out Newport and 17-goal Will Evans this weekend.

      JONNY WILLIAMS (Gillingham)
      VASTLY-experienced midfield playmaker who until last year was a Wales international.
      The 30-year-old former Crystal Palace, Charlton, Cardiff and Swindon ace has featured at two Euros (2016 and 2020) plus was selected for the World Cup squad in Qatar last winter despite being a League Two player!
      DION CHARLES (Bolton)
      STRIKER is on fire as the Trotters aim to win promotion this season from League One.
      Most read in Football
      The 28-year-old has an impressive 17 goals already and will be hoping to add to that this weekend and take the scalp of Premier League strugglers Luton.
      JOSH COBURN (Middlesbrough)
      THE lively striker has just turned 21 and highly rated at the Riverside.
      Coburn, back from a season on loan at Bristol Rovers, has scored twice in his last two games and should get a chance against Premier League Aston Villa — although both teams do have bigger fish to fry in their respective divisions.
      Jonny Williams will use all his experience for Gillingham against Sheffield UnitedCredit: Rex
      Dion Charles will be Bolton’s main goal threat at Premier League LutonCredit: Rex
      Josh Coburn has scored two in his last two for MiddlesbroughCredit: Getty More

    • 238 Shares169 Views

      in Soccer

      Chelsea vs Preston preview: Pochettino’s Blues host Championship side in huge FA Cup third round clash – team news

      by

      CHELSEA will host Championship side Preston North End in the third round of the FA Cup this weekend.The Blues will be hoping to lift the prestigious trophy for the first time since 2018.
      Chelsea last won the FA Cup in 2018Credit: GETTY
      Mauricio Pochettino’s side have performed better in cup competitions this campaign, with Chelsea in the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup.
      But it’s been a first half of the season to forget for the Blues as they sit 10th in the Premier League despite spending £425.7m (including add-ons) in the summer.
      Meanwhile, Preston sit 14th in the Championship but are just five points off the play-offs places as they chase a return to the top flight for the first time in 63 years.
      Chelsea edge North End on wins in the fixture historically, with the Blues tasting victory on 31 occasions and the Lilywhites winning 26 times.
      READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
      When is Chelsea vs Preston?

      Chelsea vs Preston will take place on Saturday, January 6th.
      Kick off will be at 5.30pm GMT.
      Stamford Bridge will host.

      What TV channel is Chelsea vs Preston on and can it be live streamed FREE?

      Chelsea vs Preston will be broadcast live on the BBC Red Button service.
      You can live stream the match for FREE via the BBC iPlayer, providing you have a valid TV license.
      Alternatively, you can keep up to date with all the action by following SunSport’s live blog.

      Team news
      Pochettino is expected to give a number of youngsters and fringe players some game time due to Chelsea’s upcoming Carabao Cup semi-final meeting with Middlesborough.
      The Blues will definitely be without the injured list of Reece James, Trevoh Chalobah, Robert Sanchez, Marc Cucurella and Carney Chukwuemeka for Saturday’s clash at the Bridge.
      Most read in FA Cup
      Nicolas Jackson will also be unavailable after he joined up with the Senegal squad ahead of Afcon 2023.
      Preston have been without former Premier League winger Robbie Brady in recent weeks and will be a doubt for their trip to London.
      What are the odds?
      Match result

      Chelsea – 1/7
      Draw – 6/1
      Preston – 14/1

      *Odds courtesy of Paddy Power and are correct at the time of publication. More

    • 213 Shares99 Views

      in Soccer

      Crystal Palace 0 Everton 0: Calvert-Lewin given ‘disgraceful’ red card after VAR review in FA Cup snoozefest

      by

      DOMINIC CALVERT-LEWIN suffered the first red card of his career — after another VARcical call.The dullest of FA Cup third round snooze-fests at Selhurst Park was momentarily sparked into life as Calvert-Lewin was shown a bizarre straight red in the 79th minute.
      Dominic Calvert-Lewin was sent off for his tackle on Nathaniel ClyneCredit: Getty
      The Everton striker will miss the next three gamesCredit: Getty

