FA Cup

NEWCASTLE fans are convinced the FA Cup quarter-final draw was “rigged” after being handed a horror tie.Eddie Howe’s side have been drawn away to defending champions Manchester City in the last eight.Newcastle have been drawn away to Manchester City in the FA Cup quarter-finalsCredit: EPAThe two sides previously met in the third round of the Carabao Cup earlier this season.Reacting to the draw on X, one fan fumed: “People want to believe cup draws aren’t rigged but how have we had Chelsea, Man City twice, PSG, Dortmund, Milan and a derby all in one season man.”Another added: “It’s proper f***ing rigged man.”A third supporter also wrote: “Rigged as f***ing usual.”READ MORE IN FOOTBALLMeanwhile, one more commented: “City again hahaha rigged draw.”As well as their third round clash with City, Newcastle also faced Manchester United and Chelsea on their way to the Carabao Cup quarter-finals.The Magpies have also already faced bitter rivals Sunderland in a Tyne-Wear derby earlier in their FA Cup campaign.Meanwhile, their return to the Champions League saw them drawn in a “group of death” alongside Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSNewcastle booked their place in the FA Cup quarter-finals by beating Blackburn on penalties in the fifth round on Tuesday.The Toon Army will be looking to reach a first semi-final since 2005 when they meet next month.’I’ve never seen that before’, says ITV commentator after spotting what Pep Guardiola did on touchline during FA Cup tieElsewhere in the draw, Wolves or Brighton host Coventry, Leicester visit either Chelsea or Leeds and Nottingham Forest or Manchester United face Liverpool or Southampton.The quarter-finals will be played across the weekend of March 16 and 17. More

Manchester United will host Liverpool in a blockbuster FA Cup quarter-final after the draw was made on Wednesday evening.The Red Devils claimed a 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest thanks to a late Casemiro header, while Liverpool sealed a comfortable 3-0 victory against Southampton.Defending champions Manchester City will host NewcastleCredit: GettyManchester United will welcome Liverpool to Old TraffordCredit: PAArsenal icon David Seaman, right, conducted the drawIn another massive all Premier League tie, Newcastle will travel to defending champions Manchester City.Chelsea’s 3-2 win over Leeds has set up another home tie against Championship leaders Leicester.And Coventry, who beat non-league Maidstone to reach this stage, will travel to Wolves after Gary O’Neil’s men edged past Brighton.The ties will take place across the weekend of Saturday, March 16.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThe draw was conducted by Arsenal legend David Seaman – whose former club were eliminated in the third round by Liverpool.Man City booked their spot in the quarter-finals with a comprehensive 6-2 win away at Luton on Tuesday night as Erling Haaland bagged five goals.Newcastle scraped past second-tier Blackburn on penalties, only to be rewarded with a trip to the Treble winners.Leicester produced the scalp of the round, claiming a 1-0 win away at Premier League side Bournemouth.Most read in FA CupCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSBoth Coventry and Leicester are looking to become the first teams outside the top flight to reach an FA Cup final since Cardiff lost to Portsmouth at Wembley in 2008.A second-tier side has not won the FA Cup since West Ham beat Arsenal to lift the trophy in 1980.’I’ve never seen that before’, says ITV commentator after spotting what Pep Guardiola did on touchline during FA Cup tieThe 2024 FA Cup final is scheduled to take place on May 25.The FA Cup quarter-final draw in full More

ERLING HAALAND may have netted five against Luton on Tuesday night – but he did not get close to the record for FA Cup goals in a game.That honour belongs to Bournemouth legend Ted MacDougall, who scored NINE in a first-round tie against Margate in 1971.
Ted MacDougall finally got his hands on the match ball after scoring nine for Bournemouth v Margate in an FA Cup first-round tie in 1971Credit: Bournemouth News
MacDougall scoring one of his record nine goals for the Cherries that dayCredit: Bournemouth News
Erling Haaland celebrates his fifth goal against Luton on Tuesday nightCredit: Getty
Here the former Cherries striker tells SunSport about his amazing feat…
I HAD absolutely no idea at the time that I had broken any goalscoring record when I hit nine for Bournemouth in the 11-0 rout against non-league Margate.
Being a typically single-minded striker I wished I had scored all 11 as I sat in the dressing room afterwards.
But it wasn’t until the BBC contacted me later that Saturday evening and told me that it was the biggest haul of goals by any player in an FA Cup match since a guy called Wilfred Minter had scored seven goals for St Albans in 1922 that it dawned on me that my name had gone into the record books.
READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
At the time I remember saying in the interview that records are there to be broken and it would only be a question of time before someone hit double figures in an FA Cup match.
But my hat-trick of hat-tricks is still sitting there unbroken to date and now I’m not quite so sure it will ever be beaten given the way the game has changed.
The two things I remember vividly about the game is that it was a rainy day and the opposing Southern League Margate manager Les Riggs winding us up in the media before the match.
I had scored 42 goals during the previous season at Bournemouth so was getting a bit of a reputation as a serial goalscorer, but as the first round game approached, Riggs dismissed me by claiming: “We’ll treat him just like any other player.”
Most read in Football
BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS
Once I had got off the mark after 90 seconds they just kept going in. I had scored my first hat-trick after 27 minutes, team-mate Micky Cave added a fourth and by half time I had scored five.
Dear old Les (Riggs) jokingly asked my manager at the time, the brilliant John Bond, if it would be possible to substitute me!
FA Cup controversy as eagle-eyed fans spot ‘rule breach’ in build-up to Blackburn’s goal against Newcastle
Bondy was having none of it. I added another four in the second half, scoring my ninth with two minutes remaining. Mel Machin had scored No 10 in between.
But I don’t recall any of them being spectacular. They were typical goal-poaching strikes.
I had that knack of being in the right place at the right time and also was blessed with being quick over three or four yards in and around the 18-yard box.
Despite scoring all those goals I wasn’t given the match ball at the end. I just treated the match like any other.
I was touched that several weeks after the game the club presented me with an Omega watch with an engraving of nine balls on the back.
I thought that was a lovely gesture and I’m pretty sure Bondy orchestrated it. I learned so much under his management and was delighted to link up with him at Norwich after stints at Manchester United and West Ham.
I’ll never get bored talking about November 20, 1971 and the day I chalked my name into the FA Cup record books Ted MacDougall
The one goal I’m probably remembered for more than any other is the diving header I scored at Aston Villa a month after the Margate triple hat-trick, probably because it became part of the Match of the Day credits for a season.
These days I live in America but I enjoyed every moment of my time playing for Bournemouth and I’m immensely proud that there is a MacDougall Suite at Dean Court where couples can get married at the Vitality Stadium.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Despite starting as an apprentice at Liverpool and playing for York, Manchester United, West Ham, Norwich and Southampton, it’s Bournemouth where I have a huge soft spot.
One thing is for sure: I’ll never get bored talking about November 20, 1971 and the day I chalked my name into the FA Cup record books with my hat-trick of hat-tricks! More

