FA Cup Third Round - Kick Off: 12.30PM
at the London Stadium, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
West Ham United (1) 2
Marko Arnautovic 2
Andy Carroll 90+1
Birmingham City (0) 0
Attendance: 54,840 (inc. 5,200 away fans)
Link to BBC highlights: click HERE
Backed by a noisy travelling army of 5,200 supporters, Blues gave a very good account of themselves, created a plethora of chances, but were ultimately undone by goals right at the outset of the game and in stoppage time,
when they had probably done enough to at least take the Hammers back to St. Andrew's for a replay.
Those visiting supporters made a fair point on their first ever visit to the London Stadium, singing "You're not West Ham anymore!", because despite the massive crowd; the atmosphere (or lack of it), logistics and spectator experience at the Irons new(ish) ground, wouldn't appeal to me on a regular basis.
Lee Camp, was forced into making a save right at the start of the game, turning Xande Silver's fierce shot away for a corner. But from the resulting flag kick, Angelo Ogbonna's d, bounced up awkwardly at hit Camp in the face and rebounded towards Marko Arnautovic, who climbed above Maxime Colin to head the ball over the grounded Blues keeper to give the Hammers a second minute lead. The hosts looked dangerous early on, but Birmingham grew into the game, with Lukas Jutkiewicz in particular, posing a threat to their illustrious hosts.
FT: West Ham United 2 v Birmingham City 0
If facilities like the London Stadium are the future, then I'm really glad that I'm living in the past, but each to their own. A few away games that I attended at the Boleyn Ground (Upton Park) presented several interesting 'challenges' over the years, but going there was always preferable to visiting this athletics stadium. And I'm sure that a majority of West Ham fans would endorse that sentiment. Just saying.
As numerous people headed for Covent Garden or the Euston Flyer for liquid refreshment, I visited my favourite place in Londonshire, to spend what little remains of my kids inheritance. then moved on Norwood Junction station, for a revisit to Selhurst Park, for part two of my FA Cup Third Round Trilogy.
FA Cup Third Round - Kick Off: 5.30PM
at Selhurst Park
Crystal Palace (0) 1
Grimsby Town (0) 0
Attendance: 19,967 (inc. 5,399 away Fans)
Link to BBC highlights: click HERE
The Mariners saw off MK Dons at Blundell Park in the first round of t'cup, before beating non-league Chesterfield away from home to clear the second hurdle, and earn themselves a trip to Premier League club Crystal Palace in the third round.
Jordan Ayew's late goal, with just four minutes of the game remaining, as Michael Jolley's League Two Grimsby side, (almost) took Premier League Palace back to Blundell Park for a replay, was all that separated these two sides, as the visitors put up a great rearguard action against a blanket bombing campaign by Roy Hodgson's lively home side.
Sunday 6th January 2018
FA Cup Third Round
at Bramall Lane
Sheffield United (0) 0
Barnet (1) 1
Shaquile Coulthirst 21 pen
Attendance: 9,906
Link to BBC highlights: click HERE
Jordan Ayew's late goal, with just four minutes of the game remaining, as Michael Jolley's League Two Grimsby side, (almost) took Premier League Palace back to Blundell Park for a replay, was all that separated these two sides, as the visitors put up a great rearguard action against a blanket bombing campaign by Roy Hodgson's lively home side.
Over 5,000 away fans had travelled down from the East Coast, to see their team face what was always likely to be an uphill battle, especially once Andrew Fox was red
carded inside the second minute for a late, studs up, tackle on Andros Townsend, after the match referee, Martin Atkinson, had consulted the VAR (Video Assisted Referee) facility. Initially it had looked as though Fox might escappe with just a booking, but subsequent replays showed that his dismissal was wholly justified, despite the visiting supporters cat-calling and booing Townsend for the remainder of the game.
Given the sheer effort that they put in, thre Mariners were unlucky not to have forced a replay, and were subsequently applauded from the pitch, by home and away supporters alike. While the Eagles manager said that the only positive thing about his own team's display today was the result.