      In real time, referee Chris Kavanagh saw nothing wrong with the Toffees forward’s lunged tackle on Crystal Palace defender Nathaniel Clyne. The ball was won and play carried on.
      Clyne rolled around on the ground for long enough that VAR reared its ugly head with a booming announcement on the big screen to the surprise of the entire ground.
      In slow-motion, studs were up but barely made any contact with Clyne’s shin, explaining the look of pure bafflement on Calvert-Lewin’s face when Kavanagh sent him off after a lengthy review on the pitch side monitor. Harsh is an understatement.
      Fans slammed the decision to send the striker off on social media.
      One posted: “No physical contact at all. Goodness what is going on.”
      A second wrote: “Discgraceful decision by a terrible ref.”
      A third commented: “An absolute joke. The beautiful game is finished RIP FOOTBALL.”
      Fortunately for Sean Dyche – who was both seething and perplexed on the sidelines – the first red card of Calvert-Lewin’s career did not cost his team against Roy Hodgson’s toothless Eagles outfit, going close with a few Eberechi Eze attempts.
      FREE BETS – BEST BETTING OFFERS & NEW CUSTOMER BONUSES

      Dyche’s night got worse as he then watched Dwight McNeil also leave the pitch – carried off on a stretcher after an awkward fall late on.
      In truth, neither side deserved a fourth round spot with an unwanted replay on the horizon later this month. Hopefully that one will have more footballing quality on show.
      Hodgson made just two changes with Matheus Franca and Jeffrey Schlupp replacing Jordan Ayew – away with Ghana for the African Cup of Nations – and Michael Olise, who limped off with another hamstring injury at the end of Palace’s 3-1 Prem win over Brentford last week.
      Brazilian wonderkid Franca, 19, was making his first start for the club since joining on an initial £17m from Flamengo in the summer.
      Dyche also went strong but was clearly not happy with the manner of his side’s recent 3-0 thumping at the hands of Wolves. Jordan Pickford was dropped for the first time this campaign, ending a 24-game stretch, while Seamus Coleman and Arnaut Danjuma were chucked in too.
      A dour first 13 minutes were interrupted by a similarly woeful dive from Eze that earned him a deserved early yellow card.
      In the swirling wind and rain, Everton were dealing with the conditions far better. Danjuma went close twice, smashing the side-netting before forcing Dean Henderson into his first meaningful save, tipping over from a tight angle.
      Donning a tracksuit and old-school Copa Mundial boots, Hodgson was growing frustrated at Nathaniel Clyne’s inability to feed their Samba Boy down the right flank.

      It took 23 minutes for Franca to get his first real run at Toffees left-back Vitaliy Mykolenko, skipping past the Ukrainian before being clobbered by James Tarkowski just outside the box.
      Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta was living off scraps, but Eze showed magical glimpses, teeing up Jefferson Lerma from 18 yards for a shot that had Virginia worried.
      With what was on offer, there is a reason Palace came into this one with just one league win in nine and Everton had lost their last three.
      At least after the break there was a shot on target to lift the home crowd, who watched Virginia palm away Eze’s directed thump towards the top corner.
      Calvert-Lewin responded, galloping goalwards from Clyne’s error with his ponytail undone and his hair blowing in the London breeze, but the outcome was a tame effort on target.
      Danjuma’s rushed stab at goal was straight at an expectant Henderson, and then out of nowhere, VAR decided to make itself the star of this uninspiring spectacle.
      Mark Halsey on Calvert Lewin red cardIT was an extremely harsh decision to send off Dominic Calvert-Lewin
      Referee Chris Kavanagh had a great view of the incident and did not even give a free-kick initially.
      The Everton striker’s foot was high with studs showing but the contact was minimal on the side of Nathaniel Clyne’s shin.
      None of the players on either side reacted to the challenge.
      I do not understand why VAR Craig Pawson recommended a pitchside review and I’m surprised Kavanagh did not stick with his original decision.
      You can argue it was ‘reckless’ and worthy of a caution but it did not meet the criteria for ‘serious foul play’.
      It did not ‘endanger the safety of an opponent with excessive force or brutality’.
      Those challenges happen all the time and the slo-mo replays always make them appear worse than they are.

      CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS
      See how the match unfolded below… More

    • 225 Shares139 Views

      in Soccer

      Sunderland issue grovelling apology to fans after being slammed for ‘shameful’ gesture ahead of Newcastle FA Cup tie

      by

      SUNDERLAND issued a grovelling apology to fans after allowing “shameful” Newcastle slogans to be plastered over the Stadium of Light.Raging Black Cats supporters called for the board to be sacked after the shock signage mocked their own club ahead of tomorrow’s powder-keg FA Cup third-round showdown against their bitter rivals.
      Sunderland’s Black Cats Bar was decorated with Newcastle bannersCredit: https://twitter.com/Nusc2023
      One of the banners at the Stadium of Light read ‘We are we are United’Credit: https://twitter.com/Nusc2023
      Sunderland supporters were left furiousCredit: https://twitter.com/Nusc2023
      Stunned ex-Sunderland striker Marco Gabbiadini slammed the “embarrassing” makeover, insisting: “This will be mentioned by Newcastle fans in 50 years.”
      Even Sunderland owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus admitted he was “disgusted and hurt” at the “inappropriate” signs.
      The astonishing refurb sparked a massive backlash, prompting the club’s chiefs to admit “a serious error in judgment” and promising to investigate how it was allowed to happen.
      Livid Mackems turned on French-Swiss owner Louis-Dreyfus, 27, for “rolling out the black and white carpet” after images emerged of the bar emblazoned in pro-Magpies signs.
      Read More on Football
      There was a ‘Cheer up Peter Reid’ slogan behind the bar in tribute to the derogatory Toon song which ridicules the ex-Sunderland boss.
      Another mocked the Sunderland chant ‘Keep the red flag flying high’ by replacing it with ‘Keep the black and white flag flying high’.
      If that were not enough, there were also ‘We are United’ signs and another which had the Wearside greeting ‘Ha’way’ crossed out and replaced by the Tyneside version ‘Howay’.
      Gabbiadini, 55, told BBC Radio Newcastle: “We’ve got a group who’ve taken over the club who you would think would have a bit more knowledge of how football works.
      Most read in FA Cup
      CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS
      Some Newcastle fans have paid £600 for hospitality ticketsCredit: https://twitter.com/Nusc2023
      Sunderland owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus apologised for the mishapCredit: Getty
      “There are people from the region on the board.
      “The owner, his club was involved in one of the biggest rivalries in French football with his family’s club, and we’ve opened ourselves up to this. I don’t believe it.”
      A number of Sunderland season ticket holders were already angry after being moved to accommodate the 6,000-strong travelling Toon Army.
      And the redecoration came after around 700 Geordies each splashed out £600 for a hospitality seat in the Black Cats Bar for the first Tyne-Wear derby in nearly eight years.
      Last night Louis-Dreyfus said: “I would like to apologise to everyone associated with Sunderland for the events that have unfolded today.
      “Like our supporters, I was disgusted and hurt by the pictures circulating of the inappropriate signs that have now been ripped down.
      “I will personally make sure we make the necessary changes because it is clear there are many areas where we need to be better.”
      “Like our supporters, I was disgusted and hurt by the pictures circulating of the inappropriate signs that have now been ripped down.”Kyril Louis-Dreyfus
      The club had issued an earlier statement which read: “We acknowledge a serious error in judgment was made in relation to Black Cats Bar.
      “We apologise to our fans for the understandable concern they have fairly voiced in response.
      “The space has been returned to its original state.”
      On the PR disaster, fanzine Roker Report said they were “absolutely appalled. This is shameful. The damage is done”.
      Others called for Louis-Dreyfus to leave the club, while one fan fumed: “Sack the whole f*****g board, this is shameful.
      “They clearly don’t understand what this game means to Sunderland fans.”
      Read more on The Sun
      Tomorrow’s tie is the first time the two rivals have met in the competition since 1956.
      Police officers from outside the North East have been drafted in for the match because of the security concerns. More