Red Devil
Jan 13 2004, 09:58 PM
Tranmere shocked Bolton at The Reebok as Iain Hume's spectacular extra time winner dumped out the Premier League side. Sam Allardyce once again rested several first-team regulars and was made to pay for his decision as Rovers claimed another impressive cup scalp. The hosts had a chance in the opening minutes of the game when Henrik Pedersen went through on goal but his effort was deflected to safety by some desperate Tranmere defending. Bolton continued to have the best of the early exchanges and Pedersen saw a volley deflected wide while Stelios Giannakopoulos saw his curler easily saved by John Achterberg. As the half wore on the visitors began to get into the game and winger David Beresford was giving Bolton plenty of trouble down the left-hand side.
Kevin Nolan came on for the ineffective Jardel at half-time for The Trotters but it was the Division Two side that started the second period the brighter. Kevin Poole was forced to save from Beresford as Tranmere began to exert some pressure on the home goal and Ryan Taylor was the next to go close for Brian Little's outfit as he nipped in to steal the ball but blazed his shot wide from a tight angle. Bolton's only real effort of any note came from Nolan who saw his 25-yard drive skid just wide of Achterberg's right post.
Just as it appeared the game would be going to extra time Tranmere broke the deadlock when Eugene Dadi poked the ball home from close range after the home team had failed to clear the ball from a Gareth Roberts cross. With time ticking away Bolton managed to grab a late leveller when substitute Ricky Shakes' drive was deflected in with only seconds remaining. Tranmere didn't take long to go back in front in extra time as Hume cut in from the right and curled home a left footed effort from outside the box to make it 2-1. Bolton piled on the pressure but were unable to find another equaliser as Rovers registered another giant-killing act and booked a trip to Luton Town in the next round.
Three divisions separate Black Country neighbours Wolverhampton Wanderers and Kidderminster Harriers but Kenny Miller's brace divided them over 180 minutes in the FA Cup. The Scotland international headed Wolves into a fourth round meeting with West Ham while Kidderminster's consolation is a healthy dose of local pride and the more tangible reward of a share of the Molineux gate receipts. And fortune - in the form of referee Matt Messias - hardly favoured the hardy Harriers as Miller turned the tie Wolves' way. His first strike - just his second of the season - was as clear as the second was dubious.
Mark Kennedy's 36th-minute free-kick was headed back across goal by Ioan Ganea and Miller applied the finishing touch. Then controversy came as Kidderminster threatened a comeback with a goal to rival Heidar Helguson's recent header for Watford against Chelsea. Miller's cross from the right flank beat keeper Stuart Brock, hit the post and bounced along the line where defender Craig Hinton appeared to hack it clear. Play on? Not according to Mr Messias, who signalled the goal. But, harried by Harriers, Wolves should not be kidded by just their second victory in 13 games. Miller apart, a side boasting seven changes were toothless. Romanian Ioan Ganea was given his full debut and displayed the finishing prowess of Henri Camara as he skewed his best chance well wide. With Mark Kennedy sadly out of touch, only Miller and, in injury time, Paul Butler tested visiting keeper Brock. Manchester United await Wolves on Saturday but Dave Jones decided against giving his regular team the opportunity to warm up with a win.
Though Wolves had started with a flurry of corners, he could have been made to pay for that. The stretching Bo Henriksen could not quite convert Dean Bennett's deep free-kick, former Wolves player Graham Ward was narrowly wide from distance and Jesper Christiansen, the other half of the lively Scandinavian front line, was denied by Michael Oakes and an offside flag. And after Miller's opener, Christiansen let the men in gold and black off as a golden chance went begging. Five yards out, he misjudged the far post and tamely turned his shot wide. With the tidy duo of Danny Williams and Bennett impressing in midfield and a style of play bearing the hallmarks of the their manager Jan Molby, the Third Division side were never outclassed but Miller's second put Kidderminster to bed.