FT: Crystal Palace 1 v Grimsby Town 0
FA Cup Third Round
at Bramall Lane
Sheffield United (0) 0
Barnet (1) 1
Shaquile Coulthirst 21 pen
Attendance: 9,906
Link to BBC highlights: click HERE
This was the first time ever that these two sides had ever played against each other. It is fair to say that Barnet got exactly what they deserved from their inaugural visit to Bramall Lane... and so, if truth be told, did Sheffield United.
The Blades manager Chris Wilder spoke to the local press after the game and said he had told his lacklustre players: “not to walk out through the main entrance, but try to find a side door to sneak out of.” And added that the home supporters: “should have booed louder.” While calling their performance arrogant and as big a disappointment as any in his time at the club.
The Blades manager Chris Wilder spoke to the local press after the game and said he had told his lacklustre players: “not to walk out through the main entrance, but try to find a side door to sneak out of.” And added that the home supporters: “should have booed louder.” While calling their performance arrogant and as big a disappointment as any in his time at the club.
And he was wholly justified to be so annoyed, but lets give credit where it is due for what unfolded out on the field of play today, inasmuch as Barnet didn't win the game solely because their hosts were below par, the Bees actually played very well and took the game to United, putting them under the cosh time after time with their three pronged attack... and their solitary goal victory only tells half the story, because they were actually unlucky not to have won by an even bigger margin.
Incidentally, the Barnet caretaker boss, is the nephew of Blades legend Tony Currie... talk about gatecrashing a family reunion!
Incidentally, the Barnet caretaker boss, is the nephew of Blades legend Tony Currie... talk about gatecrashing a family reunion!
The Bees currently sit in fifteenth place in the National League, whereas Wilder's team are third in the Championship, two points off of an automatic promotion place, having just strung together three emphatic wins over the holiday period.
Obviously a making fist of going for a place in the top flight is the Steel City clubs main focus this term, but just maybe... and I'm fully aware that this will virtually constitute making an attempt to slaughter a sacred cow, to some of the red half of Sheffield, but although the Blades
manager has done a quite remarkable job since taking over the reigns at 'the Lane', should he be absolved from criticism this afternoon, given that he made ten changes to the starting line up and effectively under-estimated the threat posed by United's non-league visitors?
By comparison, Darren Currie, the interim Bees manager, in only his third game in charge, got his approach and tactics spot on and his team wholly warranted claiming every penny of the £135,000 prize money, that teams get for winning in the third round proper of this competition.
Shaquile Coulthirst netted the only goal of the game, a twenty first minute penalty, after Richard Stearman had fouled Ephron Mason-Clark as he bore down on the Shoreham Kop end goal. As the two Bees 'buzzed' around the Blades defence at will.
Coulthirst also had a headed goal from Cheye Alexander's cross ruled out for offside early in the game.
And had it not been for Dan Sweeney getting the ball stuck under his foot inside the six yard box around the hour mark, when he looked odds on to double the visitors lead, this could and should have been an even bigger embarrassment for the Championship club.
Coulthirst also had a headed goal from Cheye Alexander's cross ruled out for offside early in the game.
And had it not been for Dan Sweeney getting the ball stuck under his foot inside the six yard box around the hour mark, when he looked odds on to double the visitors lead, this could and should have been an even bigger embarrassment for the Championship club.
Right at the death, Mark Cousins turned a close range header from Leon Clarke onto the crossbar as United were a whisker away from snatching an undeserved late equaliser, but in the end the best team on the day won... and United were second best today, by quite some way.
Well played Barnet (and their noisy supporters), who had already beaten Braintree Town, Bristol Rovers (after a replay) and Stockport County, to reach the third round... perhaps that is why they looked like they wanted it more.
FT: Sheffield United 0 v Barnet 1
I doubt if I'll attend any more games in this season's FA Cup, though I have been known to make mad impulsive decisions at the last minute before now, so 'Que Sera'.
But, I find it increasingly difficult to get excited about the competition these days, beyond the qualifiers featuring non-league sides and the first three rounds.
