Luton players celebrate their 1-0 victory at Premier League Norwich
The FA Cup fourth round produced two major shocks in yesterday’s ties.
The biggest shock of the day came at Carrow Road, where Premier League Norwich were defeated 1-0 by non-league Luton Town.
It was hard to tell which team was the Premier League side and which side was the non-league side, as the game was an even contest.
The only goal of the game came in the 80th minute. Substitute Scott Rendell was found by JJ O’Donnell’s cross and fired home. It was the first time that a non-league side have beaten a top tier team since 1989.
One of the other surprise results of the day came at QPR’s Loftus Road, where the home side were defeated 4-2 by League One outfit MK Dons. The MK Dons were four goals up by the 56th minute, through goals from an Armand Traore own goal, Ryan Lowe, Ryan Harley and Darren Potter.
The home side put more of a favourable tint on the result late-on through goals from Bobby Zamora and Fabio Da Silva. Hoops boss Harry Redknapp will be absolutely furious with his team’s performance.
Elsewhere, Manchester City progressed into the fifth round with a 1-0 win at Premier League rivals Stoke, the only goal of the game coming from full-back Pablo Zabaleta.
Arch-rivals Manchester United coasted through to the fifth round with a 4-1 win over Fulham at Old Trafford. Ryan Giggs gave United the lead from the penalty spot early in the game.
United came out strongly in the second half and early goals from Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez gave the home side a comfortable lead. Hernandez added a second, before Fulham centre-back Aaron Hughes got a late consolation for the visitors.
Another Premier League side through to the fifth round are Everton, who won 2-1 at Championship Bolton. The Toffee’s took the lead through a Steven Pienaar goal. Bolton hit back through in-form striker Marvin Sordell.
Just as the game was heading for a replay substitute Johnny Heitinga fired home a long-range screamer in stoppage-time.
Arsenal are also in the fifth round after winning 3-2 at Championship Brighton. Olivier Giroud opened the scoring early on for the Gunners, before Ashley Barnes equalised for the Championship side.
Giroud put the Gunners back into the lead early in the second half. However, the home side were back on level terms soon afterwards through an effort from Jose Ulloa. The winner came with just five minutes left on the clock, Theo Walcott finding the back of the net.
Premier League Wigan scraped past non-league Macclesfield 1-0 at Moss Rose. The only goal of the game came after seven minutes through a Jordi Gomez spot-kick.
Reading defeated League One Sheffield United 4-0 at the Madejski Stadium. Noel Hunt opened the scoring, before Mikele Leigertwood made it two. Hunt was on hand to make it three and Gareth McCleary completed the rout.
Championship Middlesbrough defeated League Two Aldershot 2-1 at the Riverside Stadium. Lukas Jutkiewicz opened the scoring after 83 minutes. The League Two team equalised in the 89th minute through Danny Hylton.
The game looked to be heading for a replay, before Jutkiewicz popped up in injury-time to send Boro into the fifth round.
Championship rivals Huddersfield and Leicester drew 1-1 at the John Smith’s Stadium. The home side took the lead through a 74th minute Lee Novak penalty. In-form striker Chris Wood earned the Foxes a replay with an equaliser eight minutes later.
Barnsley won 1-0 at Championship rivals Hull. The visitors scored the only goal of the game after 20 minutes through striker Chris Dagnall.
In another all-Championship tie Blackburn won 3-0 at Derby. Rovers took the lead just before the break through a Colin Kazim-Richards effort. Centre-back Scott Dann scored the second and Jordan Rhodes rounded off the victory with a third.
Could Luton progress into the quarter-finals of the FA Cup?
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