Scott Murray's Blog, page 89

Fulham 0-1 Chelsea: Premier League – as it happened

Chelsea left it fairly late to see off the spirited ten men of Fulham

8.06pm GMT

And that, my old MBM friends, is your lot. Jacob Steinberg’s report has landed. You know what to do: clickity click! Thanks for reading this live blog. Stay safe. Nighty night!

Related: Chelsea back to winning ways as Mason Mount sinks 10-man Fulham

8.04pm GMT

Scott Parker talks. “We started compact, but they got a foothold in it. The last ten minutes before the sending off we had a massive chance. That had to go in. We had a little threat on the break in the second half. But I’ve got nothing but admiration for my players, who went up against a team like Chelsea. Robinson was causing them a few problems. I’ve not seen the sending off back, but in real time I didn’t think it was. But I wouldn’t want to comment, I’m not sure. I want my players to be aggressive and committed, but if it was reckless, there’s a balance, and he’s a young lad and he’ll learn. There are fine margins, and sometimes you cross that line. We could have given them a game with 11. Disappointed? Yes, but we’ll dust ourselves down and prepare ourselves for Man U.”

7.51pm GMT

Frank Lampard’s verdict. “It feels good. It’s not easy with our league form recently, so you have to break it. And Fulham were in good form. I felt we started well but against ten men it’s not easy. We got what we deserved tonight. Mason was outstanding and he deserves the accolades. I did have the feeling that we could get the goal. Mason needs to score more goals, he knows that, but his quality is brilliant. Werner has to keep working, it’s the only way out of it. Go again, go again. And it’ll go in for him, because he’s quality. We’re in a transition, but we need to get points because we’re Chelsea, and we go again on Tuesday.”

7.43pm GMT

Post-match pow-wows with both managers still to come. But in the meantime, Jacob Steinberg’s verdict has landed ... and here it is, for your entertainment and edification.

Related: Chelsea back to winning ways as Mason Mount sinks 10-man Fulham

7.37pm GMT

A word with the match-winner Mason Mount. “It was a massive game for us ... the run we’ve been through has been tough ... we’ve had to look at ourselves ... today was a tough, tough game ... we’ve had to dig deep and show character tonight ... the win is the main thing ... there is pressure for us to perform, looking at the quality of our changing room ... we were up against a good team that’s been playing well ... they had five at the back and that’s always difficult ... we stayed patient ... we got better and better and nicked the goal ... I should have had two! ... this gives us a lift, we’ve been a bit down, and now we look on to the next game.”

7.30pm GMT

Frank Lampard looks more relieved than ecstatic. His team didn’t play well, but one moment of calm, considered quality from Callum Hudson-Odoi set off a chain of events that led to Mason Mount’s 78th-minute winner. Scott Parker has a word with the referee, clearly considering Antonee Robinson’s first-half sending off to be harsh. Fulham dug in well in the second half, but couldn’t hold out. When the pain subsides, Parker should take a lot of positives from that performance. But Fulham remain in 18th spot, four behind Burnley. Chelsea meanwhile leapfrog Southampton and West Ham into seventh place on 29 points.

7.26pm GMT

It was hard work, but Chelsea break their losing away sequence with victory over their near neighbours.

7.24pm GMT

90 min +4: Azpilicueta drags back Lookman. Booking, and a free kick. Fulham load the box. Chelsea deal with it ... and suddenly Werner is away, free on the counter! He tears down the inside-left channel, enters the box and ... pulls a dreadful effort across goal and wide right.

7.23pm GMT

90 min +3: Fulham throw in Chelsea territory. It’s flung in. Silva heads clear. Bryan crosses from the left. Rudiger bashes clear this time.

7.22pm GMT

90 min +2: Pulisic dances down the left before pulling back for Azpilicueta, who leans back and skies an effort from the edge of the box. Penny for Werner’s thoughts; how he could do with an unchallenged chance like that to build some confidence.

7.21pm GMT

90 min +1: Nothing comes of it.

7.20pm GMT

90 min: Mount sees a long-range effort blocked. That’ll be a corner, and it’ll be taken in the first of five added minutes.

7.18pm GMT

88 min: Lookman makes a late lunge on Azpilicueta. It’s not a million miles away from the Robinson challenge, but just a yellow this time.

7.17pm GMT

86 min: Chelsea try to play it out from the back, and an under-pressure Mendy is forced to slice out for a throw. Nothing comes of it, but Chelsea’s nerves have betrayed them a couple of times at the back this evening. Still a work in progress.

7.14pm GMT

84 min: Hudson-Odoi finds Werner in acres with a glorious crossfield pass from the right ... but the out-of-sorts striker can’t get the ball under control and the chance to advance on the Fulham goal is gone.

7.14pm GMT

83 min: Fulham replace Decordova-Reid and Aina with Kamara and Bryan. Just the two at the back now, as they strive for an equaliser.

7.12pm GMT

82 min: So having said that, Lookman embarks on a fresh dribble down the middle and is hauled back unceremoniously by Silva, who goes in the book.

7.11pm GMT

81 min: Fulham look visibly deflated. No wonder: the ten men had dug in bravely, and they got so close to a precious point, but all seems lost now. Plenty of time to equalise, of course, but they can’t get the ball at the minute, and suddenly they appear tired.

7.09pm GMT

79 min: Fulham respond by sending on Onomah, who replaces Cavaleiro.

7.09pm GMT

Hudson-Odoi sashays down the right and chips across towards Chilwell on the opposite flank. Chilwell thinks about hitting it, but hits the byline instead. His cross is clawed down by Areola, straight to the feet of Mount, who hammers an unstoppable shot into the bottom right. The 11 men break through at last!

7.06pm GMT

76 min: Reed, who had taken an innocent whack on the back of the neep from Ziyech, is up and good to go again.

7.05pm GMT

75 min: While the game is stopped, Chelsea make a double change: off go Ziyech and Giroud, on come Hudson-Odoi and Werner.

7.04pm GMT

74 min: Ziyech has a blast from distance. Blocked. Kovavic picks up the loose ball and drives down the right and into the box, but can’t find anyone with his cutback. Fulham clear, and the game’s paused for Reed, who is down and requires treatment.

7.02pm GMT

72 min: Now it’s Chelsea’s turn to get cynical, Ziyech barging into Lookman as the Fulham man careered up the left flank.

7.01pm GMT

70 min: Decordova-Reid is booked for a cynical slide on Pulisic, who was in the business of launching a counter.

7.00pm GMT

68 min: A ball played down the Fulham left. It should be easy for Azpilicueta to deal with, but his backpass wrong-foots the outrushing Mendy. The ball breaks to Cavaleiro, who tries to curl into the unguarded net, but Thiago blocks bravely. What an absurd event.

6.58pm GMT

67 min: He’s nearly in again, Ziyech delivering a vicious low in-swinger from the right. The ball evades Abraham’s head by an inch or so, then Pulisic’s toe, and rolls out for a goal kick. How did that not get poked home?!

6.57pm GMT

66 min: A ball flung in from the Chelsea left. Abraham rises and sends a weak header straight at Areola. Chances are the flag would have gone up for offside, but that’s an immediate statement of intent by Abraham.

6.56pm GMT

65 min: Abraham replaces Jorginho. From the restart, Aina tries to surprise Mendy with a shot from 60 yards out. It’s always heading wide, but full marks for quick thinking and ambition.

6.54pm GMT

63 min: Jorginho and Ziyech work the ball cutely down the inside-right channel. The ball’s slipped to Giroud, alone on the penalty spot, Fulham carved open. But he drags his shot wide right. He contemplates eating his shirt in shame, but the flag goes up for offside, partially saving both his blushes and his digestive tract.

6.52pm GMT

61 min: Chelsea ping it around the middle now, to little effect. For all the possession and pressure, Areola hasn’t had to deal with too much last-gasp stuff.

6.49pm GMT

59 min: Chelsea probe down both wings. Nothing doing. Ziyech gets fed up and has a pop from 25 yards. It’s deflected out for yet another Chelsea corner on the right. Azpilicueta meets it, but not with any great conviction. Goal kick.

6.47pm GMT

57 min: Tete hassles Chilwell down the Fulham right and makes off with the ball. He’s penalised for over-eagerness and the whistle goes before he can enter the box and think about causing trouble. But that’s another sign that Fulham aren’t planning to sit back completely in the hope of holding on.

6.45pm GMT

55 min: Chelsea have enjoyed 87 percent of possession since the restart.

6.45pm GMT

54 min: The best form of defence might be attack, you know, and with this in mind, Aina strides forward, drifts in from the left, and looks to curl spectacularly into the top right. He finds the top right of the Hammersmith End, but if nothing else, that’s allowed the rest of the defence a breather.

6.43pm GMT

53 min: The corner ticker continues to spin around at industrial pace. Azpilicueta wins this one. From it, Giroud plants a header goalwards, but with no real pace. Areola claims.

6.42pm GMT

52 min: Silva bashes a close-range header goalwards, and grimaces in annoyance as it’s deflected wide. Nothing comes of the second corner, but Fulham have a job on if they’re to keep resisting this for another 38 minutes plus stoppages.

6.41pm GMT

51 min: Mount busies himself down the right and fires low to the near post. Giroud tries a cute flick, but it doesn’t come off. He has to settle for another corner.

6.40pm GMT

50 min: Chelsea win another corner out on the left. It’s played short. Ziyech whistles an outrageous screamer towards the top left from a tight angle. Areola is forced to turn it around the post. Nothing appears to happen at the second corner, though we’re told VAR are poring over the footage looking for an illegal shove. Nothing doing.

6.38pm GMT

48 min: Chelsea dominate possession. Expect more of this as well.

6.37pm GMT

46 min: Some space for Azpilicueta down the right. He cuts back for Jorginho, whose shot is blocked, and the flag goes up for offside anyway. Areola takes his time over the free kick. Expect plenty of professional clock management as the ten men of Fulham look to hold on.

6.35pm GMT

Chelsea get the second half underway. They’re kicking towards the famous old cottage this time. There have been no half-time changes.

6.21pm GMT

Half-time entertainment.

6.20pm GMT

Fulham were beginning to create chances against a previously dominant Chelsea, but then Robinson had that rush of blood. Advantage Chelsea ahead of the second half, not least because the young American full-back was Fulham’s most potent attacking threat.

6.19pm GMT

45 min: VAR takes a look. It doesn’t appear to be a studs-up affair, and there’s not a whole load of contact. But it is a wild lunge and he wasn’t fully in control. Not the most heinous of challenges, but not the greatest either, and there’s not enough doubt to overturn the decision.

6.17pm GMT

44 min: Robinson slides in hard and fast on Azpilicueta. He catches the Chelsea man, who flips over in mid-air and screams in pain. Mount gets involved, and then so does the referee, flashing red.

6.16pm GMT

43 min: Anguissa brushes Jorginho aside with contempt, spinning into space down the inside-right channel and striding towards the box. He shapes to shoot, but then loses the rhythm of his stride, and the ball clanks away. Half a chance, that.

6.14pm GMT

41 min: Fulham are this close to scoring the goal of the season. Lookman sends Robinson scampering away down the left with an astonishing backheel. He reaches the box and passes towards Tete, romping down the other wing. Tete would be within his rights to shoot, but instead plays a stunning first-time pass towards Cavaleiro on the penalty spot. Cavaleiro leans back and shanks wide right. What a shame. That would have been quite the sensation.

6.12pm GMT

39 min: Reed takes. It’s half cleared. Decordova-Reid chips the ball back wide right for Lookman, who attempts to recreate Marco van Basten’s famous goal in the Euro 88 final. That one’s away to Putney.

6.10pm GMT

38 min: Decordova-Reid bursts down the right and earns Fulham their first corner of the game.

6.08pm GMT

36 min: Chelsea nearly score their ninth goal of the season from a corner. The ball bagatelles in the six-yard box, and should really be poked home by Jorginho, but he hesitates and Areola snaffles. At present, a Chelsea opener looks merely a matter of time.

6.07pm GMT

35 min: Pulisic and Chilwell combine crisply down the left and earn a corner, Chelsea’s fifth of the game.

6.06pm GMT

34 min: Fulham can’t get anything going themselves. Adarabioyo, quarterbacking from deep, tries to find someone with a glory pass. Not sure who his target was, on account of the ball sailing out of play in the agricultural style with no white shirt in view. Goal kick.

6.04pm GMT

32 min: Pulisic spins into space, just on the edge of the D, and pings a shot towards the bottom left. Just wide. Chelsea are applying some serious pressure now.

6.03pm GMT

30 min: Anderson takes a whack upside his head, Giroud the culprit. He’s not particularly happy about it, but it looked accidental, the pair challenging for a loose ball, and the referee agrees.

6.02pm GMT

29 min: Azpilicueta fizzes low into the Fulham box from the right. Areola parries it into the danger zone, but is fortunate that the ball drops to Decordova-Reid instead of the four blue shirts surrounding him on the penalty spot. Fulham play their way confidently away from danger.

6.00pm GMT

28 min: Fulham are struggling to get out of their own half, Chelsea responding well to those half-chances for the hosts.

6.00pm GMT

26 min: But not for long, and Chelsea force a corner down the right. Rudiger meets it, and sends an effort towards the bottom left. Areola paws it away at full stretch. What a save! Chelsea, all of a sudden, are turning the screw.

5.58pm GMT

25 min: Azpilicueta crosses from the right. Pulisic can’t get his head onto it. Chilwell returns the ball into the mixer from the right. Robinson’s clearance is dismal, falling to the feet of Mount, who whacks a rising shot across Areola and off the crossbar! A stunning strike, and so unfortunate. Fulham clear.

5.55pm GMT

23 min: Mount is clattered from behind by Lookman. The Fulham forward is lucky not to get booked for that one. From the resulting free kick, Ziyech advances on the Fulham box and tries to thread one into the bottom right from 25 yards. It’s easily dealt with by Areola.

5.54pm GMT

21 min: Lookman overplays near his own box and ships possession. The ball is shuttled to Chilwell, bombing in down the middle. He has another whack at goal, but this one’s blocked and loops away harmlessly. This is an intriguing game, if not yet an exciting one.

5.52pm GMT

19 min: Fulham are beginning to ask a few questions now. Robinson makes good down the left again and slips infield for Cavaleiro, who tries to trap and spin from the edge of the six-yard box. If he could sort his feet out, it’d be a sure-fire goal. But he can’t, and the chance clanks between his boots and away.

5.50pm GMT

17 min: Robinson turns on the jets and whistles into space down the left. He reaches the box and crosses low for Lookman, whose shot is blocked. The ball breaks back to Robinson, who has a pelt himself. That’s blocked too, but what a scintillating run from the young American. All right!

5.47pm GMT

15 min: Chelsea continue to dominate possession, but Fulham are holding them at arm’s length for now.

5.46pm GMT

13 min: Chilwell has a speculative slash at a dropping ball from distance. He’s got a taste for the spectacular, has Chilwell, but this particular effort is only spectacularly awful. That one’s on its way back to Stamford Bridge. Still, if you don’t buy a ticket, and so on, and so forth.

5.45pm GMT

12 min: The ball’s pumped long for Giroud, who can’t control. But the ball does bounce off Aina’s arm. Jorginho wants a penalty kick, but it was completely accidental; the defender was behind Giroud and Anderson, his view impaired, and couldn’t be expected to react in time. Mr VAR has a check, but isn’t interested.

5.42pm GMT

10 min: Nothing comes of the corner.

5.41pm GMT

9 min: Mount busies himself down the inside-right channel, the ball breaking to Giroud, who hits a first-time volley towards the bottom left. It’s deflected out for a corner.

5.40pm GMT

7 min: A little space for Cavaleiro down the right. He crosses in the hope of finding Lookman, but Chelsea hack clear. Fulham come again from the resulting throw, Tete one-twoing with Cavaleiro and charging into the box from the right. He chests down, but can’t find space to smack the dropping ball goalwards. The move fizzles out.

5.38pm GMT

6 min: No wonder Chelsea have the confidence to mix it up at corners: they’ve scored eight goals from corners this season, the best total in the division. Everton, Liverpool and Wolves are next on the rank with six.

5.37pm GMT

4 min: Azpilicueta wins a corner off Adarabioyo down the right. Giroud takes, pulling it back for Mount, who opens his body, hoping to sidefoot powerfully into the bottom right from 12 yards. Fulham, lining up extremely deep, are totally outfoxed. But they do manage to get in a block, and clear. A clever training-ground move nearly came off.

5.35pm GMT

2 min: Plenty of Chelsea possession in the early stages. Pulisic nearly releases Chilwell on the overlap down the left, but Aina is over quickly to cover.

5.33pm GMT

The knee is taken - there’s no room for racism - and then Fulham get the game underway. The hosts will be kicking towards the famous pavilion in the first half; Chelsea are playing towards the Hammersmith End.

5.32pm GMT

Before the game starts, a moment of quiet reflection in memory of Tosh Chamberlain, who passed away last Sunday. Chamberlain was part of the famous Fulham team of the late 1950s, playing alongside Johnny Haynes and Jimmy Hill. He scored 64 goals in 204 appearances for the Cottagers.

5.26pm GMT

Here come the teams! Fulham wear their white shirts and black shorts; blue is the colour for Chelsea. It’s a cold night by the River Thames. It won’t be long now.

5.14pm GMT

Scott Parker talks to Sky Sports ... “Momentum is with us ... we’ve put in some good performances ... games come thick and fast and it’s exactly how you want them ... Adi Lookman has been superb since he’s been here, he can score and create goals ... he gives us a lot and we’re looking forward to seeing him.”