NEWCASTLE star Sandro Tonali found a unique way of joining in the celebrations after Newcastle beat Blackburn.The Magpies knocked their Championship opposition out of the FA Cup on penalties following a 1-1 draw at the end of extra-time.
Sandro Tonali FaceTimed a fan in the away endCredit: X/TheVocalHero
The midfielder was banned from football for betting breaches in OctoberCredit: Getty
Anthony Gordon’s opener was cancelled out by Sammie Szmodics’ 79th-minute strike before goalkeeper Martin Dubravka proved the hero with two penalty saves in the shoot-out.
His second won the game for Toon which sparked jubilant scenes amongst the travelling fans.
And one supporter in the away end took his celebrations one step further by FaceTiming banned Newcastle ace Tonali.
The Newcastle fan who spoke to the Italian shared a pic of the conversation on X, alongside the caption: “I know someone who enjoyed that…#NUFC”
READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
A beaming Tonali could be seen on the screen enjoying Newcastle’s win in the only way he could given his ban.
Tonali, 23, made 12 appearances for Newcastle following his summer switch from AC Milan, but was banned for betting breaches in October.
The midfielder was banned for ten months for his role in a betting scandal involving Juventus star Nicolo Fagioli.
He will not be available for selection until August and has undergone rehab treatment since being hit with the ban.
Most read in FA Cup
Newcastle said in a statement in response to the ban: “He and his family will continue to receive the club’s full support.
“Due to this ongoing process, Sandro and Newcastle United are unable to offer further comment at this time.”
FA Cup controversy as eagle-eyed fans spot ‘rule breach’ in build-up to Blackburn’s goal against Newcastle
Newcastle are now waiting to discover who they will face in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.
But in our simulated draw they landed a perfect tie at home to Coventry. More

MANCHESTER UNITED have been handed a nightmare FA Cup quarter-final tie in SunSport’s simulated draw.The Red Devils still have to book their place in the last eight by beating Nottingham Forest at the City Ground tonight.
Man Utd were beaten by Fulham on SaturdayCredit: Getty
Erik ten Hag has come under fire after Saturday’s resultCredit: PA
Victory is certainly not a given, with Man Utd having lost 2-1 to Nuno Espirito Santo’s side in the Premier League in December.
Erik ten Hag will be desperate for his side to return to winning ways, after their abject 2-1 home defeat to Fulham last Saturday.
Should United manage to beat Forest, SunSport’s simulated draw has landed them with a horrifying trip to Manchester City.
Pep Guardiola’s side serenely booked their place in the quarters with a 6-2 win at Luton last night.
READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
City host United in the Premier League this Sunday, and our draw has seen them land each other again.
Following the Red Devils’ defeat to Fulham, pundit Jamie Carragher pointed out a baffling tactical trend.
He said: “Twenty seconds into the game against Fulham, it’s been the problem for Manchester United all season, there’s space between the back four and the midfield.
“We go to the reason why they’re poor defensively and can’t cope with counter-attacks, they’ve got no pace at the back and a lack of legs in midfield.
Most read in Football
HOW TO GET FREE BETS ON FOOTBALL
“People say: ‘there’s no patterns of play at Manchester United, how do they play and what’s the philosophy?’.”
Ten Hag then hit back: “First of all, some analysts are very objective in their comments, very good advice, some are very subjective.
‘I’m telling you how it is’ – Shearer instantly shakes head after Lineker question live on BBC for FA Cup coverage
“Jamie Carragher from the first moment on has criticised and now he wants to make his point.”
He then added: “Probably in the first half an hour, yeah, he had a point.
“The way Fulham set up their midfield was a surprise and then we have to find the solutions.
“After half an hour we found the solutions.”
Elsewhere last night, Newcastle squeezed past Blackburn on penalties.
Their reward, according to our simulated draw, would be a home tie with Coventry – who beat sixth-tier Maidstone United 5-0 on Monday night.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Southampton face Carabao Cup winners Liverpool at Anfield tonight, with the winner to host Leicester in our simulation, with the Foxes having won 1-0 at Bournemouth after extra time.
Meanwhile, we’ve got the winners of Brighton vs Wolves to welcome the victors of Chelsea vs Leeds.
Simulated quarter-final draw in full
Newcastle vs Coventry
Man City vs Forest/Man Utd
Southampton/Liverpool vs Leicester
Brighton/Wolves vs Chelsea/Leeds More