Northampton produced a real shock when knocking out Rotherham, a win which sets up a mouthwatering fourth round tie with Manchester United. The Cobblers are struggling at the wrong end of the Division Three table and The Millers were expected to book their place against United after drawing at Sixfields. Things looked good for Ronnie Moore's side when they took the lead on 19 minutes. Paul Hurst lit up Millmoor with a superb free-kick but they were unable to kill off plucky Northampton. Loan star Richard Walker made Rotherham pay when heading home Martin Smith's set-piece ten minutes before the interval. Smith then took it upon himself to set up a clash with The Red Devils by netting on 54 minutes.
Wimbledon are having a torrid time in the league but they set aside their troubles to snatch a superb win at Stoke. The Dons have been forced to sell key players due to financial troubles but it would appear the squad have taken on a siege mentality as Adam Nowland's fine free-kick shortly after the half-hour mark clinched victory to set up a lucrative trip to Birmingham.
Scunthorpe booked their place in the fourth round with a superb victory over Barnsley. Steve Torpey gave The Iron the lead on 14 minutes and the home side withstood some heavy Barnsley pressure before a superb goal 15 minutes from time sealed the win. Jamie McCombe vindicated Brian Laws' decision to bring him on with an exquisite curling effort from the edge of the box which left Sasa Ilic with no chance. Scunthorpe have produced some superb play in the FA Cup this term but they will have to raise their game again if they are to take the scalp of Portsmouth in the next round.
Preston proved they can play without Ricardo Fuller by running out 2-1 winners at Reading. The highly-rated Fuller failed a late fitness test but it mattered little as The Lilywhites were too good for The Royals. Richard Cresswell set the ball rolling with an expert finish on 28 minutes and the victory was secured when George Koumantarakis capitalised on some shoddy Reading defending to bundle home on 47 minutes. Shaun Goater set up a frantic final five minutes when cutting the deficit but Preston held firm to set up a trip to Swansea.
Accrington Stanley's superb run in the competition was ended at Colchester. The league side did just enough to hold off their rivals in a bad tempered affair at Whaddon Road. Joey Keith scored goals at the start and end of the match for Colchester, but Paul Mullin ensured a tense finish with an 89th-minute effort for Accrington but it was too little, too late. The game, though, will be remembered for a number of off-the-field incidents as Accrington manager John Coleman was left fuming at a number of incidents during the match.
Kevin Nolan came on for the ineffective Jardel at half-time for The Trotters but it was the Division Two side that started the second period the brighter. Kevin Poole was forced to save from Beresford as Tranmere began to exert some pressure on the home goal and Ryan Taylor was the next to go close for Brian Little's outfit as he nipped in to steal the ball but blazed his shot wide from a tight angle. Bolton's only real effort of any note came from Nolan who saw his 25-yard drive skid just wide of Achterberg's right post.
Just as it appeared the game would be going to extra time Tranmere broke the deadlock when Eugene Dadi poked the ball home from close range after the home team had failed to clear the ball from a Gareth Roberts cross. With time ticking away Bolton managed to grab a late leveller when substitute Ricky Shakes' drive was deflected in with only seconds remaining. Tranmere didn't take long to go back in front in extra time as Hume cut in from the right and curled home a left footed effort from outside the box to make it 2-1. Bolton piled on the pressure but were unable to find another equaliser as Rovers registered another giant-killing act and booked a trip to Luton Town in the next round.
Three divisions separate Black Country neighbours Wolverhampton Wanderers and Kidderminster Harriers but Kenny Miller's brace divided them over 180 minutes in the FA Cup. The Scotland international headed Wolves into a fourth round meeting with West Ham while Kidderminster's consolation is a healthy dose of local pride and the more tangible reward of a share of the Molineux gate receipts. And fortune - in the form of referee Matt Messias - hardly favoured the hardy Harriers as Miller turned the tie Wolves' way. His first strike - just his second of the season - was as clear as the second was dubious.