... and so does Frank Lampard. “Some of our results recently have been indifferent ... that’s not a direct thing on Kurt Zouma but we lean more on what Toni is doing ... he’s a personality within the group ... it just felt like a change was needed ... Tammy and Oli bring different things to the team ... Oli is a leader in the dressing room ... we haven’t scored enough goals, and Oli up front can bring that for us.”

4.52pm GMT

It’s suddenly become an even more important game for Fulham. This lunchtime, West Bromwich Albion closed the gap from behind with a 3-2 win at Wolves. And now, Brighton have won 1-0 at Leeds thanks to Neal Maupay’s fine first-half goal. That’s a first win in ten for the Seagulls, who leapfrog Burnley - 1-0 losers at West Ham - into 16th spot. It all means Fulham are now now four points from safety: they’ve got 12 compared to Burnley’s 16. It’s getting interesting at the bottom.

4.40pm GMT

Just the one change for Fulham from the draw at Spurs, and it’s a swap that’s out of Scott Parker’s hands. The on-loan Ruben Loftus-Cheek is ineligible against his parent club, so he’s replaced by Ademola Lookman. Aleksandar Mitrovic hasn’t recovered from injury, and isn’t even on the bench.

Chelsea make seven changes from the team that saw off Morecambe in the FA Cup, but never mind that. More significantly, it’s just three changes to the team named for their last Premier League match against Manchester City. Olivier Giroud, Antonio Rudiger and Jorginho take the places of Kurt Zouma, N’Golo Kante and Timo Werner.

4.31pm GMT

Fulham: Areola, Aina, Andersen, Adarabioyo, Tete, Reid, Reed, Zambo, Robinson, Ivan Cavaleiro, Lookman.
Subs: Hector, Odoi, Kebano, Rodak, Ream, Bryan, Onomah, Kamara.

Chelsea: Mendy, Azpilicueta, Rudiger, Thiago Silva, Chilwell, Kovacic, Jorginho, Mount, Ziyech, Giroud, Pulisic.
Subs: Arrizabalaga, Abraham, Werner, Zouma, Hudson-Odoi, Gilmour, James, Havertz, Emerson Palmieri.

1.26pm GMT

It’s the west London derby ... or one of them, at least. As with any other local rivalry, football’s most unappealing prize - bragging rights - are up for grabs. Three precious points are on offer too, manna from heaven for a couple of teams not quite firing on all cylinders right now.

Fulham are slowly attempting to extricate themselves from the mire. They’ve drawn their last five matches, a run that’s better than it sounds, given it features hard-won points against Liverpool, Tottenham and high-flying Southampton. But wins are at a premium right now - they’ve only managed two all season - and how they could do with three points that would ease their relegation worries.

Continue reading...

Wolves 2-3 West Brom: Premier League – as it happened

West Brom battled their way to three deserved points in a highly entertaining Black Country derby

2.48pm GMT

Right-o, my MBM friends, that is your lot. Paul Doyle was at Molineux, and his verdict has landed. You know what to do: clickity click! Thanks for reading this live blog. Stay safe, everyone.

Related: Matheus Pereira's two penalties give West Brom vital win over Wolves

2.48pm GMT

Nuno’s reaction. “We did not do a good game. It’s disappointing because it meant a lot for our fans. We didn’t do what we should do. Our restart in the second half was very bad. We conceded goals that made our task very hard. We tried to control the game, be more aggressive, but we didn’t do it. We knew they would do things on throw-ins, long balls and set pieces, and didn’t defend well.” He then explained that Coady’s withdrawal was indeed tactical. “A simple decision.”

2.42pm GMT

Big Sam speaks! “The vast majority of that performance was excellent. The plan and the tactics. It’s the best I’ve seen us in possession since I’ve been here. Our defending at two set pieces put us on the back foot, but the lads were excellent in the second half, their heads could have gone down, but they came bouncing back. And they defended well at the end. It’s a good performance and even better for us in the position we’re in, and that we beat our local rivals. Hopefully we’ll gain some confidence for West Ham on Tuesday. I’m only asking the players to improve their fitness, technique and gameplay by one percent. When you add it up, it becomes significant.” He then stresses the need for better new players, who will, his argument goes, raise standards, earn everyone win bonuses, keep the team in the Premier League, and secure new contracts. He’s on a roll, and in a celebratory mood. Wine for his men!

2.27pm GMT

Those three massive points bring West Bromwich Albion back to life. They’re still second bottom of the Premier League, but they’ve got 11 points now, just one behind Fulham and three behind Brighton. Fulham have two matches in hand, but Brighton don’t. All of a sudden, the Baggies don’t look so much of a lost cause. Fireman Sam, at your service. Wolves on the other hand ... well, they’ll not be panicking yet, but that’s now six defeats in their last nine. They’re comfortable enough at the minute in 14th spot, on 22 points, but can’t keep going on like this. A little bit of pressure building on Nuno. They’re really missing Raul Jimenez.

2.23pm GMT

Sam Allardyce has his first win as West Brom manager! It’s well deserved after a fine battling display. His team - and they were a team today - cavort in joy. A massive smile plays across the big man’s face. A huge three points in the battle against relegation!

2.20pm GMT

90 min +3: On the touchline, Big Sam masticates ferociously. Nuno by contrast looks extremely pensive.

2.20pm GMT

90 min +2: Livermore is forced to knock a long speculative ball behind for a corner. The superb and ever-heroic Bartley clears. He’s been West Brom’s man of the match, surely, though Glenn Hoddle on BT Sport has given it to Pereira. A justifiable shout, to be fair.

2.18pm GMT

90 min +1: The first of four added minutes goes by without incident.

2.17pm GMT

90 min: Silva turns Ajayi in the box, some cute skill. He opts to go over a leg that’s withdrawn. No contact, and the referee has no option but to show a yellow.

2.16pm GMT

89 min: Wolves are seeing plenty of the ball, but they’re doing very little with it. West Brom currently look as comfortable as a team can be in these circumstances.

2.14pm GMT

87 min: Ait-Nouri cuts in from the left and sends a wild shot high into the stand. West Brom are keeping Wolves at arm’s length ... just about.

2.14pm GMT

86 min: Neto floats a free kick in from the left. Boly can’t get a header on target. The ball’s half cleared. Semedo races in and pearls a shot goalwards from the edge of the box. Bartley extends a leg to make a brave and quite brilliant block.

2.12pm GMT

85 min: Neto has a bash from 30 yards. No need to get so desperate quite yet. It’s easily blocked and cleared.

2.11pm GMT

83 min: West Brom send on Furlong for Pereira, clearly opting to batten down the hatches in the hope of seeing this one out.

2.09pm GMT

82 min: A spinning ball drops to Cutrone, just inside the West Brom box. Cutrone shapes like Zidane in the 2002 Champions League final, but gets the contact all wrong, the ball belted into the turf and ballooning over the bar.

2.08pm GMT

81 min: Wolves win their tenth corner of the match. West Brom haven’t had one. Button punches it clear.

2.07pm GMT

80 min: Some scrappy nonsense as a few challenges fly in. There’s still time for this Black Country derby to get dark.

2.06pm GMT

79 min: Cutrone comes on for Moutinho. “Big Sam for England!” cries Simon McMahon. “It’s coming home!”

2.04pm GMT

77 min: Neto powers his way down the left and digs out a fine cross. Traore can’t get a header on target. Wolves are having some joy down the flanks, but nothing’s quite happening for them in the middle.

2.03pm GMT

75 min: Quick quiz: did BT Sport’s Peter Walton agree with Michael Oliver’s refusal to show Dendoncker a red card, or not? No need to respond, I know you know the answer.

2.01pm GMT

73 min: Dendoncker is booked for high-kicking Snodgrass on the noggin. You’ve seen reds flashed for that sort of thing, but the Wolves midfielder gets away with one.

2.00pm GMT

72 min: Silva has another dig, this time from 25 yards out. He drags his shot wide left, harmlessly so. Full marks to the 18-year-old striker for keeping going.

1.59pm GMT

71 min: The Traore jets are showcased yet again. A barnstorming run down the right. His cutback should be converted by Silva, but the young striker wafts at the ball, six yards out, and the visitors clear. Traore cocks his head back in disappointment. He could have done no more.

1.57pm GMT

70 min: Grosicki, who has been very decent this afternoon on his first Premier League start of the season, makes way for Robson-Kanu.

1.57pm GMT

69 min: Saiss wins a header from the second corner but it flies harmlessly wide right. Big Sam will be pleased with the way his defenders are battling this afternoon, and indeed the manner in which the whole team are fighting. It’s Anfield revisited, but with added attacking panache.

1.55pm GMT

68 min: Gibbs-White’s first significant contribution is to skip down the left and earn a corner. Boly rises highest, yet again, and his header looks destined for the top left. But Bartley deflects out for another corner. What a block!

1.54pm GMT

66 min: Wolves steady the ship a little with some calm possession in the middle of the park. One step at a time.

1.52pm GMT

64 min: An eyebrow-raising sub for Wolves, as Ait-Nouri comes on for the captain Coady, who doesn’t appear to be carrying an injury. It’s the first time Coady has been hooked as a Wolves player.

1.51pm GMT

63 min: Neto whips a stunning cross through the six-yard box from the left. Neither Silva nor Traore can latch onto it. Any touch and it would have been in. It’s heartbreaking that Molineux isn’t packed for this back-and-forth spectacular.

1.49pm GMT

61 min: Wolves are all over the shop right now, stunned at recent developments. Pereira finds Robinson on the penalty spot with a floater from the left. Robinson gives Coady the slip and dribbles a shot across Rui Patricio and inches wide of the left-hand post. Not sure the keeper had that covered. Worrying times for Wolves.

1.48pm GMT

59 min: Snodgrass pulls back from the right. Sawyers drags wide left. Nuno has seen enough, and withdraws Neves, sending on Gibbs-White in his place.

1.46pm GMT

57 min: Coady is fuming. There wasn’t much in that challenge on Robinson, and he’s arguing the toss with the referee. A futile debate.

1.44pm GMT

Pereira lashes his second spot kick of the afternoon into the right-hand side of the goal, sending Rui Patricio the wrong way again. What a turnaround!

1.43pm GMT

55 min: This is given, though! Grosicki rolls a pass down the inside left. Robinson, his back to goal again, tries to spin Coady and goes over. It’s the slightest of touches, but he’s clipped him. Penalty!

1.42pm GMT

54 min: Semedo waltzes down the inside-right channel, a glorious run that draws three defenders. He’s about to break into the box when Bartley steps across him. It should be a foul, but inexplicably it’s not given. The referee will have assumed he wasn’t going to reach the ball he’d just poked into space, I guess.

1.40pm GMT

53 min: This is a great game. Good luck calling it.

1.39pm GMT

West Brom show for the first time in the second half, and how! Snodgrass works his way down the right and earns a throw. The ball’s flung into the mixer. Bartley wins the first header. Ajayi, the hero of Anfield, loops a second over Rui Patricio and into the top left!

1.38pm GMT

51 min: The free kick’s fizzed in low by Neto. Silva traps and sets up Saiss, who shoots straight at Button. None of it matters, because the ball had hit Silva’s hand, and the whistle goes.

1.37pm GMT

50 min: It’s all Wolves since the restart. Neto dribbles down the left and is dragged to the floor by O’Shea. A free kick, and a chance to load the box again.

1.35pm GMT

48 min: Traore flicks on Moutinho’s corner. There’s a melee on the edge of the six-yard box. Dendoncker tees up Silva, whose sidefoot is deflected out for another corner, this time on the right. Boly, at the heart of everything this afternoon, meets the second corner, but his header is always sailing wide left. A highly decent start to the half by the hosts.

1.34pm GMT

47 min: Silva makes like Traore, turning on the afterburners and zipping into the box down the left. For a second it looks as though he’s worked space to shoot, but has to settle for a corner.

1.32pm GMT

Wolves get the second half underway. No half-time changes. On the touchline, Big Sam redefines morose. “Poor Sam,” writes Mary Waltz. “He resembles a cow chewing his cud who suddenly comes to the realization that yes, they do plan on cutting me up and cooking me to eat.”

1.21pm GMT

Half-time entertainment. Other Premier League matches are available this weekend. Our panel of experts run the rule over them here!

Related: Premier League: 10 things to look out for this weekend

1.19pm GMT

That’s the end of a very eventful, highly entertaining first half. West Brom looked lively, and could have been two up before they were hit by a Wolves double whammy. Both teams have contributed to a fine 45 minutes of football. More please! The Black Country derby is back, after a nine-year hiatus, and not a moment too soon.

1.16pm GMT

45 min +1: Snodgrass loops long from the right. Gibbs volleys from the left-hand corner of the six-yard box. He pulls his effort across the face of goal and out for a goal kick.

1.15pm GMT

45 min: Snodgrass makes his way past Saiss on the right, but can’t find anyone with his low cross. West Brom have played well, and will wonder how they’re losing.

1.14pm GMT

Moutinho’s corner drops at the near post and instigates a quick game of pinball. The ball pings to Boly’s feet, six yards out. Boly opens his body and slams into the bottom left! Boly has given away a penalty, set one up with a backheel, and scored one himself. What a return to action for the Wolves defender!

1.12pm GMT

42 min: Traore turns on the jets again, then takes it up a notch from there! It’s an unstoppable run. He reaches the byline but his cutback is blocked out for a corner. And from that ...

1.11pm GMT

40 min: That goal came slightly against the run of play, after a decent period for West Brom. The scoreline seems pretty much right over the piece, though.

1.10pm GMT

This is a lovely goal! Neto’s free kick isn’t up to much, and half-cleared by West Brom. Saiss hoicks it back into the mixer from the right. The ball hits Silva on the shoulder and breaks to Boly, who backheels down the inside left, returning it to Silva. Silva opens his body and steers a delightful sidefoot across Button and into the bottom right. What a finish!

1.08pm GMT

37 min: Snodgrass clips Neto down the left, and this is a free kick in a very dangerous position, just to the side of the West Brom area. Neto gets up and takes himself, and ...

1.07pm GMT

36 min: Ajayi is booked for a cynical tug on Dendoncker, who was threatening to launch a Wolves attack. One suspects Big Sam will be happy enough with that, too.

1.06pm GMT

35 min: Neto’s slovenly touch is snaffled by Snodgrass, who exchanges passes down the inside-right channel with Pereira. Snodgrass enters the box and attempts a shot-cum-cross from a tight angle. He falls over backwards and the ball is cleared, but that’s yet another decent move by West Brom, who have a few green shoots on display this afternoon.

1.04pm GMT

34 min: Neto shovels a gorgeous pass down the inside-left channel, nearly releasing Silva into space. Bartley does extremely well to anticipate the danger, coming over to skelp clear.

1.03pm GMT

33 min: Grosicki lashes a shot over the bar from 25 yards. He’s looked very lively on his first Premier League start this season.

1.03pm GMT

31 min: A free kick for Wolves out on the right. It’s flung diagonally into the box. Sawyers wins the first header. Pereira wins the second, steering it cleverly to Robinson, on the edge of the six-yard box. It’s a lovely move, and Robinson is onside, but he pokes straight into the chest of Rui Patricio, who had closed him down and made himself big. What a chance to double West Brom’s lead!

1.00pm GMT

30 min: A little bit scrappy, all of a sudden, but very hotly contested by both teams. Imagine if Molineux was packed to the rafters for this!

12.59pm GMT

28 min: Traore crosses from the right. Button claims under pressure from Silva. Wolves are enjoying themselves down this right flank.

12.58pm GMT

27 min: The third corner is half cleared, but Neto comes back at the visitors down the right. He crosses low towards the near post, where Boly backflicks cutely from the edge of the six-yard box. Just wide right. A lovely attempt, and one Button may not have reached had it been on target.

12.57pm GMT

26 min: Moutinho fizzes the corner into the six-yard box. Traore flicks on, and Livermore flashes over for a third corner. Back to the right this time.

12.55pm GMT

25 min: Semedo probes down the right again, winning a corner. Wolves load the box. Moutinho curls long, forcing Bartley to head out for a corner on the other side.

12.54pm GMT

23 min: Wolves take their turn of looking after the ball. Some pretty triangles, without any real purpose. West Brom are making them work for their possession. It’s all in their own half.

12.52pm GMT

21 min: West Brom’s all-new improved press is giving Wolves a few problems. Gibbs and Grosicki swarm and win the ball off Neves, then advance down the left. A few flicks nearly make some space; not quite. But Big Sam will be delighted with the improvements on display so far. Small acorns, and all that.

12.49pm GMT

19 min: Pereira sashays down the middle and looks to thread one into the bottom right from the edge of the D. There’s not quite enough oomph in his effort, and Rui Patricio claims easily. Wolves break, Traore going on another Power Meander down the right. The cross is no good, but what speed! This is superb end-to-end fun.

12.48pm GMT

18 min: Some great hold-up play by Silva, who holds off three men and lays off to Dendoncker, who has another thrash from distance. He gives it some fierce welly, but it’s straight at Button , who claims.

12.47pm GMT

17 min: Traore turns on the jets and makes off down the right. He digs out a cross for Dendoncker, on the penalty spot. Dendoncker is slightly behind the ball, and can’t get any power on the header he attempts to guide into the top left. It floats harmlessly wide.

12.46pm GMT

15 min: Dendoncker and Traore take turns to whistle shots goalwards. The first attempt is wide and high, the second straight at Button. A really lively opening to this game. Great fun.

12.45pm GMT

13 min: This is a good response by Wolves. Neto crosses from the left. Button struggles to claim under pressure from Silva, but does so in the end. The ball brushed the hand of Gibbs during the melee, but there was nothing he could do, it being punched onto his arm by Button from close range. No penalty. The little things are going West Brom’s way at the minute. Small margins between success and failure.

