FA Cup third round: Swansea edge out Manchester United at Old Trafford

Swansea City inflicted more Old Trafford misery on Manchester United as they saw off the 10-man Red Devils 2-1 in the third round of the FA Cup.

Javier Hernandez cancelled out Wayne Routledge's opener at Old Trafford, but the game turned in the Swans' favour when Fabio was shown a straight red card 10 minutes from time.

The visitors were able to make their numerical advantage count as Wilfried Bony powered home a dramatic late header to help Michael Laudrup's men claim a notable scalp.

Routledge's composed finish saw Swansea make the perfect start at the Theatre of Dreams, calmly lobbing the ball over the onrushing Anders Lindegaard after being freed down the middle 12 minutes in.

Parity was to be restored just four minutes later, though, as Alexander Buttner whipped over the perfect cross for Hernandez to volley in from close range.

United were offering the greater threat heading into the closing stages, but Rio Ferdinand hobbled out of the action and his replacement Fabio was dismissed for a lunging challenge on Jose Canas after less than four minutes on the field.

Swansea raised the tempo as they went in search of a winner, and their efforts paid off in the last minute of the 90 as Routledge centred for an unmarked Bony to nod into the top corner.

Tribulations

United were supposed to be having a much-needed diversion from their Premier League tribulations. But from early on it seemed the first of their back-to-back cup matches - with a League semi-final first leg with Sunderland to come on Tuesday - was going to bring more heartache.

Swansea's opener was a well-taken effort, with Routledge lifting the ball neatly over Lindegaard before it dropped into the net.

But the ease with which Alejandro Pozuelo drove his pass through a massive gap between Jonny Evans and Chris Smalling to send Routledge clear for his first goal in three months was startling.

Moyes was possibly still mulling over the ease with which Swansea scored when his own side levelled four minutes later.

There could be little other explanation why the Scot was completely unmoved by Hernandez's close-range finish to a brute of a cross from Buttner.

The Dutch full-back then dropped one far-post cross agonisingly over Antonio Valencia and also curled a low free-kick towards goal that was gathered up by Gerhard Tremmel.

Antonio Valencia also screwed an effort over from Danny Welbeck's lay-off as a United outfit missing Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie through injury searched for a second.

A flurry of activity around the home box at the start of the second half brought Swansea no reward, with Pozuelo dragging a decent opportunity wide.

Bony sliced an effort off-target too, giving Lindegaard - making only his second appearance of the season - little to concern him.

Limitations

Not that United were doing much to trouble their visitors either as their limitations were once again laid bare.

Despite winning a free-kick on the edge of the Swansea area, Moyes still carried through his threat to introduce Adnan Januzaj.

The 18-year-old was not involved as Tom Cleverley took the shot at goal, which went cannoning to safety off the wall.

The exit of Ferdinand, who took a bang on the knee in a challenge with Bony, was not good news for the 35-year-old who had only just returned from a six-match absence.

A break in play to allow for Fabio's introduction merely added to the sense of a game going nowhere. The Brazilian's exit four minutes later, having been shown a straight red for a late challenge on Canas, prodded it into life.

Referee Mike Dean was within his rights to dismiss Fabio given his tackle was also over the top of the ball. But Canas' theatrical reaction did not help the United man.

And with his departure came yet another home defeat as Bony rose to nod home late on, delivering yet another shattering blow to the beleaguered Moyes.

Manchester United	Team Statistics	Swansea City
1	Goals	2
2	Shots on Target	3
3	Shots off Target	5
2	Blocked Shots	2
4	Corners	2
7	Fouls	12
4	Offsides	1
0	Yellow Cards	3
1	Red Cards	0
86.45%	Passing Success	87.92%
21	Tackles	18
76.19%	Tackles Success	72.22%
48.64%	Possession	51.36%
55.62%	Territorial Advantage	44.38%
502	Total Passes	530

FA Cup: Liverpool leave it late to secure a 2-0 victory over Oldham of League One

Iago Aspas: Opened the scoring at Anfield

Much-maligned forward Iago Aspas scored his first Liverpool goal to help his club into the fourth round of the FA Cup but it was far from an easy 2-0 victory over Oldham.

The 26-year-old summer signing from Celta Vigo has endured a difficult start to his Anfield career and never looked comfortable in the Premier League.

Wearing the number nine shirt for Liverpool carries significant history and expectation considering the greats who have graced it in the past.

But Aspas was handed the responsibility of leading the line with 20-goal striker Luis Suarez rested and he eventually delivered with a decent strike 10 minutes after half-time.