Mark Kennedy's 36th-minute free-kick was headed back across goal by Ioan Ganea and Miller applied the finishing touch. Then controversy came as Kidderminster threatened a comeback with a goal to rival Heidar Helguson's recent header for Watford against Chelsea. Miller's cross from the right flank beat keeper Stuart Brock, hit the post and bounced along the line where defender Craig Hinton appeared to hack it clear. Play on? Not according to Mr Messias, who signalled the goal. But, harried by Harriers, Wolves should not be kidded by just their second victory in 13 games. Miller apart, a side boasting seven changes were toothless. Romanian Ioan Ganea was given his full debut and displayed the finishing prowess of Henri Camara as he skewed his best chance well wide. With Mark Kennedy sadly out of touch, only Miller and, in injury time, Paul Butler tested visiting keeper Brock. Manchester United await Wolves on Saturday but Dave Jones decided against giving his regular team the opportunity to warm up with a win.
Though Wolves had started with a flurry of corners, he could have been made to pay for that. The stretching Bo Henriksen could not quite convert Dean Bennett's deep free-kick, former Wolves player Graham Ward was narrowly wide from distance and Jesper Christiansen, the other half of the lively Scandinavian front line, was denied by Michael Oakes and an offside flag. And after Miller's opener, Christiansen let the men in gold and black off as a golden chance went begging. Five yards out, he misjudged the far post and tamely turned his shot wide. With the tidy duo of Danny Williams and Bennett impressing in midfield and a style of play bearing the hallmarks of the their manager Jan Molby, the Third Division side were never outclassed but Miller's second put Kidderminster to bed.
Northampton produced a real shock when knocking out Rotherham, a win which sets up a mouthwatering fourth round tie with Manchester United. The Cobblers are struggling at the wrong end of the Division Three table and The Millers were expected to book their place against United after drawing at Sixfields. Things looked good for Ronnie Moore's side when they took the lead on 19 minutes. Paul Hurst lit up Millmoor with a superb free-kick but they were unable to kill off plucky Northampton. Loan star Richard Walker made Rotherham pay when heading home Martin Smith's set-piece ten minutes before the interval. Smith then took it upon himself to set up a clash with The Red Devils by netting on 54 minutes.
Wimbledon are having a torrid time in the league but they set aside their troubles to snatch a superb win at Stoke. The Dons have been forced to sell key players due to financial troubles but it would appear the squad have taken on a siege mentality as Adam Nowland's fine free-kick shortly after the half-hour mark clinched victory to set up a lucrative trip to Birmingham.
Scunthorpe booked their place in the fourth round with a superb victory over Barnsley. Steve Torpey gave The Iron the lead on 14 minutes and the home side withstood some heavy Barnsley pressure before a superb goal 15 minutes from time sealed the win. Jamie McCombe vindicated Brian Laws' decision to bring him on with an exquisite curling effort from the edge of the box which left Sasa Ilic with no chance. Scunthorpe have produced some superb play in the FA Cup this term but they will have to raise their game again if they are to take the scalp of Portsmouth in the next round.
Preston proved they can play without Ricardo Fuller by running out 2-1 winners at Reading. The highly-rated Fuller failed a late fitness test but it mattered little as The Lilywhites were too good for The Royals. Richard Cresswell set the ball rolling with an expert finish on 28 minutes and the victory was secured when George Koumantarakis capitalised on some shoddy Reading defending to bundle home on 47 minutes. Shaun Goater set up a frantic final five minutes when cutting the deficit but Preston held firm to set up a trip to Swansea.
Accrington Stanley's superb run in the competition was ended at Colchester. The league side did just enough to hold off their rivals in a bad tempered affair at Whaddon Road. Joey Keith scored goals at the start and end of the match for Colchester, but Paul Mullin ensured a tense finish with an 89th-minute effort for Accrington but it was too little, too late. The game, though, will be remembered for a number of off-the-field incidents as Accrington manager John Coleman was left fuming at a number of incidents during the match.