12.42pm GMT

12 min: Incidentally, the penalty decision was ratified by VAR. The foul was right on the white line; another couple of inches upfield and it wouldn’t have been given. But it was the correct decision, made in real time, by one of the Premier League’s better and more thoughtful referees.

12.40pm GMT

10 min: Wolves come straight back at West Brom, Silva grooving down the left. He’s clipped by Sawyers. A free kick just to the side of the D. Neves takes, but hoicks straight into the wall. West Brom clear.

12.39pm GMT

Pereira spots Rui Patricio going one way, then calmly slots into the top left. A lovely penalty. West Brom get the reward for their lively start!

12.38pm GMT

7 min: The visitors ping it around, Grosicki in the thick of it. The ball is slipped to Robinson, his back to goal on the edge of the box. Boly sticks a leg out and catches Robinson. Michael Oliver thinks about it for a while, then points to the spot.

12.36pm GMT

6 min: West Brom continue to look bright during these early exchanges. Robinson is doing an awful lot of sniffing around up front, putting Boly and Coady under pressure. Wolves, that Semedo run apart, are struggling to play their way upfield.

12.34pm GMT

4 min: Semedo takes on three men and zips with purpose down the right. It’s a fine run, made at full pelt, and he earns a corner which Moutinho takes. From the set piece, Neves has a whack from distance. Blocked. Then Boly has a dig, threading one towards the bottom right. It’s smothered easily by Button.

12.32pm GMT

2 min: Allardyce will be pretty happy with that brisk, front-foot start. Gauntlet down. Wolves respond by stroking it around the back awhile, asserting their status as hosts.

12.31pm GMT

After a blast of Hi Ho Silver Lining ... and the taking of the knee in the fight against racism ... West Brom get the ball rolling. The first Black Country derby for nine years is on! West Brom win a throw down the right immediately, and it’s a first touch in a Baggies shirt for Snodgrass. He wins another throw. The ball’s flung into the mixer, and Robinson nearly gets a toe on the ball at the edge of the six-yard box. Rui Patricio collects, but that was nearly a sensational start for the visitors!

12.26pm GMT

Here come the teams! Wolves are in their famous old gold, while West Brom sport their trademark navy blue and white stripes. Two looks with plenty of old-school class. We’ll be off in a minute or two!

12.02pm GMT

Nuno’s turn. “It’s been difficult to manage all the situations, because of what has happened to us. We have tried to find solutions. It’s the balance between senior players and youth that will make us stronger. We must compete and play a good game. We know what this means to Wolves as a club against rivals so we want to compete well. We must stay together as a unit, fighting for each other. It’s the most important thing.”

11.51am GMT

Big Sam speaks to BT Sport. “We’re desperate for a result and there would be nothing better than making the fans happy. We’re trying to stop conceding goals that are avoidable. Our concentration levels sometimes lapses at moments, and it only takes the opposition a few seconds to exploit that. So that has been the focus when we’re out of possession. In possession, it’s all about trying to create more chances in open play, our quality has to get better, but that’s something I’ve seen in the short time I have been here. It’s a balance of defending correctly and creating more opportunities.”

11.44am GMT

Wolves make two changes to the team that lost 2-1 at home to Everton on Tuesday night. Adama Traore has recovered from a hamstring problem, while Willy Boly’s thigh has mended. Morgan Gibbs-White and Rayan Ait Nouri make way.

West Brom ring the changes. Four in all from the team that went down to Blackpool in the FA Cup. Robert Snodgrass makes his debut, while Callum Robinson, Dara O’Shea and Romaine Sawyers return. Branislav Ivanovic, Lee Peltier and Filip Krovinovic drop to the bench, while Conor Gallagher is suspended. Sam Johnstone and Matt Phillips are both absent, laid low by coronavirus.

11.32am GMT

Wolverhampton Wanderers: Rui Patricio, Nelson Semedo, Coady, Boly, Saiss, Dendoncker, Neves, Joao Moutinho, Traore, Silva, Pedro Neto.
Subs: Hoever, Ait Nouri, Gibbs-White, Vitinha, Ruddy, Cutrone, Shabani, Kilman, Corbeanu.

West Bromwich Albion: Button, O’Shea, Ajayi, Bartley, Gibbs, Livermore, Sawyers, Matheus Pereira, Snodgrass, Grosicki, Robinson.
Subs: Lonergan, Furlong, Robson-Kanu, Krovinovic, Ivanovic, Edwards, Peltier, Kipre, Field.

11.23am GMT

It’s the first Black Country derby for nine years. As with any other local rivalry, football’s most unappealing prize - bragging rights - are up for grabs. Three precious points are too, manna from heaven for a couple of teams struggling a little bit at present.

West Brom’s travails have been well publicised. The short end of that story: Sam Allardyce has been wheeled in. It’s not been going that well for the Premier League’s most famous troubleshooter, though. Having run themselves into the ground for a point at Liverpool, they’ve subsequently lost the next two home games by an aggregate score of 9-0, then got themselves knocked out of the cup by third-tier opposition. Six points below Brighton and safety, albeit with a game in hand, they need something badly this afternoon.

Continue reading...

The Fiver | Gods of football in the middle of some kind of spiritual audit

Sign up now! Sign up now! Sign up now? Sign up now!

Liverpool versus Manchester United at Anfield. It’s a fixture that in the past has ended 7-1, 7-4, 4-4 and 1-4, though exactly how much importance should be attributed to matches played in 1895, 1908, 1953 and 1969 is very much a matter for you and you alone. The Fiver prefers to crunch more recent data, and the last five stagings of this particular super-hyped showdown have produced a grand total of six goals, and two of those were a pair of absurd deflections scored in a trippy seven-minute spell by Xherdan Shaqiri in 2018. Given the way United have just chased Liverpool down with a little help from two big nicks of their own against Wolves and Burnley, it would appear the gods of football are in the middle of some kind of spiritual audit.

Related: Premier League: 10 things to look out for this weekend

Continue reading...

Football transfer rumours: Chelsea and Spurs to fight over Kim Min-jae?

Today’s piffle is, like many of us these days, mostly staying put

This Gareth Bale thing hasn’t really worked out for either party, has it? Not least because all the golf courses are shut. Tottenham Hotspur are unlikely to seek an extension to Bale’s loan deal for next season, sending the Welsh living legend back to Real Madrid. Reopen the golf courses, Johnson!

Related: PSG and Pochettino step up efforts to sign Tottenham's Dele Alli on loan

Continue reading...

Stockport County 0-1 West Ham: FA Cup third round - as it happened

Craig Dawson’s late header edged the Hammers past battling Stockport on a wet night at Edgeley Park

10.16pm GMT

No word from David Moyes, who to be fair looked desperate for a hot shower before heading back down south. No matter, though, because Jamie Jackson was at Edgeley Park tonight, and his verdict on the last third-round tie of the weekend has landed! You know what to do: clickity click! Thanks for reading this MBM. Stay safe, dry and warm. Nighty night!

Related: Craig Dawson's debut West Ham goal ends stubborn Stockport resistance

10.13pm GMT

A drenched but philosophical Jim Gannon talks to BT Sport. “They are disappointed in there. But isn’t it a testimony of how they played to come off disappointed to lose the game? We had to hold them out, but did really well, and gave ourselves a chance of getting a goal to win the game, but it was always a stretch for us. The performance showed they’re a cut above this level, and hopefully will show that for the rest of the league season. We were disappointed with our set plays, because they were going to be our opportunities to score, but we tried to play the right game and I think we showed what we are all about. We’re still growing together. We’ve had a really good cup run, so the club is on the right way. It’s a tough year for everyone, but we want to go one better than last season and go for promotion. If they play like they did tonight they’ll have a good chance.”

9.59pm GMT

A grim-faced David Moyes gives Jim Gannon a respectful nod. He knows his team were forced to dig deep for that narrow victory. Stockport look extremely disappointed, understandably so given their efforts, and how close they came to taking West Ham to extra time. West Ham’s goalscoring hero Craig Dawson tells BT Sport it was a “tough game ... the pitch was difficult for both sides, but we stuck to our task ... it’s been a while since I played on a pitch like that, but we moved the ball well and it was nice to get a goal at the end ... it was a great clean sheet.”

9.55pm GMT

Randolph claims a Hail Mary, and the final whistle goes. Craig Dawson’s late header sends the Hammers into the fourth round, where they’ll host Doncaster Rovers. Stockport have to make do with the knowledge that they pushed a Premier League side all the way. Superb at the back, they were undone by one lapse in concentration.

9.54pm GMT

90 min +3: Palmer nearly loops a monster backpass over Hinchliffe’s head. The keeper does extremely well to bring the ball down from the sky and skelp clear.

9.53pm GMT

90 min +2: Whatever happens, this has been an heroic effort by fifth-tier Stockport County. And it was probably time for some West Ham success in the head-to-head. They haven’t beaten County since 1958!

9.52pm GMT

90 min +1: The first of four extra minutes sees Rice step across Bennett to claim possession on the corner of the West Ham box. Bennett claims hopefully, desperately, for a penalty, but he’s never getting one.

9.51pm GMT

90 min: Benrahma won’t be getting that first West Ham goal tonight. He’s substituted, along with Antonio, Fornals and Odubeko taking their places.

9.50pm GMT

89 min: West Ham deal with it easily enough. “What a relief,” sighs Nick Boonstra. “Funny, though – first thought is the elation of scoring; second thought is reflection upon the fact that Craig Dawson got his first Hammers goal before Said Benrahma. Such is life in claret and blue.”

9.48pm GMT

88 min: Kitching works his way down the left and wins a corner. Stockport send everyone bar the keeper into the box.

9.47pm GMT

86 min: One corner leads to another. Before the second can be taken, Stockport swap Rooney, Williams and Minihan for Hinchy, Thomas and Palmer. The second corner is a non-event.

9.46pm GMT

85 min: Soucek has made a big difference since coming on. He barges his way into the box down the right. Keane hangs out a leg. Soucek goes over. There’s contact. It should be a penalty, but the referee is lenient. Just a corner.

9.44pm GMT

A long ball down the right for Soucek, who wins a corner. The set piece is taken short by Rice, with Stockport snoozing a bit. Bowen curls a delicious inswinger towards the far post. Dawson breaks from deep and heads downwards, into the bottom left. A fine goal, and some very quick thinking, but the hosts will be kicking themselves for going to sleep.

9.42pm GMT

82 min: Coufal curls in from the right. Soucek fires a header wide from six yards. Frustration written all over West Ham faces. Stockport replace Jennings with Southam-Hales.

9.41pm GMT

81 min: Cresswell wriggles into the Stockport box from the left but his low cross evades everybody. Nothing’s clicking for the Hammers up front, though they’ve at least upped the pace at long last.

9.40pm GMT

79 min: Hogan slices backwards, high into the sky. Hinchliffe hares out to catch, and misses the ball altogether. Bowen can’t reach the loose ball, though, and Keane clears. A couple of signs that Stockport are beginning to feel the heat, worried of undoing all of their evening’s good work.

9.38pm GMT

77 min: Benrahma, to the right of the D, crosses to absolutely nobody. The ball bounces sadly out for a goal kick. Extra time becomes more and more a realistic prospect. This is a fine effort by County.

9.36pm GMT

75 min: Stockport have looked nerveless all evening, but here’s the first sign of a wee jangle, as Hinchliffe shanks a clearance straight to Benrahma, who attempts to return into an unguarded net. His effort sails wide right, a harmless miss, though even had it been on target, Hogan was running back to cover and would have had more than half a chance of blocking on the line.

9.35pm GMT

74 min: Dawson is winning a foot race with Bennett down the Stockport left ... then loses all rhythm, allowing Bennett to whip the ball off his toe. He looks for Rooney in the middle. Ogbonna, taking no chances, comes across to blooter out for a throw. From that throw, Rooney tries to fox Randolph at his near post, but the keeper’s not to be beaten.

9.33pm GMT

73 min: Cresswell comes on for Johnson.

9.32pm GMT

72 min: After a very impressive first 15 minutes, West Ham have achieved the square root of naff all in attack. Stockport have been extremely impressive.

9.30pm GMT

70 min: A reminder that this goes to extra time if there’s no winner during the 90 minutes. “I’m actually getting more of a Sunday League vibe here,” writes Daniel Barnett. “Looking forward to seeing Lanzini sat on Rice’s shoulders to take the nets down at the end.”

9.29pm GMT

68 min: Stockport waste yet another set piece. They load the box for a free kick on the right, a futile gesture given the delivery that follows. On the touchline, Jim Gannon melts down yet again. All that training-ground planning, and for this?

9.28pm GMT

67 min: David Moyes has seen enough. He replaces Lanzini and the ineffectual Yarmolenko with Bowen and Soucek.

9.27pm GMT

66 min: Williams loops long from the left. Randolph does well to claim. He launches long. Stockport come again! Kitching breezes down the left and crosses low. Rooney tees up Williams with a cute backheel. Williams takes a snapshot. Ogbonna blocks and clears. Stockport are beginning to carry a proper threat. This could be on, you know.

9.24pm GMT

64 min: The rain continues to bucket down. The pitch becomes heavier and heavier. All the conditions for a shock, right here. And hold on, what’s this? Jennings and Minihan combining crisply down the right, the former having a shot from a tight angle that’s blocked by Dawson. A big warning to West Ham, right there.

9.23pm GMT

63 min: Rice curls a dangerous ball in from the right. Nobody in West Ham black has gambled on a run. Hinchliffe has had precious little to do this evening.

9.22pm GMT

62 min: Stockport make their first change, replacing Reid up front with Bennett.

9.21pm GMT

60 min: Something of a lull. Stockport will be delighted with the way this is panning out. West Ham will begin to feel the nerves jangling soon. “We need three replays really to complete the 70s aesthetic.” Richard Hirst making a fair point there.

9.19pm GMT

58 min: A sensational driving run by Rice, who picks the ball up in his own half and surges down the right, powering into the box and only being stopped from shooting at the very last minute by a Hogan-Keane pincer movement. Fine defending, but what a goal that could have been!

9.17pm GMT

57 min: The pitch is slowly turning into a peaty quagmire, giving this third-round match a distinctly Seventies feel. We just need a few kids in parkas up a nearby tree to complete the aesthetic.

9.15pm GMT

55 min: Yarmolenko’s clever reverse pass down the right is completely misread by Coufal. The wing-back’s hesitation gifts Kitching the opportunity to clear.

9.13pm GMT

53 min: In the dugout, Stockport boss Jim Gannon throws an emotional fit, clearly unimpressed by his team’s set-piece delivery. By all accounts they’ve been working hard on their set pieces all week, so you can perhaps understand his take on the results so far.

9.12pm GMT

52 min: The hosts are looking lively. Jennings swaggers down the middle and slips a pass down the left for Williams. The ball screeches to a halt in a puddle, allowing Williams to win a corner that’s subsequently wasted.

9.11pm GMT

51 min: It wasn’t worth waiting for. Rooney curls it harmlessly into the arms of Randolph. The rain continues to lash down.

9.10pm GMT

50 min: A free kick for Stockport out on the right. They take their sweet time about it.

9.09pm GMT

48 min: The corner is a waste of everyone’s time. Here’s Rick Parfett: “Maybe not a feast of football for the neutral, but happy with that first half from a Stockport perspective; dogged and disciplined. The wonderful thing is that this match is a bonus. After years of falling down the leagues, to the point where we were playing part-time football, County legend Jim Gannon and a brilliant group of players led us back to the National League. Now, with an ambitious and sensible new owner, some shrewd additions and Gannon still in charge, the future looks bright. So proud of the boys tonight and every week.”

9.08pm GMT

47 min: A slow start to the second half. Then suddenly Coufal skitters down the right and earns the first corner of the second half.

9.06pm GMT

West Ham get the second half underway. No changes. Meanwhile, regarding those first-half fireworks: they were launched in support of Khia Whirehead, a 15-year-old from Stockport currently in intensive care after being knocked down by a car. Here’s to the young man getting better very soon.

Really nice to see the whole Stockport community pulling together to support Khia! We are all still sending our thoughts and prayers across to him and his family. Keep fighting Khia! pic.twitter.com/ulcXhV7reC

8.49pm GMT

Half-time entertainment. A reminder of tonight’s draw for the fourth and fifth rounds.

Related: FA Cup: Manchester United drawn against Liverpool in fourth round

8.48pm GMT

Two minutes of spectacular fireworks; the rest has been a damp squib. Like Stockport will care: they’ve kept West Ham at arm’s length easily enough. A reminder that this will go to extra time and penalties if nobody can find a winner.

8.47pm GMT

45 min +1: A rare Stockport attack sees Minihan force a corner down the right. Reid’s delivery is no good whatsoever and harmlessly files straight out of play, fluttering the side netting.

8.45pm GMT

45 min: There will be two extra minutes of this first half.

8.43pm GMT

43 min: Rice drifts in from the left and looks for the top right. Nope.

8.42pm GMT

42 min: There’s very little urgency in West Ham’s play at the moment. Stockport are quite happy to let them have it, 30 yards out. There’s no way through.

8.40pm GMT

40 min: Antonio drives across the face of the Stockport box, left to right, and tries a curler towards the bottom right. A deflection takes the ball off target and out for a corner. Ogbonna meets the set piece with a weak header that dribbles apologetically pas the left-hand post.

8.38pm GMT

38 min: Some good end-to-end fun as Antonio nearly scoots clear through the middle, only to miscontrol, allowing Kitching to take the ball off his toe. Reid goes up the other end and wins a corner off Dawson. Nothing comes of the set piece.

8.37pm GMT

37 min: Hogan tries to play out from the back, and is closed down by Noble. The Stockport centre-back is extremely pleased to see the ball deflected across the face of goal and out of reach of the nearby Antonio.