James Tarkowski's late own goal, diverting in Raheem Sterling's shot, gave Liverpool the cushion they needed - especially as they were down to 10 men after Daniel Agger was forced off injured with three substitutions already made.

There was to be no fairytale repeat of Oldham's fourth-round victory over the Reds last January and Liverpool can now look forward to a trip to either Bournemouth or Burton Albion.

The accusation levelled at Liverpool is they are a one-man team - and that man was on the bench as the Reds toiled with little impact in a first half which did even less to warm the majority of the 44,102 crowd inside an icy Anfield.

Assistant manager Colin Pascoe, at Friday's pre-match press conference, suggested Suarez would have kicked either him or manager Brendan Rodgers had they suggested dropping him.

But rest him they did and the only kicking the Uruguay international did for 76 minutes was his heels on the bench.

What he saw, the first half in particular, would have frustrated him as much as everyone else.

With six changes from the New Year's Day win over Hull it was perhaps not surprising it took a while for the home side to develop any sort of control or rhythm.

Fringe players Aspas and Luis Alberto, both summer signings, were given rare starts but both failed to take their opportunity against a side 19th in League One.

Only three of the starting XI - goalkeeper Brad Jones, Jordan Henderson and Raheem Sterling - experienced the 3-2 humbling at Boundary Park just over a year ago.

While Oldham were the aggressors on that day they arrived at Anfield with a slightly less positive game plan, initially looking to contain.

That plan worked longer that they probably hoped for as Liverpool looked toothless for 45 minutes.

Alberto had a promising half, drifting one shot wide from Victor Moses' lay-off and having another batted away by goalkeeper Mark Oxley.

Sterling was less effective, which was all the more infuriating for Liverpool considering the majority of their limited opportunities fell to him.

Steven Gerrard's position as a deep-lying midfielder denied the home side an attacking thrust going forward despite Henderson's best efforts and so the introduction of Lucas Leiva for Alberto at half-time provided a welcome release for the captain.

Immediately Liverpool seemed to find another gear, also helped by the introduction of Philippe Coutinho for the ineffective Moses, and within 10 minutes they had broken the deadlock.

Sterling finally found an end product worthy of the name and Aspas produced a finish Suarez would have been proud of, hooking home the cross right-footed.

If ever a player needed a boost it was the Spaniard, whose start to his Liverpool career has been disappointing to say the least with a lengthy lay-off with a thigh injury not helping.

It was as though a weight had been lifted off his shoulders and it was something of a surprise to see the previously lightweight forward jump highest in the penalty area to head Sterling's next cross against the post.

There was no time for Liverpool to rest on their laurels, however, as Danny Philliskirk fired just over from distance to serve warning a one goal lead may not be enough.

More danger was averted by Jones when Michael Petrasso swerved past Agger, who was left tracking thin air, but fired straight at the goalkeeper.

Rodgers had seen enough and replaced Gerrard with Suarez to really give Oldham something to think about.

But it was Sterling who made the final telling intervention, with his shot turned in by the unfortunate Tarkowski with eight minutes to go.

Rodgers even got the chance to enjoy the sight of his son Anton playing at Anfield, albeit for the visitors as he was given a late run out by Oldham boss Lee Johnson.

Manchester City survived a scare at Ewood Park as they hung on for a replay against Championship side Blackburn Rovers in a pulsating FA Cup clash.

Manchester City survived a scare at Ewood Park as they hung on for a replay against Championship side Blackburn Rovers in a pulsating FA Cup clash.

Last year's beaten finalists looked on course to reach the fourth round when Alvaro Negredo fired them into the lead before half-time.

But Scott Dann deservedly levelled for Rovers and City had to play a nervous last nine minutes, including stoppage time, with 10 men after defender Dedryck Boyata was sent off for his second booking near the end.

A replay was probably not on the wish-list before kick-off for City boss Manuel Pellegrini, who already has a crowded fixture list in January that includes both legs of his side's Capital One Cup semi-final with West Ham.

Rovers were neat and tidy in possession from the start and looked dangerous down the flanks in the early stages, but their final ball into the box did not always punish some hesitant defending.

City were initially out of sorts going forward too but began to build some pressure around the half-hour mark and soon produced the game's first real opening.

Boyata did well to find David Silva with a pull-back from the right but the Spaniard made a mess of his finish, blazing his shot high over the bar.

If that chance was a hint that City could create a goal out of nothing, Negredo's opener proved it.

The Spanish striker struck on the stroke of half-time, turning in Edin Dzeko's header from Silva's cross.

