FA Cup

FANS were left amazed that there’s no goal-line technology in the FA Cup after Newcastle scored a controversial goal in their 3-2 win at Birmingham.The Premier League giants came from behind to fell their Championship hosts in Saturday’s crunch tie at St Andrew’s.Newcastle scored a controversial goal at Birmingham to leave fans puzzledCredit: GettyJoe Willock’s shot did not appear to entirely cross the line – but the FA Cup does not have Hawk EyeWillock ended up bagging an 86th minute winner for Toon for 3-2Credit: ReutersFormer Manchester United defender Ethan Laird netted for Brum with just seconds on the clock.Newcastle then fought back 20 minutes later with an equaliser through Joe Willock.And his second strike in the 86th minute eventually sealed a 3-2 victory for the visitors.But some felt Willock’s first goal should not have stood – though not for the exact same reason as Harry Maguire’s last-gasp winner for United against Leicester yesterday.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLWillock’s shot appeared to not fully cross the line as it was blocked by Brum goalie Bailey Peacock-Farrell.However, the linesman judged the ball to have crossed over entirely.And the goal was therefore given to Toon, sparking wild celebrations among the travelling supporters.In a Premier League match, the issue would have been cleared up instantly due to the use of Hawk Eye, the goal-line technology which determines whether or not the ball has crossed the line.Most read in FA CupJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSIf it has gone over, it sends a clear noise to the referee’s headset.However, it is not in use in the FA Cup, making the linesman’s decision to award Willock the goal even more controversial.Eddie Howe determined to end Newcastle’s trophy drought in Carabao Cup final Callum Wilson was on the score sheet tonightCredit: AFPTomoki Iwata netted a stunner for Brum but Willock snuffed out their hopes later onCredit: AlamyReplays suggested the ball may have just snuck over the line, but a firm decision would have been impossible to make without goal-line technology.And football fans reacted in disbelief after discovering it was not in use for the FA Cup.Former Birmingham defender Matthew Upson was on comms and said: “It’s a tough one to call.“It’s actually impossible to tell whether that’s fully over the line.”A fan declared: “This is why technology is integral to today’s game, like it or not.”One noted: “Not even close to being fully over the line.”Another added: “Appalling decision, the linesman was at least two yards behind the play, he couldn’t have seen if the ball was over the line from his angle.”Things got worse for Birmingham minutes later when Newcastle took the lead through Callum Wilson.READ MORE SUN STORIESBut the hosts stayed firm as Tomoki Iwata struck a sumptuous equaliser before half-time.Willock had the last laugh though as he fired in an 86th minute winner for 3-2, sending Newcastle through to the fifth round of the Cup. More

DAVID MOYES urged his born-again Blues to become Wembley warriors – instead they turned into a suicide squad.Two self-inflicted wounds, one such a catalogue of errors it was almost comical, sent Bournemouth into the fifth round for the first time in their history.Bournemouth booked their place in the next round of the FA Cup with a 2-0 win at EvertonCredit: AlamyThe Cherries took their fine form from the Premier League into the cupCredit: AlamyBut for Everton and manager Moyes it was a heartbreaking and humiliating last-ever FA Cup tie at this famous old ground before they move to their brand spanking new stadium next season.Goodison Park, this bearpit of an arena which has hosted some ear-splitting, bone-rattling clashes over the years.Yet now Toffees fans will look back on its final knockout fixture with only embarrassment and anger, after a first half fiasco which brought the curtain down in such a pitiful manner.James Tarkowski’s ‘what-was-he-thinking’ lunge to upend Antoine Semenyo for the penalty which gifted the Cherries their opener was bad enough. He really should have known better.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLBut it was nothing compared to the number of clangers they managed to drop en route to Daniel Jebbison doubling the lead two minutes before half-time.The fact they tried – and failed – to sign him twice as a kid when his family relocated from Canada only dribbled a touch more salt into the wounds.No wonder Moyes looked stunned into disbelief in the dugout. Pretty much everyone inside Goodison was rubbing their eyes at the cock-ups being served up.First that penalty from Semenyo to break the deadlock, when Tarkowski sent him tumbling as he raced onto a majestic through ball from Milos Kerkez.Most read in FA CupJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSWith no VAR at this stage, the Everton skipper’s complaints about the foul were as pointless as they were fruitless, and to be fair referee John Brooks was probably correct.Whether it was equally right not to flag Semenyo offside, though, is another matter. There certainly wasn’t much in it.Every Premier League stadium ranked by the number of pubs nearby with one boasting over 130 local boozersMind you, Harry Maguire’s Old Trafford winner the previous night suggests that rule doesn’t apply in the fourth round either.And it was still no excuse for the Blue-shirted blunders that gift-wrapped the second goal for Jebbison…one which ultimately meant the mountain was simply too big to scale.Again Tarkowski was chief culprit with a crossfield ball from his own box that never went close to a team-mate, but picked up Marcus Tavernier on the right flank.Antoine Semenyo gave Bournemouth the lead from the spotCredit: GettyIt was a deserved goal for the CherriesCredit: AFPHis shot pinballed off a penalty box full of bodies, quote possibly even off an arm or two as well, before hitting Jebbison in the guts and falling kindly.He prodded a shot which came back to him and a desperate Jarrod Branthwaite off keeper Pickford…only for the Cherries forward to poke it goalwards again.Once more Branthwaite made a desperate, scurrying scramble to try and save the day. Instead the ball trickled into the corner almost in slow motion.Daniel Jebbison made it 2-0 just before the breakCredit: GettyThe ace was delighted to score after landing a rare startCredit: ReutersThe way Everton finally showed some attacking gumption after the break bore all the hallmarks of a Moyes ear-bashing that would have come with a post-watershed warning.Yet even then it wasn’t until the final 15 minutes that Bournemouth backs were truly against the wall.Three times their woodwork was rattled, twice by Jack Harrison and again from a Carlos Alcaraz free kick, as the substitutes offered a spark those who started never did.READ MORE SUN STORIESA fiery game saw plenty of tackles fly inCredit: GettySemenyo clashed with James Tarkowski at one stageCredit: GettyBy that stage, though, it was desperation stakes – and even then Bournemouth could easily have nicked a third when Kluivert came from the bench and caused immediate panic.And now they’ve got a fifth round ticket at last, you never know. Maybe this year’s FA Cup cake will indeed have a cherry on the top.David Moyes was left scratching his head at the final whistleCredit: GettyAndoni Iraola will be dreaming of going all the way to the finalCredit: Getty More