8.36pm GMT

36 min: Benrahma tries to release Yarmolenko down the inside right. There’s a little too much pace on the pass; there’s a little hesitation by Yarmolenko too. The net result is a goal kick.

8.35pm GMT

35 min: Reid launches a solo sortie down the right. West Ham are light at the back, but Reid has neither the speed nor savvy to jink his way past Ogbonna, who holds his line and eventually takes the ball off his opponent.

8.34pm GMT

34 min: West Ham continue to dominate possession; Stockport continue to hold their shape.

8.33pm GMT

33 min: Lanzini sends a dipper towards the bottom right from distance, but it’s an easy gather for Hinchliffe.

8.32pm GMT

32 min: Yarmolenko slips a ball down the middle hoping to release Antonio, who nearly spins Keane, only to stumble, allowing Hinchliffe to gather under no pressure.

8.31pm GMT

30 min: Some head tennis on the edge of the West Ham box. The ball breaks to Williams, who tries his luck from the left-hand edge of the D. It whistles wide left and batters loudly into the advertising hoardings. That was hit with some venom.

8.29pm GMT

28 min: Noble rolls a ball down the inside-right channel for Benrahma. It’s sitting up, begging to be hit. Benrahma obliges, but his effort sails well wide of the left-hand post. A first goal for his new club remains elusive.

8.26pm GMT

26 min: West Ham’s early attacking threat has been subdued. Now it’s Stockport’s turn to look fairly comfortable with the way this is going.

8.24pm GMT

24 min: Johnson tries to squirm his way through a small gap down the left, and nearly makes it to a clearing, but Stockport close the door just in time.

8.23pm GMT

22 min: That was a half-chance for Stockport, but there were no blue shirts where Randolph’s weak punch fell. A lucky break for West Ham.

8.22pm GMT

20 min: The pyrotechnics have put a stop to West Ham’s gallop, and Stockport win their first corner of the game. It’s swung into the mixer, and Randolph takes a closing-time swing at clearing it. His punch is hopeless, pinging off the side of his fist, and the situation requires the intervention of the nearby Ogbonna, who hoofs clear.

8.19pm GMT

19 min: Ah no, that’s the end of it. The match resumes.

8.18pm GMT

18 min: It’s loud enough for Mike Dean to stop play until it’s finished.

8.18pm GMT

17 min: A dog-bothering firework display is set off outside Edgeley Park. It’s properly spectacular, November 5 and New Year’s Eve rolled into one, and has already lasted a couple of minutes.

8.16pm GMT

15 min: West Ham have enjoyed 68 percent of the possession so far. They’ve looked very comfortable. Stockport haven’t done a thing in attack yet, though with the score goalless, they’ll be happy enough too, in their own way.

8.14pm GMT

14 min: Dawson is good to continue.

8.14pm GMT

13 min: Dawson is down having taken a whack on the noggin. The physio comes on and runs through his checks.

8.13pm GMT

12 min: Yarmolenko finds a bit of time and space out on the right. He nudges the ball infield before rasping a low diagonal drive wide of the left-hand post. Not too far away, though Hinchliffe almost certainly had it covered.

8.11pm GMT

11 min: West Ham win the first corner of the game, out on the right. Noble’s delivery fails to beat the first man.

8.11pm GMT

10 min: West Ham continue to push Stockport back. Rice thinks about a shot before shuttling the ball towards Noble, who tries to burst into the box down the inside-left channel. He runs the ball out for a goal kick, but only just. That gambit nearly paid off.

8.09pm GMT

8 min: West Ham are stroking it around confidently now. Rice, Lanzini and Antonio take turns to probe this way and that. David Moyes will be happy with the start his strong selection has made.

8.07pm GMT

6 min: Rice hugs the right touchline and does extremely well to dig out a deep cross. He finds Benrahma, who drops a shoulder to shift the ball inside and curls one towards the bottom right. It’s just wide - in fact it brushes the outside of the post. A clever effort, and so close to the opening goal. Hinchliffe was beaten all ends up.

8.05pm GMT

5 min: Noble executes a garden-variety tackle in midfield and aquaplanes off the pitch. Suffice to say this surface is pretty slippery, and players will do well to time every tackle. A fair chance we’ll see a couple of slapstick clatters this evening. Let’s hope Mike Dean is in a forgiving mood.

8.04pm GMT

4 min: There are 86 places between these two teams in the pyramid. No great on-pitch evidence of that chasm yet, but fair’s fair, look at the timestamp.

8.02pm GMT

2 min: A very scrappy first couple of minutes that could best be described as agricultural. The third round of the cup: we wouldn’t have it any other way.

8.01pm GMT

Referee Mike Dean - who took charge of the 2008 final between Portsmouth and Cardiff City - blows his whistle, and we’re off! Stockport get the ball rolling.

7.59pm GMT

The teams are out! Stockport are in their first-choice blue, forcing West Ham into third-choice black. The rain is belting down - it is January in Manchester after all - and so conditions are heavy. Somebody’s FA Cup hopes will go slip sliding away tonight, one way or the other. But whose? We’ll found out soon enough. We’ll be off in a minute!

7.48pm GMT

Jim Gannon of Stockport has been on tenterhooks ... “As soon as the draw was made, the anticipation started building. I had to keep reminding everyone we had nine league games before it came around!”

... as has his counterpart at West Ham, David Moyes: “It’s been a long wait until Monday night but we’re looking forward to playing.”

7.46pm GMT

Right, that’s the cup draw sorted. We now know that the winners of this match will host Doncaster Rovers in the fourth round ... and if they make it past Donny, they’ll be travelling to either Old Trafford or Anfield in round five! Some carrot dangled, right there.

Related: FA Cup fourth and fifth-round draw: Man Utd face Liverpool – as it happened

7.09pm GMT

David Moyes naming a strong West Ham side, there. More about tonight’s tie coming up very soon ... but they’ll be pulling the balls out of the hat for the fourth and fifth round draws in a minute, so like some 1970s prog rocker, I’m switching keyboards ahead of a 20-minute-long riff. Back soon!

Related: FA Cup fourth and fifth-round draws – live!

7.05pm GMT

Stockport County: Hinchliffe, Minihan, Hogan, Keane, Kitching, Croasdale, Maynard, Rooney, Williams, Reid, Connor Jennings.
Subs: Gilmour, Southam-Hales, James Jennings, Stott, Bennett, Barnes, Palmer, Thomas, Hinchy.

West Ham United: Randolph, Coufal, Dawson, Ogbonna, Johnson, Noble, Rice, Yarmolenko, Lanzini, Benrahma, Antonio.
Subs: Cresswell, Fornals, Bowen, Soucek, Trott, Alves, Baptiste, Holland, Odubeko.

4.24pm GMT

Stockport County and West Ham United. Fourth in the fifth-tier National League, 14 points off the lead, versus a team seven points off the top of the Premier League. A club that has never got past the fifth round of the FA Cup against three-time winners. This should be a shoo-in for the Hammers, right?

Well, it probably should be, yes; if County win tonight, it’ll be one heck of a shock. But the thing is, despite the huge gulf between the two clubs, Stockport have the upper hand historically. The clubs have met on 14 occasions; County have won precisely half of them, with the Hammers only winning four times. The last time they met, in December 1996, third-tier Stockport put West Ham out of the League Cup, a shock principally remembered for Iain Dowie’s spectacular own goal.

Related: 'It was a midweek night in Stockport. What we achieved was bizarre'

Continue reading...

FA Cup fourth and fifth-round draw: Man Utd face Liverpool – as it happened

Manchester United host Liverpool in the fourth round, while Wolves will be forced to relieve their 1986 nightmare of Chorley

8.12pm GMT

Related: FA Cup: Manchester United drawn against Liverpool in fourth round

7.38pm GMT

The fourth-round tie that really springs out isn’t Manchester United versus Liverpool - they’ll have played each other in the league the week before, for a start - but Chorley v Wolverhampton Wanderers. Wolves fans of a certain vintage will remember the non-league side knocking out the four-time winners in 1986-87, 3-1 after a couple of draws, so that will get the juices flowing one way or another. “I went to all three games,” writes Kevin Porter. “You know those recurring nightmares?” There are other eye-opening ties: Cheltenham of League Two are rewarded with the visit of Manchester City, there’s a fair chance Southampton will welcome Arsenal, Everton and Sheffield Wednesday restage the 1966 final, and Chelsea host Luton in a rerun of the 1994 semi.

As for the fifth round ... well, let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves. But it’s all there, for you to pore over. Enjoy your dreams. Oh, and join me for the Stockport v West Ham game, which will decide who will host Doncaster Rovers in round four, and possibly travel to either Old Trafford or Anfield in the fifth round.

Related: Stockport County v West Ham: FA Cup third round - live!

7.32pm GMT

Ties are scheduled for February 10.

Fulham or Burnley will play Bournemouth or Crawley
Manchester United or Liverpool v Stockport County or West Ham or Doncaster Rovers
Sheffield United or Plymouth Argyle v Millwall or Bristol City
Chorley or Wolves v Southampton or Shrewsbury Town or Arsenal
Barnsley or Norwich City v Chelsea or Luton Town
Everton or Sheffield Wednesday v Wycombe Wanderers or Tottenham Hotspur
Swansea or Nottingham Forest v Cheltenham or Manchester City
Brentford or Leicester v Brighton or Blackpool

7.26pm GMT

Brentford or Leicester v Brighton or Blackpool

7.26pm GMT

Swansea or Nottingham Forest v Cheltenham or Manchester City

7.26pm GMT

Everton or Sheffield Wednesday v Wycombe Wanderers or Tottenham Hotspur

7.25pm GMT

Barnsley or Norwich City v Chelsea or Luton Town

7.25pm GMT

Chorley or Wolves v Southampton or Shrewsbury Town or Arsenal

7.25pm GMT

Sheffield United or Plymouth Argyle v Millwall or Bristol City

7.24pm GMT

Manchester United or Liverpool v Stockport County or West Ham or Doncaster Rovers

7.24pm GMT

Some cracking matches coming up there. But no time to take a breather, because here comes the draw for the fifth round. The ball numbers, for what this is worth, correspond to the order the ties were decided in the fourth-round draw. Here we go ... and first out is 11: Fulham or Burnley will play Bournemouth or Crawley.

7.20pm GMT

Ties to be played the weekend of January 23.

Cheltenham Town v Manchester City
Bournemouth v Crawley Town
Swansea City v Nottingham Forest
Manchester United v Liverpool
Southampton or Shrewsbury Town v Arsenal
Barnsley v Norwich City
Chorley v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Millwall v Bristol City
Brighton & Hove Albion v Blackpool
Wycombe Wanderers v Tottenham Hotspur
Fulham v Burnley
Sheffield United v Plymouth Argyle
Chelsea v Luton Town
Stockport County or West Ham United v Doncaster Rovers
Brentford v Leicester City
Everton v Sheffield Wednesday

7.17pm GMT

And finally it’s a repeat of the 1966 final: Everton v Sheffield Wednesday.

7.17pm GMT

Brentford v Leicester City

7.17pm GMT

Stockport County or West Ham United v Doncaster Rovers

7.16pm GMT

Chelsea v Luton Town

7.16pm GMT

Sheffield United v Plymouth Argyle

7.16pm GMT

Fulham v Burnley

7.16pm GMT

Wycombe Wanderers v Tottenham Hotspur

“I feel it could be their year,” suggests Crouch of Spurs.

7.15pm GMT

Brighton & Hove Albion v Blackpool

7.15pm GMT

Millwall v Bristol City

7.15pm GMT

Chorley v Wolverhampton Wanderers

7.14pm GMT

Barnsley v Norwich City

7.14pm GMT

Southampton or Shrewsbury Town v Arsenal

7.13pm GMT

Manchester United v Liverpool

!!!

7.13pm GMT

Swansea City v Nottingham Forest

7.13pm GMT

Bournemouth v Crawley Town

7.13pm GMT

Peter Crouch, who won this competition with Liverpool in 2006, will make the draw. The first ball he pulls out is 32: Cheltenham Town. They’ll play 25: Manchester City. What a tie for the League Two side!

3.42pm GMT

That was the best FA Cup third round in a fair while, wasn’t it? Crawley shocking Leeds. Non-league Chorley making it through. Blackpool seeing off Big Sam. Neil Kengni inches away from giving eighth-tier Marine a spectacular lead against Spurs. MK Dons midfielder Ben Gladwin nearly recreating the famous Ronnie Radford goal against Burnley. Louie Barry’s ice-cool, age-belying finish for Aston Villa U-12s against Liverpool. Late drama between Newport and Brighton. It was a great weekend.

Now to see who plays who in the fourth round ... and in a break with tradition (though the cup’s been sponsored by the likes of Littlewoods and Budweiser in the past, so let’s not get too precious) the fifth round as well. It’ll aid scheduling during these strange, postponement-littered times, you see. The clubs in the metaphorical velvet bag for the fourth round are listed below, along with their draw numbers. Once the fourth-round draw is complete, a new set of 16 numbers will be generated for the fifth-round draw, and before you know it, everyone will be aware of their path to the quarter-finals.

Continue reading...

The Fiver | Cobbling together a team of janitors and repair men to play Hibs

Sign up now! Sign up now! Sign up now? Sign up now!

The Fiver has never quite understood this 10-in-a-row thing the Queen’s Celtic have been banging on about. Yes, it would be one more than them, we get that bit. But context is everything, and in terms of actual significant achievement, a modern-day 10-streak could never hold a candle to the nine-in-a-row of Jock Stein’s beloved side, a sequence completed during an era when that lot could go the first 33 games of a 34-match season unbeaten and still not wrest the title from Parkhead, and when the likes of Clyde, Partick Thistle and Morton could give you a game. Come to think of it, all factors considered, it wouldn’t be as impressive as Dundee United’s one-in-a-row either. Or Kilmarnock’s. So what’s it really worth? That’s right, yes, we agree, next to nothing.

Related: Celtic's Dubai trip under scrutiny as 13 players isolate after Jullien tests positive

Continue reading...

Manchester United 1-0 Watford: FA Cup third round – as it happened

Scott McTominay’s early header was enough to send United into the hat for the fourth round

10.29pm GMT

Jamie Jackson was at Old Trafford, and his report has landed. Clickity click, my old MBM friends, and enjoy. Thanks for reading this live blog. Stay safe. Nighty night!

Related: Scott McTominay keeps his head to guide Manchester United past Watford

10.28pm GMT

Xisco Munoz’s turn. “I am proud of my players ... they worked very hard ... we had a good performance ... we pressed up ... they worked hard ... today is the first step, we need to work hard, the little details ... I have had a little time here and we need to continue work.” Then a cheery ciao, a friendly smile and a handshake for BT Sport’s Des Kelly. Aw sweet. He seems a good sort, this chap.

10.24pm GMT

Ole’s verdict. “We started really brightly, played some nice football, got in behind them, created chances, got the first goal ... and after 15, 20 minutes it seemed the balloon popped ... it gave them confidence and they gave us a good game ... we started giving them the ball back easily, we tried to complicate it ... when you’ve got Gray or Sarr running at you, you always have your heart way up here [smiles and gestures under his chin] ... we’ve always trusted our young men coming through and Scott has the DNA of Man United in him ... Jesse has been out for a while and started brightly, and as you’d expect got a little tired ... Eric Bailly’s head is fine, it’s his neck, there’s no concussion ... I think we’re the only game with a midweek game last week and a midweek game this week, so we had to rotate and the boys got us a result.”

10.09pm GMT

The matchwinner McTominay talks to BT Sport. “We started really well ... we were really good, moving the ball, our combination play with the front boys was really good ... we didn’t find it after the first half hour ... the second half we didn’t play to anywhere near our level ... but with the boys coming into the team it’s difficult ... it’s a credit to the boys ... when the manager told me I was captain it was a surreal moment, I’ve been at this club since I was five so basically 18 years ... it’s a huge honour, I love this football club, it’s been my whole life ... I need to start scoring more headers, I’m six foot three! ... I’ve got a soft spot for the manager and I’ve got a lot to thank him for ... Jesse’s had a tough time recently and I’m pleased for him today.”

10.00pm GMT

Scott McTominay’s early header proved decisive, then. United were scintillating in attack for the first 20 minutes of this game, not so much for the rest of it. But they did enough, and many a successful FA Cup campaign has started with an underwhelming third-round performance. Watford did well to work their way into the game, and looked dangerous on a few occasions, but never transferred those positions into gilt-edged chances, or forced Dean Henderson into evasive action. The Championship side will be disappointed, of course, but once it all comes down they’ll be happy enough with a performance that’ll stand them in good stead during the rest of their promotion push. Maybe that long wait for a second win at Old Trafford - 1978, Luther Blissett, all that - will end next year in the Premier League.

9.55pm GMT

Navarro slams it witlessly into the one-man wall of Martial, and the hosts are in the bag for the fourth round!

9.54pm GMT

90 min +3: Mata hoicks it deep into the Stretford End. Watford go up the other end, Hughes grooving down the left. McTominay barges into his back, and here’s a free kick that represents Watford’s last chance.

9.53pm GMT

90 min +2: Phillips tugs at Martial’s shoulder as the striker dribbles down the middle of the park. A free kick just outside the D.

9.52pm GMT

90 min +1: The first added minute passes without incident. On the United bench, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer looks relatively calm. His team have been made to work for this, but for all the half-chances Watford have created, Henderson hasn’t had to make too many crucial interventions.

9.51pm GMT

90 min: There are four extra minutes between Manchester United and the fourth round.

9.50pm GMT

89 min: Sema makes it easy for the hosts, floating the free kick harmlessly into the arms of Henderson.