Blackburn's frustration was shown when Rovers duo Grant Hanley and Chris Taylor were involved in a shoving row as the players walked off for the break.

But Rovers, who lie 10th in the Championship, continued to attack their more illustrious hosts after the break, and got their reward when Dann fired home in the 54th minute.

The centre-back, reportedly a target of Crystal Palace during the January transfer window, reacted first when City keeper Costel Pantilimon fumbled Rudy Gestede's header and sidefooted home.

City were rattled and Blackburn, who caused one of the biggest shocks of last season's FA Cup when they knocked out Arsenal at the Emirates in the fifth round, clearly scented another upset here.

They fired a succession of balls into the area to test a jittery City defence, with Pantilimon looking an uncertain presence behind them.

City were still threatening at the other end, and Negredo should have done better with his header after former England keeper Paul Robinson, returning after a year out with illness, had kept out Dzeko's snap-shot.

Jesus Navas came off the bench to force Robinson into another diving save and City looked more likely to get a winner.

But Boyata's dismissal turned the last few minutes into a survival mission for the visitors, and Blackburn could have snatched a famous victory when Tom Cairney's shot whistled a few inches wide.

LINEUP, BOOKINGS (3) & SUBSTITUTIONS (6)

Blackburn Rovers

• 01 Robinson
• 27 Henley
• 03 Spurr
• 06 Lowe
• 16 Dann
• 05 Hanley
• 45 Cairney
• 19 Taylor
• 39 Gestede (Rhodes - 81' )
• 17 Williamson (King - 64' )
• 12 Marshall (Campbell - 81' )

Substitutes

• 04 Kilgallon
• 07 King
• 10 Campbell
• 11 Rhodes
• 13 Eastwood
• 23 Rochina
• 25 Judge

Manchester City

• 30 Pantilimon
• 38 Boyata Dismissed after an earlier booking
• 22 Clichy
• 25 Fernandinho (Yaya Touré - 64' )
• 06 Lescott
• 33 Nastasic Booked
• 07 Milner
• 14 Javi García
• 10 Dzeko
• 09 Negredo (Jesús Navas - 74' )
• 21 Silva (Zabaleta - 88' )

Substitutes

• 01 Hart
• 04 Kompany
• 05 Zabaleta
• 13 Kolarov
• 15 Jesús Navas
• 42 Yaya Touré
• 64 Mesquita Lopes

Ref: Michael Oliver

Att: 18,813

MATCH STATS

Shots

1214

On target

35

Corners

68

Fouls

67

Live Text Commentary

Full time

Full Time

Match ends, Blackburn Rovers 1, Manchester City 1.

90:00

+4:00

Full time

Full Time

Second Half ends, Blackburn Rovers 1, Manchester City 1.

90:00

+2:09

Attempt missed. Jordan Rhodes (Blackburn Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by DJ Campbell.

90:00

+0:28

Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Jason Lowe.

88:12

Offside, Blackburn Rovers. Grant Hanley tries a through ball, but Jordan Rhodes is caught offside.

87:56

Substitution

Substitution

Substitution, Manchester City. Pablo Zabaleta replaces David Silva.

87:28

Corner, Blackburn Rovers. Conceded by Joleon Lescott.

86:06

Attempt missed. Tom Cairney (Blackburn Rovers) left footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by DJ Campbell.

84:40

Dismissal

Dismissal

Second yellow card to Dedryck Boyata (Manchester City) for a bad foul.

84:30

Foul by Dedryck Boyata (Manchester City).

84:30

DJ Campbell (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

83:43

Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Adam Henley.

82:37

Attempt missed. DJ Campbell (Blackburn Rovers) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Jordan Rhodes with a cross.

81:30

Attempt missed. Jesús Navas (Manchester City) left footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by James Milner following a fast break.

80:23

Substitution

Substitution

Substitution, Blackburn Rovers. DJ Campbell replaces Ben Marshall.

80:07

Substitution

Substitution

Substitution, Blackburn Rovers. Jordan Rhodes replaces Rudy Gestede.

79:32

Attempt missed. Yaya Touré (Manchester City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high.

79:06

Attempt blocked. James Milner (Manchester City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

78:39

Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Scott Dann.

76:49

Attempt missed. Javi García (Manchester City) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by David Silva with a cross following a corner.

Transfer news: Paris Saint-Germain chairman contests Javier Pastore transfer rumours

Javier Pastore: Subject of January transfer speculation

Paris Saint-Germain chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi sees no reason why Javier Pastore would want to leave during the January transfer window.

The Argentinian playmaker has attracted interest throughout Europe, with speculation linking him with a move to Premier League side Liverpool.

