United thwarted in FA Cup

Manchester United FC crashed out of the FA Cup with a 2-0 defeat away at Middlesbrough FC.

Dramatic win
Former United coach Steve McClaren gained a dramatic win over his one-time boss Sir Alex Ferguson with two goals in the last five minutes of the game to deny the legendary coach an FA Cup win in his last season at Old Trafford.

Defensive uncertainty
Noel Whelan gathered a long ball from goalkeeper Mark Crossley which had eluded the United defence to slot past Fabien Barthez after 85 minutes and Andy Campbell exploited more chaos in the United defence to head home a second from Dean Windass' swirling right-wing cross with a minute to go.

More misery for Leicester
Meanwhile, Leicester City FC’s miserable season continued as they lost 1-0 at West Bromwich Albion FC with Neil Clement’s 80th-minute penalty earning a place in the next round for the first-division club. Charlton Athletic FC also floundered against first-division opponents, losing 2-1 at home to Walsall FC.

Kanoute earns a draw
In the day’s only all-FA Premiership tie, an 83rd-minute goal from Frédéric Kanoute earned West Ham United FC a 1-1 draw and a replay against Chelsea FC at Stamford Bridge, with Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink having opened the scoring for the hosts after 21 minutes.

Everton ease through
The remaining top-flight sides managed to overcome lower-league opposition. Everton FC were 4-1 winners against third-division strugglers Leyton Orient FC while Fulham FC won 2-0 away at cash-strapped York Ciity FC. Andrew Cole scored the only goal of the game for Blackburn Rovers FC with three minutes to go against Millwall FC to earn a creditable 1-0 win at the New Den stadium.

Waterlogged pitch
Meanwhile Tottenham Hotspur’s all-Premiership FA Cup tie with Bolton Wanderers FC was called off because of a waterlogged pitch at the club’s White Hart Lane stadium. The pick of the ties of the fourth round of the tournament takes place on Sunday as Arsenal FC take on fellow UEFA Champions League contenders Liverpool FC.