9.49pm GMT

88 min: Hungbo drives down the right and runs slap-bang into Matic. Six and half-a-dozen, but the decision goes to the young Watford attacker, and it’s yet another chance to load the box and test United’s occasionally shaky set-piece defending.

9.47pm GMT

86 min: Maguire clears the corner with a no-nonsense header.

9.46pm GMT

85 min: Sema strips McTominay out on the left, and sprays a pass out right for Hungbo, who sashays infield and has a dig from the edge of the D. His shot is deflected out for a corner.

9.44pm GMT

83 min: Chalobah has done his hamstring. He’s replaced by Phillips. The captain’s armband goes to Hughes.

9.43pm GMT

81 min: And continues to remain elusive. Rashford zips off down the left, getting the better of Wilmot, and he’s one on one with Bachmann, albeit from a tight angle on the left. Rashford opens his body in the hope of steering into the bottom right, but it’s too close to the keeper, who snaffles.

9.41pm GMT

80 min: A free kick for United out on the left. Telles loops it long. Maguire wins a header at the far post, but can’t get anything on target. The second goal that would put this tie to bed remains elusive for the hosts.

9.40pm GMT

79 min: United make their fourth change of the evening, taking off Lingard and sending on Matic to shore things up a little bit.

9.39pm GMT

78 min: Mata’s delivery is no good. Watford deal with the free kick easily enough. United are making a meal of this.

9.38pm GMT

77 min: Martial is heading down a cul-de-sac just to the right of the Watford box. Ngakia needlessly hauls him down, and this is a free kick in a dangerous position.

9.37pm GMT

76 min: Watford make another double swap. Wilmot comes on for Troost-Ekong at the back, while the debutant Zinckernagel, blowing hard, is replaced by Hungbo.

9.37pm GMT

75 min: Navarro curls in from the right, towards Pedro on the right-hand corner of the six-yard box. A flick-on would cause United all sorts of heartache, but he tries to beat Henderson at his near post, and the direct header sails harmlessly wide right.

9.35pm GMT

74 min: United are having to do some defending here. Navarro makes his way down the right and whips a testing cross into the centre. Maguire passes that test, clearing United’s lines.

9.34pm GMT

73 min: It’s not clear whether Sema’s delivery is a cross or a shot. Either way, it’s no good, sailing harmlessly wide of the top-left corner.

9.33pm GMT

72 min: Pedro tiptoes along the right-wing tightrope, keeping the ball in at high speed and drawing a foul from Telles, who earns a yellow for his cynicism. A free kick just to the right of the United box. Danger here.

9.32pm GMT

71 min: Maguire makes up for his error by bashing the corner clear. But Sema comes at United again, winning another corner on the right. Take two. Pedro guides a fairly tame header into the arms of Henderson from the edge of the box.

9.31pm GMT

70 min: Watford swarm around a poor Maguire clearing header, allowing Gray, Chalobah and Sema to combine down the right and win a corner. Sema to take.

9.29pm GMT

68 min: United make a double change of their own. Rashford and Martial come on for James and the disappointing Greenwood.

9.27pm GMT

66 min: Tuanzebe is booked for barging Zinckernagel to the floor. Or was it for kicking the ball away as he conceded the free kick? Either way, he was mopping up McTominay’s mess, the United captain miscontrolling an easy pass and letting the Danish debutant make off with the ball. The resulting free kick is a chance for Watford to load the box, and proves to be a waste of time.

9.25pm GMT

64 min: United stroke it around for a bit, though their tempo has decreased significantly. Watford look happy enough at the minute.

9.24pm GMT

62 min: Mata makes like Sema, 60 seconds earlier, looking to release James down the inside-right channel with a wonder pass. Bachmann anticipates the danger, racing from his area to blooter clear. Somewhere in the multiverse, it’s been a quickfire couple of goals and it’s 2-1. The small margins.

9.22pm GMT

61 min: Sema’s first act is to thread a delightful long pass down the inside-right channel, nearly releasing Pedro on goal. Maguire does extremely well to read the danger, and intercepts just in time.

9.21pm GMT

60 min: Ngakia’s first act is to concede a corner out on the right. Mata pulls the set piece back for Greenwood, who tries to steer a shot into the right-hand side of the goal from 12 yards, but can’t get any oomph behind it. Bachmann claims.

9.19pm GMT

58 min: Watford make a double substitution, replacing Masina with Ngakia at left-back and Sarr with Sema on the wing. Sarr, who has been very impressive, looks extremely disappointed but trots off without complaint.

9.17pm GMT

56 min: A deep cross from the right by Zinckernagel. Pedro wins a header at the far post, beating Williams, but this time it’s power rather than precision that’s lacking. An easy catch for Henderson.

9.16pm GMT

55 min: Zinckernagel scoops the free kick into the mixer. Pedro wins the header, though only manages to send the ball miles over the bar. Another scare for United, though. They’ve not looked comfortable defending the set piece at all.

9.15pm GMT

54 min: Lingard clumsily barges Hughes to the ground out on the right. Free kick, and another chance to cause United some set-piece bother.

9.14pm GMT

52 min: James and Telles nearly open up Watford down the left with a one-two, but James’s fast feet write a cheque the rest of his body can’t cash, and just as he threatens to break into the box, the ball hectically clanks out for a throw to Watford. He’s been lively, though.

9.11pm GMT

51 min: So having said that, both teams effectively take a breather for a couple of scrappy minutes.

9.10pm GMT

49 min: Some space for James down the inside-left channel. He’s given time to line up a curler towards the bottom right, but doesn’t quite get the pace or whip on his effort and it’s an easy snaffle for Bachmann. Both teams continue to look well up for this.

9.09pm GMT

47 min: Sarr brushes McTominay off the ball with ease, and sends Watford breaking upfield. Masina shifts infield from the left, teeing up Pedro, who lashes wildly over the bar from the edge of the box. Awful finish but a fine move by the visitors. Sarr is going to be an awesome player. He’s not far off already.

9.06pm GMT

Watford get the second half underway. No changes by either side, though of course Maguire took the place of the unfortunate Bailly right at the end of the first half.

8.56pm GMT

Half-time entertainment. A retro Manchester United podcast presented by two of your favourite Guardian scallies. Enjoy, enjoy.

Episode 5 of United Rewind is out now!

Rob Smyth and @DanielHarris look back at the raucous FA Cup third round tie at the Etihad in January 2012, when the Ginger Prince came out of retirement to help United to a 3-2 win...

Listen now!https://t.co/d2WJnEDGjI#MUFC #MUNMCI pic.twitter.com/fVrky5j9Nd

8.51pm GMT

Nothing comes of the corner, and there goes the whistle. Well, that was a half of two halves, United owning the first 20 minutes or so, Watford bossing the rest. But the home side will be happier, having parlayed their period of dominance into that Scott McTominay header. This is a good, free-flowing, entertaining contest. More, please!

8.50pm GMT

45 min +4: However there’s time for Watford to come again, and Sarr causes all manner of bother down the right again, before teeing up Chalobah for another whack from distance. Watford will get a corner this time, and United opt to take no chances with Bailly, sending Maguire on in his stead.

8.49pm GMT

45 min +3: Bailly looks like he wants to continue, but in truth he looks a little groggy. He’s helped off the pitch. No sub, but there’s only one extra minute to go, and it appears Watford aren’t getting their corner, though I’m not sure why.

8.47pm GMT

45 min +2: The stretcher comes on, but happily, Bailly is soon able to get back up under his own steam. They’re still checking his neck, though. Better safe than sorry.

8.47pm GMT

45 min +1: Before that corner can be taken, the physio comes on to attend to Bailly, who hasn’t moved much since taking that whack upside his head.

8.46pm GMT

45 min: From the throw, Sarr is clipped by Lingard. The free kick is sent high into the mixer. Henderson punches clear with power, albeit at the expense of Bailly, who takes a whack. Pedro picks up the rebound and wins another corner on the left, Watford’s fifth of the game.

8.44pm GMT

44 min: United hearts in mouths as Sarr romps after a long ball down the right, and Henderson comes haring out of his box hoping to intercept. The goalie gets there just in time to hack out for a throw. Timed to perfection, he’ll tell you. Wow, that was risky, against a player as fast as Sarr.

8.43pm GMT

43 min: Bachmann saves one-on-one from Mata, who was set up by a sensational backheeled pass down the inside-left channel from Van de Beek.

8.42pm GMT

42 min: James skitters down the left and wins a corner off Hughes. Telles sends another fine one in, but Sierralta beats Bailly and McTominay to the jump and Watford clear their lines.

8.41pm GMT

41 min: Telles has a whack from distance out on the left. It’s an easy snaffle for Bachmann.

8.40pm GMT

40 min: Watford go big on the corner, sending seven forward, but United deal with it this time. Hughes clatters into James from the side as the United man tries to break upfield. A free-kick, though not a booking, but it stopped a dangerous counter with Watford light at the back.

8.39pm GMT

39 min: Sarr and Gray exchange cleverly down the right, Sarr instigating the one-two with a gorgeous little backheel. The move earns yet another corner.

8.38pm GMT

38 min: The first booking of the match is picked up by Sarr, who cynically tugs on the shoulder of Lingard as the 2016 final hero tries to attack up the left flank.

8.37pm GMT

37 min: Hughes swings it in. Troos-Ekong jumps higher than Bailly, but can only waft a header comfortably wide right. Goal kick.

8.36pm GMT

36 min: Watford’s confidence continues to flourish. Pedro wins another corner out on the left.

8.35pm GMT

35 min: Zinckernagel takes, the debutant curling in dangerously. United half clear. The ball breaks to Chalobah, who chests down and drags a shot wide left from the edge of the D. United don’t look comfortable defending set pieces at all.

8.34pm GMT

34 min: Sarr is causing all sorts of problems. Now his presence down the right draws a foul from Telles, and here’s a chance for the visitors to load the box.

8.33pm GMT

33 min: The second corner leads to nothing. But that was so much better from Watford, who have finally found a foothold in this game.

8.32pm GMT

32 min: From the resulting corner, the ball breaks to Sarr, who tries to prod home from the penalty spot. The ball breaks off Tuanzebe’s trouser arrangement, then off Bailly’s hand, and out for another corner. Before that can be taken, VAR takes a look at the handball shout, but quite correctly decides that nothing’s doing.

8.31pm GMT

31 min: That’s given Watford a much-needed injection of confidence, and now Pedro wins a corner down the left with some silky ball control.

8.30pm GMT

29 min: Chalobah nearly slips a cute pass down the right to release Sarr, but Telles steps in to intercept. Just in time, too, as Sarr would have reached the byline. Then another Watford attack, as Sarr outstrips Telles with an absurd blast of the jets. Henderson rushes rashly off his line, and is beaten to it by Sarr, who hooks into the centre. The goal’s unguarded, but Gray and Pedro confuse each other at the far post and Bailly is able to clear.

8.27pm GMT

27 min: Mata dribbles in from the left, looking to work space to shoot. Watford close down all avenues towards goal. The visitors have steadied the ship a little, after a torrid first 20 minutes or so.

8.26pm GMT

25 min: United stroke it around at speed, and with a pleasing aesthetic, Van de Beek, Mata, Telles and Lingard all involved. To no real effect, but nobody’s complaining about a little art for art’s sake.

8.24pm GMT

23 min: Although having said that, Watford go close(ish) again. Masina sends a diagonal pass towards Sarr on the right. Sarr crosses to the near post, where Gray wins a header, albeit getting no power behind it. So they’re making chances.

8.22pm GMT

22 min: Gray wins Watford a little respite by backing into Tuanzebe on the halfway line, the Harry Kane Gambit. Small mercies at the moment for the visitors, who simply need to stay in the game and see how things develop later.

8.21pm GMT

21 min: Lingard has a dig from a tight angle on the right. Then Telles hits a cross-cum-shot into the area from the left. Both are blocked, but United are coming at Watford from all angles.

8.19pm GMT

20 min: Telles sends a fierce outswinger towards Bailly, just to the left of the penalty spot. Bailly tries to steer his header across Bachmann and into the bottom right. It’s inches wide. What a delivery by Telles!

8.18pm GMT

19 min: A fine run by Telles down the inside-left channel. He eats up yards and yards before slipping inside for Mata, who aims for the top left. Deflected. Corner.

8.17pm GMT

17 min: United re-establish their dominance by streaming up the other end, James hoicking a speculative long-distance effort over the bar. Not far away at all. James has been dynamite so far.

8.17pm GMT

16 min: Yet after all this, Watford nearly equalise! A free kick is swung in from the left. One simple flick on, and Masina is free, just to the left of centre, 12 yards out. He swivels and guides the ball past Henderson, all in one smooth movement. But there’s no pace on the ball and Tuanzebe can hack off the line. That may give Watford some much-needed succour.

8.15pm GMT

15 min: Some pinball in the Watford box. Mata and Greenwood both have decent half-chances to send slap-shots goalward from close range, but Troost-Ekong throws himself around to block.

8.13pm GMT

13 min: Lingard rolls a ball inside for nobody in particular. But the ball threads its way through a gaggle of players before finding Mata, who has a dig from the edge of the D. It’s blocked by Masina.

8.12pm GMT

11 min: The first showing of the dangerous Sarr - constantly linked with a move to United - as he breezes down the right. But he’s got nobody in the middle to aim for, and is forced to turn tail by Tuanzebe. Still, a little better from Watford, who have been utterly dominated so far.

8.10pm GMT

10 min: James and Telles combine down the left, but the latter’s cross is easily dealt with by a Watford defence under no penalty-box pressure at all. United are causing havoc down this flank. Speaking of which: “Watching James dancing down the wing brings back happy memories of Hill and Coppell.” Justin Kavanagh there, lost in reverie. “Alas watching Ighalo brings back not-so-happy memories of Garry Birtles.”

8.08pm GMT

8 min: Mata slips a ball down the inside-left channel for Greenwood, who slices wide while trying to whip goalwards from a tight angle. United are well up for this.

8.08pm GMT

7 min: A bit daft to say, given the stage of the match, but that had been coming. Give plenty of credit to James, who had put Watford thoroughly on the back foot with a couple of searing burns down the left. A stroke of fortune in the goal, perhaps, given the arc of the ball, but McTominay attacked the header with purpose and you make your own luck.

8.06pm GMT

Another day at Old Trafford, another early goal for Scott McTominay! Telles sends an outswinger into the mixer. United’s latest captain rises highest, heading down. The ball loops up, spinning over the head of Bachmann, off the right-hand post, and into the top-corner.

8.04pm GMT

4 min: United have started brightly, and have quickly imposed themselves. James cuts in again from the left, at high speed, and reaches the area. He pearls a rising shot goalwards, though it’s straight at Bachmann and an easy tip-over. Corner, though.

8.02pm GMT

2 min: A high-tempo but scrappy start as both teams have a wee feel of the ball. Then suddenly James scampers with purpose down the left, a real twinkle-toed run that gets him into the box. His dink infield is to nobody, sadly for United, but that’s a lively start from the young winger.

8.01pm GMT

Here we go, then! United get the ball rolling, after the knee of solidarity, respect and love is taken. No room for racism. Watford will kick towards the Stretford End in this first half.

7.59pm GMT

The teams are out! United, wearing their famous red tops, take to the Old Trafford stage, soon followed by Watford in their second-choice away shirts. This is the one, according to the local poor-man’s-Byrds combo pumping out of the PA. We’ll be off in a minute!

7.50pm GMT

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer also cuts a relaxing figure. “It’s the start of the FA Cup and you always enter to go as far as you can. As a club we have had many, many successful nights. Donny van de Beek is a very good player. Tonight is a good chance for him to show again. He’s had to be patient but I’m looking forward to seeing him. Jesse Lingard has always been bright and bubbly, training well. I told him to keep his head up, and let’s see where this takes us. Odion Ighalo has done really well. If we need a goal, he’s a striker to have in the box. Hopefully we won’t need a goal and he can get out there and enjoy it. Watford are a top Championship side and Premier League last season, so this will be a top challenge, but we hope to dominate them.”

7.42pm GMT

A very cheery Xisco Munoz speaks to BT Sport. “It is a good moment. I am happy for this game. We know we have in front a very good team, so the most important thing is to play hard, try and enjoy, and start thinking about our tactics. We have very good players. Step by step, we have time. I am happy with the guys. High intensity is the most important. It will be the identity of our club. Attractive football.”

7.12pm GMT

Manchester United make a slew of changes to their starting XI. Only two players named for the 2-0 League Cup semi-final defeat to Manchester City retain their place: goalkeeper Dean Henderson and Scott McTominay, captaining the side for the first time. There’s a rare sighting of £35m midfielder Donny van de Beek, who makes only his ninth start in a United shirt, while former Watford striker Odion Ighalo takes a place on the bench.

Watford welcome back their 19-year-old Brazilian striker Joao Pedro from injury. Danish winger Philip Zinckernagel makes his debut after signing for the Hornets on New Year’s Day.

7.03pm GMT

Manchester United: Henderson, Tuanzebe, Bailly, Williams, Telles, McTominay, van de Beek, James, Mata, Lingard, Greenwood.
Subs: de Gea, Maguire, Martial, Rashford, Fred, Bruno Fernandes, Ighalo, Wan Bissaka, Matic.

Watford: Bachmann, Navarro, Sierralta, Troost-Ekong, Masina, Zinckernagel, Chalobah, Hughes, Sarr, Joao Pedro, Gray.
Subs: Foster, Ngakia, Wilmot, Sema, Dalby, Hungbo, Crichlow, Philips, Barrett.

