LONDON – Manchester United’s Ole Gunnar Solskjaer enjoyed his fifth successive victory since being named interim manager as his much-changed side beat second-tier strugglers Reading 2-0 at home in the FA Cup third round on Saturday.
Juan Mata’s penalty and a well-taken effort in first-half stoppage time by Romelu Lukaku, given his first start since Solskjaer took over, sent United into the fourth round, where they were joined by holders Chelsea, who cruised to a 2-0 victory over second-tier Nottingham Forest.
It was a subdued performance by the 12-times FA Cup winners at Old Trafford, where Reading impressed, but maintained former United striker Solskjaer’s dream start to life in the hot seat vacated last month by Jose Mourinho who was sacked.
“We have performed a lot better, but you can’t ask for fantasy football every time and with the changes I made you can’t expect it to have the same flow and rhythm,” Solskjaer, who became the first United manager to begin his reign with five straight wins since Matt Busby, told reporters.
Alvaro Morata’s second-half brace was enough for Chelsea, who beat United in last year’s final, to move through.
Yet fellow Spaniard Cesc Fabregas, in almost certainly his last game for the club before he is expected to join Monaco, missed a penalty in an emotional farewell at Stamford Bridge.
500 games in English football, what an achievement.
Thanks for the memories, @cesc4official. 🙌 pic.twitter.com/masXnuEQuc
— The Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) January 5, 2019
Third-tier Gillingham grabbed the “giant-killer” award on a day lacking much of the traditional third-round drama as the Kent club beat Premier League Cardiff City 1-0 thanks to a late strike by Elliott List.
Accrington Stanley, also of the third tier, reached the fourth round with a 1-0 win over former winners Ipswich Town who suffered a ninth successive third-round exit.
Premier League strugglers Burnley made hard work of a 1-0 win over third-tier Barnsley in a match notable for a bizarre intervention by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) – the system being used in nine of the 32 third-round ties.
Burnley were awarded a penalty for a foul on Matej Vydra before the interval but just as he was running up to take the spot kick the referee Simon Hooper indicated that the decision had been reversed by VAR because of an offside in the build-up.
Manager Sean Dyche was left fuming, but his mood improved when Chris Wood eventually sealed victory from the penalty spot in the second minute of stoppage time.
In other ties, West Ham United beat second-tier Birmingham City 2-0 at the London Stadium, with Samir Nasri making his debut in his first game since completing an 18-month doping ban.
Austrian Marko Arnautovic put West Ham ahead early on, but was later substituted because of injury. His replacement, Andy Carroll, struck West Ham’s second in stoppage time.
An emotional celebration from @AndyTCarroll as he scores to book @WestHamUtd's place in the Fourth Round. 🙌 pic.twitter.com/bwKAW69Mrt
— The Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) January 5, 2019
Brighton & Hove Albion beat Bournemouth 3-1 away in an all-Premier League affair with Anthony Knockaert, Yves Bissouma and Florin Andone all on target.
Everton scored twice in the opening 14 minutes against League Two leaders Lincoln City, but scraped home 2-1, while top-flight Southampton were held 2-2 by Frank Lampard’s second-tier promotion chasers Derby County.
Record 13-times FA Cup winners Arsenal are in action at Blackpool later on Saturday.
✅ @ASFCofficial, @SwansOfficial, @OfficialBWFC, @BrentfordFC, @ChelseaFC, @Everton, @AFCWimbledon, @TheGillsFC, @Boro
— The Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) January 5, 2019