Attacking midfielder Pastore has made 12 appearances for the Ligue 1 leaders this term after a successful 2012/13 season, which saw him score four goals and provide eight assists.

However, despite the rumours, Al-Khelaifi believes Pastore is settled at the Parc des Princes and insists the 24-year-old has played an important role in the club's recent history.

"I am not sure Pastore wants to leave," he told L'Equipe.

"I am not sure Pastore wants to leave. When a player is unhappy it is difficult to keep him. But it is not the case with Pastore."

Nasser Al-Khelaifi

"When a player is unhappy it is difficult to keep him. But it is not the case with Pastore.

"We will never forget he was one of the very first key players to join our project."

Al-Khelaifi insists PSG will always remain loyal to their players and claims Pastore, who is yet to live up to the standards he displayed last term, is one of the leading players in the world.

"We are loyal to our players as we ask them to be loyal to the club," he added.

"Pastore is both a man and player of quality. Maybe he is in a difficult period, but he remains one of the biggest talents in the football world.

"He knows he has to do much more. I still have big faith in him."

FA Cup: Stoke City edge past Leicester with a 2-1 third round win

Mark Hughes: Guided his side to a 2-1 win over Leicester

Stoke City edged past Leicester with a win at the Britannia Stadium to secure their place in the fourth round of the FA Cup.

Mark Hughes' side went in front after 15 minutes when striker Kenwyne Jones leaped the highest to head home Oussama Assaidi's inviting cross at the back post.

Charlie Adam then doubled the Potters' lead shortly after the break with a thunderous left-footed effort from distance which hit the post on its way into the back of the net.

David Nugent headed home Marcin Wasilewski's cross to give the visitors a lifeline, but despite a wave of late pressure, Stoke held on to seal their progression.

Less than 17,000 were at the Britannia and 4,300 of those were from the visitors, but they were kept relatively quiet as Stoke took control.

England goalkeeper Jack Butland, 20, made his first start for Stoke after coming on against Everton in midweek when Thomas Sorensen picked up an Achilles injury.

Leicester boss Nigel Pearson made five changes from Wednesday's win over Millwall and the Foxes began brightly, almost taking the lead in the 13th minute when Anthony Knockaert cut in from the left and aimed his shot towards the far corner.

Butland stuck out a hand to stop it but he needed help from Glenn Whelan, who produced a fine block to deny Matty James on the follow-up.

Stoke immediately broke down the other end and Marko Arnautovic squared the ball to Adam, who appeared to have an open goal 15 yards out but this time it was Ignasi Miquel's turn to pull off a goal-saving block.

There was nothing any of the Leicester back line could do to prevent the Potters opening the scoring two minutes later, though.

Assaidi swung over a fine cross from the left and Jones rose virtually unchallenged to power a header across Kasper Schmeichel and into the bottom corner.

Leicester tried to respond and the lively Jeff Schlupp sliced a shot well wide, while at the other end, Jones had another chance with a header from a corner but this time nodded wide.

With the sparse home crowd, there was a flat feeling to the game, but it did liven up again at the end of the first half.

A Marc Wilson clearance turned into a good through ball for Adam, but Paul Konchesky was alert to clear the danger with Jones lurking.

Leicester broke and Schlupp again got in on the left but Butland held his low shot at the near post.

The Foxes struggled to cope with Jones every time the ball came into the box and he almost doubled the lead in the 52nd minute.

Again it was a header from an Assaidi cross and this time Schmeichel pushed the ball onto a post before gratefully gathering the rebound.

Schlupp looked the man most likely for Leicester and he produced his best effort with a curling left-footed shot that landed on the roof of the net.

But in the 55th minute Stoke doubled their lead - and it was a stunning hit from Adam, who picked up the ball 30 yards from goal and unleashed a left-footed drive that went in off a post.

With just over 20 minutes left Pearson made a double change, sending on top scorers Nugent and Lloyd Dyer for Schlupp and Andy King.

Stoke were looking the more likely to add a third, though, and good work from Arnautovic down the right opened the door for Steven Nzonzi to stroke a shot narrowly wide.

Butland had not had too much to do but he pulled off a terrific save in the 76th minute when Konchesky's cross was headed towards the top corner by Nugent.

The resulting corner was cleared but Wasilewski crossed the ball back in and this time Nugent gave Butland no chance with a fine header.

Leicester looked much more of an attacking threat and Butland was called upon again when Dyer was played through, the keeper just getting to the ball first.