1.03pm GMT

“I don’t believe in underdogs. At least not in the Cup. You respect the opposition, but it is a terrible trap to be overawed by them. The players must believe they have as much right to be on the field as anybody. Once they do, it’s just 11 men against 11.” The legendary Watford manager Graham Taylor there, in January 1982, after his promotion-bound Second Division side beat First Division title-chasing giants Manchester United in the third round of the FA Cup.

Their 1-0 victory came courtesy of a first-half Jan Lohman goal. The 18-year-old John Barnes man-marked an uncharacteristically ineffective Bryan Robson out of the game. Lou Macari had a header cleared off the line, and Garry Birtles had a couple of raspers saved by Steve Sherwood, but otherwise it was all Watford. “No complaints,” shrugged Ron Atkinson. “They were better than us in every department.” Watching on was Hornets chairman Elton John. “It was one of my greatest moments,” said the composer of Rocket Man, Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting and Don’t Go Breaking My Heart. “Tremendous cup tie.”

Continue reading...

FA Cup third round: Blackpool knock out West Brom on penalties – as it happened

Blackpool boing Big Sam and the Baggies out of the FA Cup on an entertaining afternoon in the third round

5.54pm GMT

The 3pm kick-off results.

Related: Arsenal v Newcastle: FA Cup third round – live!

5.50pm GMT

KaiKai has the chance to put Blackpool through, after misses by Edwards and Furlong. He sends the keeper the wrong way ... but his shot clatters off the base of the left-hand post and out! Head in hands. No matter, though, because Pereira’s preposterous stuttering run-up ensures the shock still happens. A dismal easy-to-read effort is snaffled by Maxwell and the 1953 winners are through! Oh Sam.

5.44pm GMT

Bardsley sends the Clarets into the fourth round with the decisive kick.

5.39pm GMT

A tedious match enlivened by a couple of lovely Fulham goals in extra time.

5.36pm GMT

EXTRA TIME, FULL TIME: Blackpool 2-2 WBA. That draw at Anfield really did take it out of Albion’s players, didn’t it. Another poor performance. Allardyce chewing gum like billy-o. Can the Premier League save themselves in the penalty shoot-out?

5.33pm GMT

EXTRA TIME, FULL TIME: Burnley 1-1 MK Dons. There must be something wrong with the Guardian clock. Batteries cost a few quid, to be fair. It’s going to penalties at Turf Moor.

5.30pm GMT

We’re six or seven minutes away from full time in extra time at Blackpool and Burnley. The game down at QPR is a few minutes behind, though. Penalties looming in Lancashire.

5.23pm GMT

HALF TIME, EXTRA TIME: QPR 0-2 Fulham. A double whammy just before the break in extra time has surely done for the Hoops.

5.23pm GMT

GOAL! QPR 0-2 Fulham (Kebano 105+3). The ball shuttled across the front of the QPR box, left to right. Kebano lashes home from a tight angle, and that is surely that.

5.20pm GMT

HALF TIME, EXTRA TIME: Burnley 1-1 MK Dons. It’s the visitors who have come closest to scoring.

5.19pm GMT

HALF TIME, EXTRA TIME: Blackpool 2-2 WBA. The hosts have been giving as good as they’ve been getting. Big Sam continues to chew a wasp.

5.18pm GMT

GOAL! QPR 0-1 Fulham (Decordova-Reid 104). The deadlock is finally broken at Loftus Road, and this is a gem! Decordova-Reid one-twos with Mitrovic down the middle, opens his body, and curls a forensic sidefoot into the bottom right.

5.16pm GMT

MK Dons midfielder Ben Gladwin is inches away from recreating Ronnie Radford’s famous goal for Hereford against Newcastle in 1972. He whistles an ambitious 30-yard effort towards the top left of the Burnley goal. A smidgen to the right, and it would have been in. As it is, it cannons off the post and away. Ah well. It’s a thin line between a decent effort and FA Cup immortality.

5.10pm GMT

Not a great deal of action to report from the three matches that have gone to extra time. You come this far, you hunker down.

5.05pm GMT

The 3pm full-times.

5.01pm GMT

Classified check coming up in a second. But for clarity’s sake ... there are three of the 3pm kick-offs going to extra time, and possibly penalties: Blackpool v WBA, Burnley v MK Dons, and QPR v Fulham. More excitement ahoy!

5.00pm GMT

FULL TIME: QPR 0-0 Fulham. So much for tempting fate.
FULL TIME: Bristol Rovers 2-3 Sheffield United. A much-needed win for the Blades.

5.00pm GMT

Something of a shock, given both sides’ Championship form.

4.59pm GMT

Yep, three in a row for the visitors.

4.58pm GMT

No real drama as the League Two strugglers are clinically dispatched by the high-flying Swans.

4.57pm GMT

FULL TIME: Blackpool 2-2 WBA. See also the third-tier Seasiders versus the Premier League’s Big Sam.

4.56pm GMT

FULL TIME: Burnley 1-1 MK Dons. And that’s the final gasp of the 90! Burnley save themselves at the death, and this one’s going to extra time.

4.55pm GMT

GOAL! Burnley 1-1 MK Dons (Vydra 90+4). Bardsley is needlessly fouled out on the right. From the free kick, the Clarets save themselves! The ball’s whipped into the mixer, and rammed home by Vydra, sliding in at the right-hand post!

4.54pm GMT

Easy in the end for the home side. Or the away side, depending on how you look at it.

4.53pm GMT

A shock as the League One side see off Championship outfit Rovers.

4.52pm GMT

Easy for Brendan Rodgers’ men.

4.51pm GMT

GOAL! Exeter 0-2 Sheffield Wednesday (Paterson 90). It’s going to be three wins on the bounce for previously floundering Wednesday. Penny for the thoughts of Tony Pulis.

4.50pm GMT

Let’s see if we can tempt fate and tease out some last-minute drama in the west London derby between QPR and Fulham. Bugger all has happened in that one.

4.47pm GMT

GOAL! Bournemouth 4-1 Oldham (King 86). A shot not so much belted past but through the keeper. King doesn’t bother celebrating.

4.46pm GMT

GOAL! Wycombe 4-1 Preston (Samuel 82). The 1889 and 1938 winners are toast. Samuel enters the box down the right and slots home calmly in the Buckinghamshire fog.

4.45pm GMT

Stevenage spurn a great chance to get back into it against Swansea. A penalty kick, dispatched towards the bottom left by Norris, but turned around the post brilliantly by Swans keeper Woodman.

4.42pm GMT

GOAL! Blackpool 2-2 WBA (Pereira 80 pen). A lifeline for Big Sam! A cross hits Turton’s arm. Nowhere near his silhouette, and it’s a penalty kick. Pereira lashes it into the bottom right, the keeper guessing correctly but given no chance.

4.40pm GMT

GOAL! Stoke 0-4 Leicester (Barnes 81). This is a rout now. Some pinball in the Stoke area. The ball breaks to Barnes, who slams home from 12 yards.

4.39pm GMT

GOAL! Stoke 0-3 Leicester (Perez 79). Bragging rights in ATVLand confirmed for the Foxes. A lovely move, the ball shuttled in from the right by a couple of blue shirts, then slammed home from the penalty spot by Perez. This is over.

4.37pm GMT

GOAL! Bournemouth 3-1 Oldham (King 74) or Oldham 1-3 Bournemouth (King 74), whichever you prefer. Quite a few headed goals this afternoon. Here’s another!

4.36pm GMT

Still plenty of time to go in the 3pm kick-offs. But there’s a big match kicking off in just under an hour, and the teams contesting it have landed. Barry Glendenning has the details of The Arsenal v Newcastle United.

Related: Arsenal v Newcastle: FA Cup third round – live!

4.33pm GMT

BREAKING NEWS: Big Sam continues to stomp about the technical area with a face on.

4.32pm GMT

Burke continues to shine against Bristol Rovers. He drives down the left and sends a shot across Day and off the base of the right-hand post. Meanwhile another near miss, this time at Ewood Park, where Blackburn still trail Doncaster. Harvey Elliott has come on, and goes close with a curler towards the top left. Balcombe in the Donny goal fingertips spectacularly, then parries the rebound as well. Magnificent play all round.

4.29pm GMT

GOAL! Blackpool 2-1 WBA (Madine 66). A lovely sweeping move by the 1953 winners, and Big Sam is under pressure again! Lovely combination play between Yates and Madine, and the latter moves into space down the middle before whistling a low shot into the bottom left! Anyone interested in the aforementioned Matthews Final should click below, or perhaps consider this.

Related: Blackpool 4-3 Bolton Wanderers: 1953 FA Cup final – as it happened

4.25pm GMT

Whatever happens in Bristol, this should serve Sheffield United well. They’ve been so constipated in the Premier League, with just eight goals in 17 matches. This should blow a few cobwebs off, and yes, it’s for the best that I mixed metaphors there.

4.23pm GMT

GOAL! Bristol Rovers 2-3 Sheffield United (Bogle 63). More good work by Burke, followed by a smooth run into the area by Bogle down the inside-right channel. He slots home at the near post, and this is turning into a classic!

4.22pm GMT

GOAL! Bristol Rovers 2-2 Sheffield United (Ehmer 62). A corner from the right. A flick-on at the near post, and Ehmer can’t miss from a couple of yards. Dismal defending. However ...

4.21pm GMT

GOAL! Bristol Rovers 1-2 Sheffield United (Burke 59). The latest jinking genius off the Scottish conveyor belt is sent scampering down the middle. No mistake. He slots home. However...

4.20pm GMT

GOAL! Stoke 0-2 Leicester (Albrighton 59). A lovely goal this, as the ever-underrated Albrighton swans in from the right, drops a shoulder, and whips a lovely curler into the bottom left. Could this be Leicester’s year in the FA Cup at long last? Four losing appearances out of four in the final. It has to happen sometime, surely.

4.18pm GMT

Just in case you’ve been as confused as me ... and if that’s that case, I feel for you ... but the Oldham-Bournemouth tie is being played at the Vitality Stadium, on account of the Boundary Park being frozen. So we’ve been referring to Bournemouth-Oldham as well as Oldham-Bournemouth. No idea what the official line is. I suspect traditionalists will go with the latter, as per the draw, but for clarity I may keep on with the former. In either instance, feel free to sue us.

4.13pm GMT

GOAL! Blackpool 1-1 WBA (Ajayi 52). See Swansea’s second, just there. Easy as that, with the assist going to Big Sam’s Half-Time Hairdryer.

4.12pm GMT

GOAL! Stevenage 0-2 Swansea (Gyokeres 50). Cross from the right. Header down. In!

4.10pm GMT

GOAL! Oldham 1-2 Bournemouth. (Riquelme 49). A few cute triangles down the right, and Riquelme is on hand to slam home a low cross. Lovely move.

4.05pm GMT

Second halves underway again, y’all. Remember, extra time and penalties could be coming up. Almost certainly will be, somewhere or other. Here we go, then.

3.56pm GMT

The half-times, then. A very entertaining first 45.

3.54pm GMT

At Burnley, Richard Keogh is shown the red card when the ball hits his hand as he covers as last man. Has a clear scoring opportunity been denied? Not according to VAR, because Chris Wood, who would otherwise have been sent clear, was offside. Or was Wood in the process of fouling Keogh? Either way, the decision is overturned.

3.52pm GMT

GOAL! Oldham 1-1 Bournemouth (Bahamboula pen 45). Keillor-Dunn is brought down by Dennis - or was it a dive? It’s soft, put it that way. Bahamboula smashes the gift home.

3.50pm GMT

GOAL! Wycombe 3-1 Preston (Jakobsen pen 43). A lifeline for Preston just before the break, as Allsop rashly brings down Riis. Jakobsen slams the penalty home.

3.47pm GMT

GOAL! Blackburn 0-1 Doncaster (Richards 42). A speculative long-range effort by Richards finds the bottom right, Pears in the Blackburn goal at fault for weak hands.

3.45pm GMT

GOAL! Bournemouth 1-0 Oldham (Brooks 43). Not long after nearly going behind, saved by the woodwork, the Cherries take the lead with a deflected long-range effort from Brooks.

3.45pm GMT

GOAL! Blackpool 1-0 WBA (Yates 41). The Seasiders work the ball down the left. A low cross is whistled along the corridor of uncertainty. West Brom’s defence does what it usually does, standing stock still to a man. Yates comes in from the other flank to slam home from close range. On the touchline, Big Sam fumes. He’ll run out of lug-steam soon, the way this season is going. One man can only generate so much. But a shock is on!

3.42pm GMT

Oldham hit the woodwork against Bournemouth! Barnett drifts in from the left, and curls with purpose towards the top right. The ball caroms off the upright and away. What an effort that was.

3.40pm GMT

Sheffield United have the ball in the Bristol Rovers net, but it’s disallowed. Egan rises to smash a header goalwards. Day parries. Mousset slams home. But Egan is penalised for climbing all over his opponent. BREAKING NEWS: On BT Sport, Peter Walton agrees with the referee’s decision. To be fair, it is the correct outcome, but you get the wider point.

3.37pm GMT

WHAT A GOAL! Stoke 0-1 Leicester (Justin 34). James Justin cuts in from the left, beats two Stoke players, then curls a vicious shot into the top-right bin. Slightly surprised that the net, plus the entire frame of the goal, isn’t currently flying over the Stanley Matthews statue. That was one hell of a strike. And to think some were worried about missing Ben Chilwell.

3.34pm GMT

It could be one of those days for Burnley. They should equalise in short order, but somehow Tarkowski manages to hit the post from a couple of yards. What a miss!

3.33pm GMT

GOAL! Burnley 0-1 MK Dons (Jerome 29). The ball sent in from the left. A couple of flick-ons, and then Jerome sends a Houchenesque diving header back across goal and into the bottom left! A shock on here, as the mid-table League One franchise lead the Premier League club.

3.31pm GMT

GOAL! Exeter 0-1 Sheffield Wednesday (Reach 27). A lovely goal this, lashed into the net with Van Bastenesque confidence from a tight angle on the right by Reach. Wednesday are suddenly enjoying a rich vein of form under caretaker Neil Thompson.

3.30pm GMT

GOAL! Wycombe 3-0 Preston (Knight 25). A shock developing, of sorts, between these two Championship sides. A free kick sent out right is hoicked back into the six-yard box. Knight extends a telescopic leg to guide home from close range. This is over.

3.27pm GMT

There are going to be a lot of matches going to extra time at this rate. A reminder that there are no replays this season. Straight to extra time then penalties if needs be. Ah, the days of the multiple replay. There’s one of those old-school marathons in this JoS, which admittedly is mainly worth reading for an on-form Smyth wading in below the line throwing hands. Those were the days.

Related: Joy of Six: Liverpool v Arsenal matches | Scott Murray

3.24pm GMT

GOAL! Bristol Rovers 1-1 Sheffield United (Kilgour 21). There are two divisions between Rovers and United, but the scoreline is level at the Memorial Stadium. A deep right-wing cross is met by Kilgour, who rises regally and plants a glorious header into the top left. Keeper no chance! That is a lovely finish.

3.20pm GMT

Ah the magic of the long third-round lull. Don’t shoot the messenger.

3.14pm GMT

GOAL! Wycombe 2-0 Preston (Jacobson 9 pen). Ikpeazu is bundled over by a small pocket of air, or maybe the nearby Earl. It’s soft, but it’s given. Jacobson lashes it down the middle, and Wycombe have wandered out of the blocks at Olympic pace.

3.11pm GMT

GOAL! Stevenage 0-1 Swansea (Routledge 7). The second successful downward header of the afternoon, and the Swans take the lead against the League Two strugglers.

3.10pm GMT

GOAL! Bristol Rovers 0-1 Sheffield United (Day og 6). Osborn crosses dangerously from the left. Mousset rises and slams a header off the crossbar. The ball drops down and twangs off the back of the unfortunate Rovers keeper Day, who was sprawling mid-dive. That’s unfortunate for poor Day, but the cross and header deserved reward.

3.07pm GMT

GOAL! Wycombe 1-0 Preston (Onyedinma 3). The first goal of the 3pms didn’t take long. A right-wing cross slung into the Preston box; Fred Onyedinma rises at the far post and heads back across goal and into the bottom right. What a start for the Championship’s bottom side against 12th-placed Preston.

3.05pm GMT

Burnley have flown out of the box. A ball whipped into the Franchise FC box from the left; Chris Wood has his header tipped over after a mere 23 seconds.

3.00pm GMT

As we prepare for the 3pms, then, a reminder of all the early results:

Related: Mike Calveley makes Cup history for Chorley and stuns weakened Derby

2.56pm GMT

Anything spring out at you there? Seeing we’re under no obligation to get the pom-poms out and cheerlead for the FA, the answer is surely no. Not that we’re resorting to that tiresome old jaded-contrarian schtick; it’s just that a lot of the participants really could do with Concentrating On The League in this concertinaed campaign for one reason or another. Of the 20 teams in action, five are making serious promotion pushes (Blackburn, Doncaster, Bournemouth, Swansea, Stoke); one has legitimate Premier League ambitions (Leicester); and ten are looking over their shoulders, sweating like someone who might have just blown his chances of getting his presidential pension (West Brom, Bristol Rovers, Sheffield United, Burnley, MK Dons, Sheffield Wednesday, QPR, Fulham, Stevenage and Wycombe). But on the flip side, there are no replays this season, so teams may go hell for leather anyway. Entertainment ahoy? Ach, why not. Entertainment ahoy!

2.44pm GMT

Good old Bob, eh kids? He’s already furnished you with the team news of all the upcoming kick-offs, but here’s an almost certainly redundant reminder of the 3pm fixture list, just in case, or for the record, or whatever.

2.40pm GMT

That’s it for the lunchtime games. Time for me to hand over to Scott Murray for the 3pm matches. Bye!

