Newcastle United secured their place in the FA Cup fifth round on Sunday (AEDT) with a 3-1 victory over a 10-man Aston Villa, inspired by a double from Sandro Tonali.
Unai Emery’s hopes of ending Villa’s 30-year wait for silverware evaporated after goalkeeper Marco Bizot was shown a straight red card in the first half.
Striker Tammy Abraham had initially fired the hosts into the lead with his first goal since returning to the club last month.
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However, the game swung in the Magpies’ favour when Bizot charged off his line to wipe out Jacob Murphy, duly denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity.
Later, Lucas Digne’s handball — which was clearly inside the box — was incorrectly awarded as a free-kick instead of a penalty, adding to the controversy.
“That decision is one of the worst decisions I’ve seen in football,” Wayne Rooney said in commentary for BBC Sport.
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Lucas Digne clearly handles the ball inside the box, but the referee awards a free-kick instead of a penalty. Stan Sport
With VAR and semi-automated offside technology not in use until the fifth round, the decision could not be reviewed.
The Magpies levelled from the resulting free-kick anyway, as Tonali’s strike deflected past a helpless Emi Martinez.
Tonali, who has been linked with a move to Arsenal at the end of the season, then showed why he is so highly sought-after with a blistering strike from outside the box to turn the tie around.
Nick Woltemade then netted his first goal in 15 matches to ensure Newcastle — who last lifted the trophy in 1955 — progressed into the last 16.
Newcastle United’s Nick Woltemade celebrates scoring the Magpies’ third goal during their FA Cup fourth round clash. Nigel French/PA Images via Getty Images
Guehi nets on debut as City march on
Manchester City secured a 2-0 victory over League Two outfit Salford City. The match featured a debut goal for January signing Marc Guehi.
Elsewhere, West Ham United required extra time to edge past Burton Albion 1-0, and Norwich City recorded a comfortable 3-1 win over West Bromwich Albion.
Manchester City, having thrashed Salford 8-0 in the third round last year, fielded a rotated side under Pep Guardiola.
It took only six minutes for the hosts to lead, as Alfie Dorrington turned Rayan Ait-Nouri’s drilled cross into his own net.
Omar Marmoush thought he had doubled the lead shortly after, but his celebrations were cut short by the offside flag.
Subsequent replays showed the Egyptian player was onside.
A frustrated Guardiola was seen wagging his finger at the assistant referee in response.
City dominated possession for most of the half, yet Salford nearly equalised against the run of play.
The home side relied on goalkeeper James Trafford, who produced a sharp save to deny Ben Woodburn’s goal-bound effort.
“We had to work really hard. They did really well, defended really well, and they had belief that grew through the game. We got there in the end and got the good win,” Trafford told the BBC.
Salford continued to probe after the interval, forcing Trafford into another save. Guardiola responded by introducing the cavalry — Antoine Semenyo, Guehi, and Nico O’Reilly.
The move paid off in the 81st minute when Matty Young palmed Rayan Cherki’s cross into the path of Guehi, who tapped in from close range.
Interestingly, Guehi was with Crystal Palace last month when they were knocked out by non-league Macclesfield in a historic upset.
Under revised rules, however, he was no longer cup-tied and was eligible to debut for City.
Burnley stunned by Mansfield as West Ham edge through
The biggest surprise came at Turf Moor, where Burnley were beaten 2-1 by League One side Mansfield Town.
Skipper Louis Reed’s second-half free kick sealed the win, marking the first time the third-tier side has eliminated a top-flight club since 1969.
Josh Laurent had given Burnley an early lead, but Rhys Oates equalised shortly after half-time before Reed’s curling strike sparked wild celebrations in the away end.
“[As] soon as it left my boot I felt it going in. I have been working on them throughout the week,” Reed said.
“The lads said, ‘This is your moment, go and take it’. Thankfully, I did.”
West Ham—who are battling relegation alongside Burnley—needed an extra-time goal from the in-form Crysencio Summerville to overcome Burton 1-0 at the Pirelli Stadium.
Summerville cut in from the left wing to curl a solo effort into the top corner, marking his sixth goal in seven matches.
“Summerville gave us a hand. He is in a good moment; he is helping out the team. This is what we expect from them,” West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo said.
The Hammers were forced to survive a late scare, however, after Freddie Potts was sent off, with Burton twice going close to an equaliser in the dying stages.
– Additional reporting by Emily Patterson