Chances were coming at both ends and Adam might have made the game safe with four minutes left when he found himself in space on the left of the area but his shot was pushed behind by Schmeichel.

Manchester United owners must invest in world class talent, says Jeff Stelling

Protest: A number of United fans have voiced their displeasure at the Glazers' running of the club in recent years

Defeat to Tottenham on New Year's Day has left Manchester United 11 points adrift of Premier League leaders Arsenal and it's now going to be a struggle for the champions to make the top four, let alone defend their crown.

I hold my hands up because at the start of the season I thought they'd win the title. Not for the first time I'm going to be wrong.

"The owners have been guilty of letting top class players grow old and diminish without replacing them."

Jeff Stelling

There's a lot of finger pointing going on at the moment and David Moyes, the man who has the poisoned chalice of replacing Sir Alex Ferguson, has come in for criticism while others are questioning whether the players are good enough.

I understand that but maybe the focus of attention might be better served on the owners.

When the Glazers arrived in 2005, United were feared across Europe. When there were big transfers out there United were the big players - Rio Ferdinand, Juan Sebastian Veron, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Wayne Rooney. Wen there was a big name going somewhere, generally speaking, he was going to United.Since the Glazers took over that hasn't been the case. Since 2005 there doesn't seem to have been the level of investment in players needed to keep United at the top of the tree, domestically or in Europe.

Fergie and the Glazers

Marouane Fellaini was a last-ditch transfer in the summer. In years gone by United would have been the leading contenders for Gareth Bale, or Edinson Cavani, or Falcao, or Neymar. Yet now, they don't seem to be able to play in the same ballpark.

Instead they have to watch Man City pay money left, right and centre for the likes of Fernandinho, Jesus Navas, Stevan Jovetic and Alvaro Negredo, while Tottenham and even Arsenal also out-spend them. That must be hard to swallow for United fans.

Because of the deal the Glazers did to finance their takeover, the interest payments are crippling the sort of investments the club need to be making in players.

World class?

The January transfer window has just opened and I think we'll see them struggle again to add real quality to their squad.

United's January buys in the past haven't always been great and let's be honest, the big players have already gone in the summer. United are just looking at scraps.

Jose Mourinho is putting the 'for sale' sign out for Juan Mata, who is a smashing player and one of my favourites, but is he what United need at the moment? There's no need to buy for the sake of buying. United need to sign the right players - however, the great majority of those have gone.

Next summer, after the World Cup, there will be a lot of players who have performed in Brazil on the market. They'll be going at premium rates, though, so will the Glazers be willing then to put their hands in their pockets to bring in the big signings?

It's not all doom and gloom for United, though. David de Gea, Rafael, Chris Smalling, Phil Jones, Danny Welbeck and Tom Cleverley are all good, young players who are only going to get better. But are any of them really world class? That's what United were used to bringing in before.

Replacements

Another thing the owners have been guilty of is letting the top class players they had there grow old and diminish without replacing them.

Gary Neville is a classic example, but you could also name Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic and Ryan Giggs, who are still playing, or Paul Scholes - who've they been replaced by? Not like-for-like, nowhere near.

Moyes critical of referee

When the Glazers came in everything was in place and a lot of those players were in their pomp so inevitably that decline wasn't going to start immediately. It was going to take a while before the lack of significant major funding - on a par with the other European giants - was going to take effect.

Fergie, in a way, worked a miracle to win the Premier League with the team he had last season. Everyone said at the time 'this is not a great Manchester United side' - and it wasn't.

But it did have a great Manchester United manager who could cajole them into winning the league, while the other teams around them all had significant issues, from Roberto Mancini having a real struggle at Man City and Chelsea throwing managers away like confetti to an Arsenal side reluctant to spend.

I was naïve in believing anybody could repeat that - and I wasn't alone. It wasn't going to happen without the money being pumped back in.

I don't know when it will end because I'm not a financial expert and I don't know about the Glazers passion for the game. But Liverpool were invincible, big players once and they've been away from the top table for a long time. Without the right kind of backing it might be a while before United are the force they were before.

JEFF'S GEM OF THE WEEK

Spurs and Chelsea are contenders but I'm going with Bury for winning 3-0 away at my lot, Hartlepool. Bury supporters on Twitter have really made me suffer this week!

David Flitcroft who in his first season in charge at Barnsley did brilliantly has gone there and taken them from a position where they were in dire straits to playing the game in the right way, with the ball on the deck and it seems like it's working immediately.

It was a stunning result because we've been in good form. Our manager Colin Cooper says he didn't see it coming and I didn't see it coming either so well done to Bury. It's onwards and upwards for them.