2.40pm GMT

Wycombe v Preston North End team news

Wycombe Allsop, McCarthy, Tafazolli, Knight, Jacobson, Wheeler, Adeniran, Bloomfield, Onyedinma, Ikpeazu, Muskwe. Subs: Grimmer, Gape, Kashket, Horgan, Akinfenwa, Charles, Samuel, Stockdale, Mehmeti.

2.38pm GMT

Exeter v Sheff Wed team news

Exeter Ward, Key, Parkes, Caprice, McArdle, Page, Taylor, Collins, Randall, Bowman, Jay. Subs: Sparkes, Atangana, Law, Seymour, Fisher, Maxted, Ajose, Kite, Hartridge.

2.37pm GMT

Full time: Everton 2-1 Rotherham Everton are through to the fourth round. It was hard work against an impressive Rotherham, who were the better team in normal time. But Everton flexed their Premier League muscles in extra time and won the match with a good goal from the substitute Abdoulaye Doucoure.

2.32pm GMT

“Afternoon Scott,” says Simon McMahon. “The KLF should sponsor the Premier League. Burning a million pounds is a weekly routine for most clubs. And maybe a symbolic dead sheep in one of the pundits chairs in the Soccer Saturday studio?”

2.29pm GMT

Here’s more on Chorley’s historic victory

Related: Mike Calveley makes Cup history for Chorley and stuns weakened Derby

2.28pm GMT

Bristol Rovers v Sheff Utd team news

Bristol Rovers Day, Ehmer, Kilgour, Baldwin, Leahy, Westbrooke, Upson, McCormick, Oztumer, Hanlan, Ayunga. Subs: van Stappershoef, Little, Grant, Kelly, Hargreaves, Harries, Rodman, Barrett, Koiki.

2.27pm GMT

Blackpool v West Brom team news

Blackpool Maxwell, Turton, Gretarsson, Ballard, Husband, Kemp, Ward, Dougall, Lubala, Madine, Yates. Subs: Lawrence-Gabriel, Thorniley, Robson, KaiKai, Sims, Mitchell, Virtue, Ekpiteta, Woodburn.

2.26pm GMT

Everton 2-1 Rotherham Seven minutes remaining at Goodison. Rotherham are having a decent spell, their best in extra time, but Everton still lead.

2.26pm GMT

Burnley v MK Dons team news

Burnley Norris, Bardsley, Tarkowski, Mee, Pieters, Gudmundsson, Cork, Stephens, Brady, Barnes, Wood. Subs: Pope, Lowton, Vydra, Mancini, Thomas, Benson, Driscoll-Glennon, Mumbongo, Nartey.

2.25pm GMT

Stoke v Leicester team news

Stoke Bursik, Shawcross, Souttar, Batth, Smith, Allen, Clucas, Mikel, McClean, Brown, Vokes. Subs: Matondo, Lindsay, Ince, Oakley-Boothe, Verlinden, Cousins, Thompson, Collins, Nna Noukeu.

2.24pm GMT

Oldham v AFC Bournemouth team news

Oldham Lawlor, Clarke, Piergianni, Diarra, Barnett, McCalmont, Ntambwe, Hamer, Keillor-Dunn, Garrity, Bahamboula. Subs: Jombati, Whelan, Fage, Jameson, McAleny, Dearnley, Badan, Luamba, Bilboe.

2.23pm GMT

QPR v Fulham team news

QPR Dieng, Kane, Dickie, Cameron, Barbet, Bonne, Chair, Ball, Carroll, Dykes, Samuel. Subs: Thomas, Willock, Masterson, Hamalainen, Bettache, Kelman, Barnes, Adomah.

2.22pm GMT

Everton 2-1 Rotherham There’s another long break in play. This time Yerry Mina is down after being elbowed in the face by George Hirst. Mina is conscious and having his head bandaged; Hirst was booked.

2.20pm GMT

“Re: the main photo of Matthew Olosunde scoring - gosh, that really is an example of hyper-extension,” says Bill Hargreaves. “See the man’s knee.”

No thanks!

2.19pm GMT

Stevenage v Swansea team news

Stevenage Cumming, Wildin, Vancooten, Cuthbert, Coker, Lines, Smith, Read, Pett, Carter, Newton. Subs: Norris, Vincelot, Prosser, Marsh, Johnson, List, Marshall, Aitchison, Oteh.

2.17pm GMT

Half time in extra time: Everton 2-1 Rotherham There was a long break in play when Angus MacDonald fell face first after colliding with another Rotherham defender and Cenk Tosun as they challenged for a cross. It looked pretty worrying at first, but he is on his feet and is going to continue.

2.15pm GMT

Blackburn v Doncaster team news

Blackburn Pears, Buckley, Lenihan, Johnson, Bell, Trybull, Travis, Downing, Dack, Dolan, Brereton. Subs: Kaminski, Armstrong, Rothwell, Gallagher, Douglas, Elliott, Davenport, Grayson, Pike.

2.11pm GMT

All the early ties are over except Everton v Rotherham, which has gone to extra time. Everton lead 2-1 with a couple of minutes remaining in the first period.

2.10pm GMT

Full time: Chorley 2-0 Derby

National League North side Chorley are into the last 32 after a relatively comfortable win over Derby’s teenagers.

Related: Chorley 2-0 Derby County: FA Cup third round – live!

2.05pm GMT

Everton 2-1 Rotherham: Bernard hits the post! Everton are well on top now. The substitute Niles Nkounkou’s cross was only half cleared to Bernard, whose first-time shot on the run slapped off the post.

2.03pm GMT

Full time: Nottm Forest 1-0 Cardiff Lyle Taylor’s classy third-minute volley has put Forest into the hat for the fourth-round draw, which will be live on Radio 2 at lunchtime on Monday.

2.01pm GMT

The substitute Abdoulaye Doucoure has put Everton into the lead, finishing calmly from the edge of the area after a lovely through pass from James Rodriguez. VAR has a look but there’s nothing wrong with the goal. Everton are in front!

2.00pm GMT

There’s been another goal at Chorley. Is it on? It’s on!

Related: Chorley v Derby County: FA Cup third round – live!

1.57pm GMT

Full time: Luton 1-0 Reading George Moncur’s first-half goal was enough to see off Reading.

1.56pm GMT

Full time: Boreham Wood 0-2 Millwall A comfortable afternoon for Millwall, who dominated throughout.

1.54pm GMT

Full time: Everton 1-1 Rotherham There will be extra-time at Goodison.

1.53pm GMT

Full time: Norwich 2-0 Coventry Two early goals from Kenny McLean and Jordan Hugill have Norwich into the last 32.

1.53pm GMT

Chorley still lead Derby 1-0 at Victory Park. Barry Glendenning has his hooks tentered.

Related: Chorley v Derby County: FA Cup third round – live!

1.51pm GMT

Everton 1-1 Rotherham They’re into the final minute of added time at Goodison Park. It looks like this intriguing match is going to extra-time.

1.47pm GMT

Everton 1-1 Rotherham Cenk Tosun has had a goal disallowed for offside. He poked James Rodriguez’s free-kick into the net, but VAR had the final say. It usually does.

1.42pm GMT

Everton 1-1 Rotherham Everton have improved since Carlo Ancelotti made all those substitutions, but they are still susceptible to a late sting. So much for the easy home win that most of us expected.

1.35pm GMT

GOAL! Boreham Wood 0-2 Millwall (Hutchinson 74) Millwall have been much the better team and Shaun Hutchinson’s goal should secure a place in the fourth round.

1.30pm GMT

With around 20 minutes remaining in the midday kick-offs, these are the latest scores.

1.28pm GMT

SPL The match between Dundee United and St Johnstone is off because of a frozen (bit of the) pitch.

1.24pm GMT

Everton 1-1 Rotherham Yerry Mina and Gylfi Sigurdsson are on now, with Lucas Digne and Tom Davies doing one.

1.23pm GMT

Everton 1-1 Rotherham Bernard and Abdoulaye Doucoure have come on for Everton in place of Anthony Gordon and Alex Iwobi. I’d love to hear Carlo Ancelotti’s internal monologue right now.

1.22pm GMT

“It’s past 2am in New Zealand,” says Everton fan Oliver Robinson. “I thought it would be worth staying up to watch the lads hopefully get an easy win against lower-league opposition (and the FA Cup’s always a good time to watch isn’t it?). Instead we’ve given up a goal to a man with no number or name on his shirt. It’s worked out well.”

He’s got no number on his back? I love that some of the readers are able to see the game, and I’m not.

1.19pm GMT

There are no replays in the third round, though drawn matches will go extra-time and then penalties.

1.17pm GMT

Hello! Matthew Olosunde has squeezed in a deserved equaliser for Rotherham at Goodison Park, and a big shock could be on. It’s Olosunde’s first goal for Rotherham. Who says romance is etc?

1.16pm GMT

“Now that my personal interest in the third round has been sorted out (during last night’s weirdly entertaining match between a handful of school children and a selection of the Best Male Footballers In The World 2020), I can enjoy a stress-free day of checking results,” says Matt Dony. “In celebration of the KLF making music available on streaming platforms, I’ll be supporting any team in the (Grim Up) North. And finding yet more ways to imagine it’s still the 90s.”

Mmmm-hmmmm-hmmmm-yeah. Mmmmm-hmmmm-hmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

1.11pm GMT

Everton 1-0 Rotherham It’s still all Rotherham at Goodison Park. It’s not quite Telford 1985 or Woking 1991 - Rotherham are a Championship side - but Everton are being given a bit of a scare.

1.08pm GMT

Peep peep! The second halves are underway. Everton were out early, which suggests Carlo Ancelotti has access to a hairdryer.

1.07pm GMT

Chorley 1-0 Derby is the half-time score at Victory Park. I don’t know what it is, but it’s on!

Related: Chorley v Derby County: FA Cup third round – live!

1.03pm GMT

Some more half-time reading

Related: Crawley’s Max Watters ready for starring role in El Loco v the hot shot

12.59pm GMT

Half-time reading

“At Rossett Road a little girl can shout and be heard.” @frankcottrell_b’s story about his local football club, #Marine, facing Jose Mourinho tomorrow, starts with a doting-dad anecdote and ends up reprising his #London2012 opening ceremony https://t.co/AA6NB2ZaPO

12.49pm GMT

It’s half-time in the midday kick-offs. If you don’t want to know the scores, bloody well log off this instant.

12.46pm GMT

“Evening Rob,” says Phil Withall. “I believe you have violated rule 7 subsection 3b, of the football reporter’s code. This clearly states that Derby are no longer a team named after a city but are a team named after a manager. Simply not good enough...”

I have no idea what you’re talking about, but in the interests of world peace, I have tendered my resignation forthwith.

12.44pm GMT

There are ten more FA Cup ties kicking off at 3pm.

12.37pm GMT

The latest scores

12.35pm GMT

Everton 1-0 Rotherham It’s been a very good 10 minutes for Rotherham, who are putting Everton under all sorts of pressure. At least that’s what it says here.

12.34pm GMT

Nottingham Forest 1-0 Cardiff I’ve just seen Lyle Taylor’s early goal. It was a beautiful volley, sidefooted into the roof of the net after a quick adjustment of his feet.

12.33pm GMT

GOAL! Luton 1-0 Reading (Moncur 30) It’s there!

GOAL! Boreham Wood 0-1 Millwall (Zohore 31) It’s also there!

12.31pm GMT

League Two Scunthorpe v Bradford has been postponed because of a frozen pitch. I don’t know what else to tell you.

12.27pm GMT

GOAL! Chorley 1-0 Derby (Hall 10) The National League North side have taken the lead at Victory Park! Connor Hall has put them in front with a close-range finish after a game of head tennis in the Derby area. What a moment for Chorley! Drink it in with Barry Glendenning.

Related: Chorley v Derby County: FA Cup third round – live!

12.26pm GMT

Everton 1-0 Rotherham Robin Olsen has made a fine double save to keep Everton in front at Goodison Park.

12.25pm GMT

Anyone out there? If so, I hope you’re all well. It’s feels weird to type that and mean it.

12.22pm GMT

And here are six FA Cup third-round wrong’uns

Related: The Joy of Six: FA Cup third-round villains

12.22pm GMT

While we wait for more goals, why not let my serotonin twin Scott Murray talk you through six classic third-round ties.

Related: The Joy of Six: the FA Cup third round

12.20pm GMT

Chorley 0-0 Derby Almost a very early goal, and a farcical one to boot, at Chorley.

Related: Chorley v Derby County: FA Cup third round – live!

12.15pm GMT

The latest scores

12.12pm GMT

GOAL! Everton 1-0 Rotherham (Tosun 9) Anthony Gordon does very well to set up Cenk Tosun, who coolly chips the ball over the outrushing goalkeeper. That’s his first goal for Everton since November 2019.

12.09pm GMT

GOALS PLURAL! Norwich 2-0 Coventry (McLean 6, Hugill 7) Well that escalated quickly.

12.08pm GMT

Everton 0-0 Rotherham Carlo Ancelotti has picked a strong side, which includes James Rodriguez and Lucas Digne, and Everton have made a fast start.

12.06pm GMT

GOAL! Nottingham Forest 1-0 Cardiff (Taylor 3) Lyle Taylor has scored the first goal of the day, putting Forest ahead in the all-Championship match at the City Ground.

11.48am GMT

Chorley v Derby is the televised game this lunchtime. Barry Glendenning’s hands are all over that one.

Related: Chorley v Derby County: FA Cup third round – live!

11.47am GMT

A bit of pre-match reading

Related: FA Cup third round: 10 things to look out for this weekend

9.54am GMT

Hello and welcome to live coverage of today’s FA Cup third round marathon: 20 games from lunch till dusk. At Guardian Towers we’re all wearing our MTFACGA baseball caps, even though deep down we know it’s a futile exercise. The FA Cup will never regain its old lustre, because that relied on a purity that can’t exist in a world of unapologetic avarice. But it still refreshes the parts other competitions - even the Premier League and the Champions League - cannot reach. (Where else can you lose 4-1 at home and still cover yourselves in glory?)

Tomorrow’s match between Marine and Spurs registers a perfect 10.0 on the romanceo’thecupometer. While a shock in that match is nigh-on impossible, we know that, at some stage this weekend, David will land a decisive blow on Goliath’s confused, entitled coupon. And when it does, just for a wee while, the world will feel like a better place.

Continue reading...

Manchester United 0-2 Manchester City: Carabao Cup semi-final – as it happened

Second-half goals from John Stones and Fernandinho sent City to yet another League Cup final

1.12am GMT

Related: Pep Guardiola dedicates Man City's semi-final win to 'special' Colin Bell

Related: Guardiola's caution helps Stones shine and get back on England radar | Barney Ronay

10.11pm GMT

So congratulations to Manchester City; commiserations to Manchester United. It’ll be City v Spurs at Wembley in late April ... hopefully with fans in situ, fingers crossed. Thanks for reading this MBM. Stay safe, and nighty night.

Related: John Stones exposes Manchester United to return City to Carabao Cup final

10.10pm GMT

Pep Guardiola, wearing a LEGEND BELL t-shirt, talks to Sky Sports. “This is for him, for his family. This person helped to build something special for this club. It is an incredible victory for us, to beat United away, to reach the final, and of course this is for him. The team is ready. It was an outstanding performance. We were tired, they had two more days off to rest, but we achieved something incredible. I know the Carabao Cup is not the Champions League, but four times in a row to reach the final is incredible. I’m so impressed by the boys. The final is not next week. Tottenham is a top, top team but we will have time to think about it.”

10.04pm GMT

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer speaks to Sky. “City can score many great goals and you can accept that. But when you concede two set-piece goals, simple ones we should have cleared, you are very disappointed. We were just not good enough in those moments. We didn’t do enough to win the game, didn’t create enough big chances ourselves, we didn’t have the extra finesse in the games we’ve had in the league lately. We played against a very good team, they played well, and when they play well you have to play really well to beat them. That’s just the reality of where we’re at. We were just lacking that little bit. They deserve it. But we are getting closer. This is a much better version of Man United than a year ago. That’s positive, but that’s not enough. It’s not psychological, you meet good teams in semis and we just didn’t have enough. They are probably the best team in England. We wanted a final to look forward to, but it’s not going to happen. There are loads of things to play for.”

9.57pm GMT

The managers will be speaking soon. But while we wait for that, Jamie Jackson’s report has landed ...

Related: Fernandinho seals another Carabao Cup final date for Manchester City

9.48pm GMT

City’s goalscoring hero John Stones speaks to Sky Sports. “I’d like to send our condolences from everyone in the dressing room to Colin Bell and his family. How we played today was a reflection of him. A great moment for us, and I’m sure he’s looking down on the game today. Another final and another great occasion, and a derby won against a top team. They caused us problems but we dealt with them and had so many chances. Set pieces are vital in big games and it was good to get something on it.”

9.41pm GMT

Manchester City celebrate their victory with great feeling. A huge team huddle, followed by backslaps and hugs all round. They’ll face Tottenham Hotspur in the final, to be played on Sunday 25 April, all going to plan. If they win that, they’ll equal Liverpool’s record of eight League Cup victories, as well as their record of four consecutive wins, set all the way back in the early 1980s. More history there to be written by Pep Guardiola’s remarkable side, who have rediscovered their form in some style. But let them enjoy tonight for now: another derby win, and a lovely way to say farewell to the great Colin Bell.

9.37pm GMT

City reach their fourth League Cup final in a row! They were the better side and deserve their reward. A huge grin plays across Guardiola’s face. His opposite number, a grim-faced Solskjaer, walks off to contemplate a fourth semi-final defeat in a row.

9.35pm GMT

90 min +2: De Bruyne curls the resulting free kick into the mixer from the right. Nobody gets near it, but it doesn’t really matter now.

9.34pm GMT

90 min +1: Shaw stress-tests the referee’s patience a bit too vigorously, yanking Sterling to the floor. He’s booked.

9.34pm GMT

90 min: Three extra minutes separate Manchester City from yet another League Cup final.

9.32pm GMT

88 min: Shaw is doing his level best to goad his old foe Cancelo into a reaction that would earn him a second yellow. A couple of sly shoves in the chest, just on the right side of legality, as they compete in a tight space. Cancelo, who snapped fairly easily earlier, does well to keep his cool.

9.30pm GMT

87 min: Fred is replaced by the lesser-spotted Van de Beek.

9.30pm GMT

85 min: Martial tries to flick the ball around Dias and claims a penalty for handball, but again the referee shows no interest whatsoever. It looked a desperate shout.

9.29pm GMT

84 min: City celebrated that goal in the grand style. United had been asking a few questions, but that was some response. Guardiola beams broadly. Yet another League Cup final is within touching distance now.

9.27pm GMT

De Bruyne has a dig from the right of the D. The ball’s deflected out for a corner on the right. De Bruyne takes. Wan-Bissaka clears, but not with any power. The ball drops to Fernandinho, just to the left of the D. He meets it sweetly, threading a sensational fizzer into the bottom left, a flat-footed Henderson left with no chance!

9.25pm GMT

81 min: Greenwood garrinchas in from the right and nearly dribbles into shooting space. Dias intercepts, just in time, and City launch a counter through Sterling and De Bruyne, the latter crossing to nobody in particular.

9.23pm GMT

80 min: Fernandes hoicks a speculative long-range effort miles over the bar. A bit early for Hail Mary attempts like this.

9.23pm GMT

79 min: City respond to United’s substitution with a change of their own: the quiet Mahrez is replaced by Rodri.

9.22pm GMT

78 min: Cancelo is booked for going forehead to forehead with Shaw, who had knocked him over in the silent-movie style.

9.22pm GMT

77 min: United have enjoyed 77 percent of possession during the last five minutes. City seem perfectly happy about it, playing United at their own game, hoping to soak it all up and break dangerously if the chance presents itself.

9.19pm GMT

75 min: United make the first change of the evening, throwing on Greenwood in place of McTominay.

9.19pm GMT

74 min: It’s a good spell for United, who push City back. Suddenly Martial dribbles his way through a couple of gaps down the middle and enters the box ... before falling to ground over a non-existent challenge by Dias. Martial claims a penalty; a furious Dias demands retribution for the dive. Referee Martin Atkinson takes the diplomatic route by waving both claims away. We play on.

9.16pm GMT

72 min: Pogba busies himself down the left and pulls back for Fernandes, who attempts a curler towards the top right. He finds the top right of the Stretford End.

9.15pm GMT

71 min: A reminder that both teams can make up to five subs, in a maximum of three batches. United are playing well enough for things to remain as they are, but time is becoming a factor.

9.13pm GMT

69 min: Fred goes into the box for an agricultural swipe through the back of Gundogan. Meanwhile Peter Oh (56 min) scores an open goal: “No second coming, promise.”

9.12pm GMT

68 min: Fernandinho has a shot that has enough welly to knock Maguire to the floor. The deflection loops harmlessly into Henderson’s arms. This doesn’t feel like it’s going to end 0-1. But who scores next?

9.11pm GMT

67 min: Fernandes drifts in from the left and shapes to curl one towards the top right. He telegraphs his intention, and the resulting floater is easy meat for Steffen. United have responded well to falling behind.

9.08pm GMT

65 min: Fernandes has a dig from distance, but sends his shot straight down Steffen’s throat.

9.08pm GMT

64 min: Some space for Martial down the left. His low fizzing cross forces Dias to stick out a telescopic leg and poke the ball out for a corner. From the set piece, Maguire rises highest, but under pressure from Stones, can’t steer his header anywhere hear the goal.

9.06pm GMT

63 min: Nothing comes of the resulting corner.

9.06pm GMT

62 min: Fred has the ball stolen off his toe in midfield by Sterling. He feeds Mahrez, who opens his legs, strides down the middle, and powers a curler towards the top left. Henderson tips over spectacularly. Great football all round, with the exception of Fred, whose leisurely faffing nearly cost United dear.

9.04pm GMT

60 min: Martial contests a high ball with Zinchenko in the City box. It clanks off Martial’s chest for a goal kick. Martial claims the ball has hit Zinchenko’s hand, but neither ref nor VAR shows any interest. Then City break upfield, Sterling nearly rounding Henderson on the right, only for the keeper to snaffle just in time.

9.02pm GMT

58 min: Foden crosses from the left. Sterling heads towards the top corner. Henderson claws it out. From the resulting corner, the ball’s worked to Cancelo out on the right. He whips towards the far stick. Foden is a toenail clipping away from poking home. Goal kick.

9.00pm GMT

56 min: “Stones has come up roses for City,” quips Peter Oh, because somebody had to. But no more, please. This is the one.

8.59pm GMT

54 min: That’s the first goal United have conceded in this competition this season. But they’ve not been too shabby at recovering after conceding first this season - 18 points gained from losing positions in the Premier League illustrate that - so there’s no need for the hosts to worry quite yet. City are on top right now, though, playing with something of a swagger.

8.57pm GMT

52 min: ... and nearly doubled, as Cancelo drops a shoulder to glide in from the right and pearls a vicious rising shot towards the top left. Henderson can’t get anywhere near it, but the ball shaves the paint on the top of the bar. So close! That would have been a screamer.

8.56pm GMT

51 min: VAR sticks its unwanted neb in - of course it does, boys and their toys - but Stones wasn’t offside and the ball didn’t hit his arm. City’s lead is confirmed.

8.54pm GMT

It’s dangerous all right. Foden curls it in. The ball makes it all the way to the back post, where Stones - who accidentally trundled the ball into this very net early on - trundles another one into the bottom right off his thigh!

8.53pm GMT

49 min: Sterling busies himself down the left and is dragged back by McTominay. This free kick will be in a dangerous position, just to the left of the United box. City load it.

8.51pm GMT

48 min: Fernaninho slides in on Pogba from behind, unnecessarily so. The City player receives a double-whammy of punishment: a yellow card, plus he’s clouted on the follow-through as the players tangle on the turf.

8.50pm GMT

46 min: Shaw sends in a free kick from the left. Pogba flicks on. There are red shirts lining up at the far post, but Dias hoicks clear. A bright start to the second half by the hosts.

8.48pm GMT

United get the second half underway on a chilly night. No changes made by either side. Yet. So will either side finally get round to scoring after three consecutive goal-free halves in Manchester derbies? “What happened to ‘deadly strikers’?” wonders Phillip Wainwright. “It’s a shame that modern tactics lean toward the absence of a ‘proper finisher’ in a team. Even Cavani, arguably someone under this umbrella in modern times, misses a hatful of clear/easy chances every season. See also Rashford, Martial, Bamford, Bergwijn, Sterling, Werner, even Son at Spurs... Is it just my rose-tinted view or did Van Nistelrooy, Henry, Shearer, Fowler etc not miss as many easy chances? I am an enormous fan of Rashford, on and off the pitch, but if him and the enigmatic Martial were to not miss as many easy chances, Man Utd would be an infinitely more dangerous prospect. Imagine if they had Kane/Son.”

8.37pm GMT

Half-time advertisement. Those siding with the red half of Manchester may be interested in this new podcast, presented by a couple of chaps you may recognise.

Episode 5 of United Rewind is out now!

Rob Smyth and @DanielHarris look back at the raucous FA Cup third round tie at the Etihad in January 2012, when the Ginger Prince came out of retirement to help United to a 3-2 win...

Listen now!https://t.co/d2WJnEDGjI#MUFC #MUNMCI pic.twitter.com/fVrky5j9Nd

8.33pm GMT

Both teams have come close - there have been three disallowed goals plus one shot off the post - but it’s goalless at the break.

8.32pm GMT

45 min: Fernandes has a chance to release Rashford down the middle, but uncharacteristically makes a royal balls of the through ball.

8.30pm GMT

43 min: Rashford whips a ball into the City box from the right. It rears up and smacks Stones on the arm. Stones had been clumsily leaning into the ball, so there’s a big penalty shout, but his arm was just about in a natural position, and he gets the benefit of the doubt.

8.28pm GMT

41 min: De Bruyne strides into space down the right. He hooks into the middle, looking for the so-far-ineffectual Mahrez. Wan-Bissaka volleys clear.

8.26pm GMT

40 min: City continue to stroke the ball around, but they’re not forcing Henderson into too much action.

8.25pm GMT

38 min: Foden has the beating of Wan-Bissaka down the left. He twice gets past his man in the space of a few seconds, though on neither occasion delivers the killer ball.

8.23pm GMT

36 min: Fernandinho sends a glorious diagonal ball towards Sterling on the right. Sterling is in acres, and romps into the box. He just needs to jink past Shaw to make room for a shot from close range ... but clumsily runs slap-bang into the stationary defender, and doesn’t get the penalty he screams for.

8.21pm GMT

34 min: Goal machine Scott McTominay tries his luck from distance. It’s not a bad effort, sent towards the top left from the best part of 30 yards out on the right, but always sailing a few inches over.

8.20pm GMT

33 min: Rashford continues to look downcast after letting that chance slip by. He shouldn’t be too hard on himself; replays suggest he might have been a few millimetres offside, and he’d have been on the wrong end of one of those popular pernickety VAR decisions they have these days.

8.18pm GMT

32 min: Fred, quarterbacking from deep on the left, launches towards Rashford, who has timed his break down the middle to perfection. If he brings the ball down, he’s one on one with Steffen ... but he can’t control and the keeper cleans up. The flag conspicuously stayed down.

8.16pm GMT

30 min: Sterling one-twos with De Bruyne down the right. A crisp, quick exchange, and for a second it looks like Sterling will scuttle free into the box. But Shaw sticks to his shoulder like glue and hooks away brilliantly.

8.14pm GMT

28 min: The first lull of an entertaining evening. Both teams deserve to take their breather.

8.13pm GMT

26 min: Rashford sashays in from the right and looks to curl powerfully across Steffen and into the bottom left. That might have been going in, you know, but Dias sticks out a leg and deflects wide right of goal. At the resulting corner, Maguire flicks a weak header wide left, United having tried that thing with everyone at the near post again.

8.11pm GMT

24 min: Zinchenko scoops a pass down the left touchline to release Foden, Wan-Bissaka beaten all ends up. Foden is free on goal! He dribbles into the box before calmly slotting between Henderson’s legs. But for the third time in the game, the goal is disallowed for offside. Foden went far too early. The flailing Wan-Bissaka will be a relieved man.

8.09pm GMT

23 min: ... nothing of consequence happens.

8.09pm GMT

22 min: City slow it down with some sterile centre-circle stuff. Then suddenly they up the tempo, Fernandinho sweeping a pass down the right for De Bruyne, who wins a corner. At which ...

8.07pm GMT

20 min: United commit a few players forward, and nearly pay the price. Some overly intricate play between Pogba and Fernandes down the left is broken up, and City stream forward. The ball is shuttled upfield at pace, ending up at the feet of Foden, who nearly jinks his way into the United box down the middle. Maguire and Lindelof combine to usher him away from the danger zone.

8.04pm GMT

18 min: More City passing. United hold their shape, coiled to spring forward given the chance. A pattern, it could be argued, has been set.

8.03pm GMT

16 min: City are bossing this in terms of possession - over 70 percent so far - though United won’t be too worried about that. Not when Fernandes has the ability to pearl 50-yard passes from deep, nearly releasing Martial this time. De Bruyne and Zinchenko combine to close the door, just in time.

8.02pm GMT

15 min: United respond through Martial, who makes good down the left before falling over his own feet in the City box. A lame appeal for a penalty that’s never going to be awarded. Then City nip upfield, De Bruyne dribbling down the right and nearly breaking clear into the box. Not quite. This is great fun.

8.00pm GMT

13 min: Sterling strides down the inside-right channel and dinks inside for De Bruyne, who takes one touch and from 25 yards creams a full-fat rising shot towards the top left. Henderson is beaten all ends up, but the ball caroms off the post and clear. What a belt that was! City so unlucky.

7.58pm GMT

11 min: Cancelo passes long. Gundogan attempts to tee up Mahrez, but United clear. Fernandes backs into Fernandinho and is clipped on the ankle for his trouble. He points this out to the referee with great clarity, but it’s a foul and nothing else. Let’s keep an eye on this duel.

7.56pm GMT

10 min: United try something different at the corner, just about their entire team congregating at the near post. City refuse to become confused and clear their lines properly this time.

7.55pm GMT

9 min: A really dismal clearance by Stones is intercepted by United. McTominay tees up Fernandes, who sidefoots powerfully towards the top right. Steffen does extremely well to tip round for a corner.

7.54pm GMT

8 min: A lovely fast pace to this game. The polar opposite of the turgid nonsense these two teams produced here in the league last month.

7.53pm GMT

6 min: This is an absurdly entertaining start. Some room for Pogba out on the left. He crosses deep, hoping to find Martial. Too deep. Pogba grimaces, perhaps thinking he might have done a bit better. City were short at the back there.

7.52pm GMT

5 min: And now it’s City’s turn to have a goal disallowed! Some space for Foden down the left. He crosses low for Gundogan, who sticks out a toe and cleverly guides the ball across Henderson and into the bottom right! But the flag goes up; it’s another offside. What a start to this semi!

7.50pm GMT

4 min: City breathe again ... and stroke it around again.

7.49pm GMT

2 min: City spend the first 60 seconds stroking the ball around. Then Fernandinho tries to spring De Bruyne down the inside-right channel. Right idea, but too much pace. From the goal kick, Martial slips Rashford clear down the middle, simple as that! Rashford’s shot is spilled by Steffen, and the ball ricochets off Stones and dribbles into the net! But the flag goes up, correctly, for offside. What a farcical start that would have been!

7.47pm GMT

An emotional moment of silence perfectly observed ... Bell’s old team-mate Mike Summerbee is pictured in the stand wiping away a tear ... and we’re off. City get the League Cup semi-final underway.

7.45pm GMT

The teams are out! United in red, City in blue. The visitors came out wearing their early 70s retro No.8 shirts in honour of the late, great Colin Bell. A lovely touch. Also, that old-school badge is a bona-fide design classic. We’ll be off in a minute ... after a silent tribute to the King of the Kippax. RIP.

7.40pm GMT

Ole’s turn. “We have had to change a few players throughout the season, but with the rest between the games this is a fresh team so we can go for it. Lindelof and Harry have played well against City before. We should go and enjoy ourselves. Make it our game. We are at home, in a semi-final, and you just want to enjoy these games. But you only enjoy them if you win. We are playing one of the best teams in European football, so we have to defend well, keep our structure and shape perfect, and hit them on the break a few times. We want to make it our game and get our good players on the ball.”

7.30pm GMT

Pre-match Pep patter. “We took a bus 20 minutes ago from our home, and we travel here. And we are going to try to do a good performance to reach the final.” He looks relaxed and happy, despite large chunks of his squad having been laid low by coronavirus.

7.15pm GMT

Colin Bell, one of the genuine greats, passed away yesterday. City will take to the field in retro No.8 shirts tonight, there will be a minute’s silence, and both teams will wear black armbands in memory of a true legend of Manchester football. Pep Guardiola has paid his respects: “It is a sad day for all of us. We want to send our best wishes to the family. This club belongs to the players who made this club what it is. Thanks for personalities like Colin Bell.”

Related: Colin Bell wasn't a superstar. He just happened to be a brilliant footballer | Simon Hattenstone

7.00pm GMT

United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer makes two changes to the team that saw off Aston Villa on New Year’s Day. Dean Henderson takes David de Gea’s place in goal, while Victor Lindelof replaces Eric Bailly at the back.

Pep Guardiola makes two changes to the City side named for the victory at Chelsea on Sunday. Fernandinho and Riyad Mahrez are in; Rodri and Bernardo Silva drop out. Kyle Walker and Gabriel Jesus return from Covid isolation, and will start on the bench. With two keepers having tested positive for Covid, 18-year-old James Trafford - young Trafford, if you will - is named as a sub.

6.50pm GMT

Manchester United: Henderson, Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw, Fred, McTominay, Pogba, Fernandes, Martial, Rashford.
Subs: De Gea, Telles, Bailly, Tuanzebe, James, Mata, Matic, Van de Beek, Greenwood.

Manchester City: Steffen, Cancelo, Stones, Dias, Zinchenko, Fernandinho, Gundogan, De Bruyne, Mahrez, Foden, Sterling.
Subs: Trafford, Walker, Jesus, Aguero, Rodrigo, Mendy, Nmecha, Harwood-Bellis, Mbete.

1.40pm GMT

Good luck calling the 184th Manchester derby. This League Cup semi-final arrives at a time when both United and City are in form and feeling good about themselves. United haven’t lost a domestic fixture since the start of November; City haven’t lost in any competition since the middle of that same month. United have the advantage in the head-to-head during the last 13 months, winning three out of five to City’s one ... but that one victory sealed semi-final triumph for City last time round. City are looking to win this trophy for a record-equalling fourth year in a row; United will think they’re due a semi-final victory after losing three of them last season. Yes, good luck calling it.

It’s not a two-legged affair this year, on account of that damned virus. This will be decided tonight, then, though there are limits to the pruning: we’ll still have extra time and penalties if needs be. Both teams will be able to make up to five substitutions, though they’ll only be permitted a maximum of three opportunities during the 90 minutes to do so. Should the game go to extra time, they’ll get one more opportunity. Who will face Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley in the April final? We’ll find out soon. It’s on!

Continue reading...