Bradford and Southampton both survived their third round replays to book their places in the revised fourth round, after equally convincing victories in their games last night, although their respective score lines were vastly different. Whereas Bradford enjoyed a relatively comfortable 4-0 win at home to Millwall, the Premier League Saints could not afford to relax right up to the final whistle with a narrow 1-0 advantage over Championship contenders Ipswich Town.
Bradford City 4 Millwall 0
Yorkshire battlers Bradford brushed aside Championship side Millwall with a confident display, with their opponents perhaps already low on confidence after a miserable recent run of only one win in twelve matches beforehand.
That statistic was extended to thirteen after this match as the League One side and 2013 League Cup runners-up scored four unanswered goals.
Millwall's night began badly when Mark Beevers was shown a red card after only six minutes. Bradford quickly took advantage of their lack of personnel by scoring three times before half-time as the tie was soon over as a contest. James Hanson headed in to open the scoring, which Jon Stead added to and the first-half joy for the home side was complete when Andy Halliday netted the third. The rout was complete when Billy Knott hammered in a fourth in the second-half.
The Bantams will now travel to Stamford Bridge in the fourth round to face Premier League leaders Chelsea, a game that few will expect them to win, but as Greavesy always says "it's a funny old game".
Ipswich Town 0Southampton 1
Ipswich headed into their replay following defeat last time out to promotion rivals Derby County at Portman Road, but up to then had been playing above their expected level going into the season. Mick McCarthy's squad had been slightly under the weather in the last few days, not because of the reversal against County, but due to a virus that was believed to be affecting at least three of the players in contention for the match, although the manager himself said that he was feeling much better after suffering the effects himself.
Saints were the better side throughout and the apparent close score line at the end was probably not a true reflection of their control on the game, once they had established a goal advantage through Shane Long's well taken finish on 19 minutes. It might have been a different story if Stephen Hunt's earlier effort for Town had not been disallowed for offside.
Ipswich showed plenty of endeavour and neat play as befits a team in the battle for Premier League Football next season, but could never really put sustained pressure on their cultured opposition, who have been the sensation in the top league of England this season. Having blunted both Arsenal and Manchester United in recent matches, they once again attained a clean sheet to please manager Ronald Koeman with their organisation.
Saints look likely dark horses for the cup this time around but will have been sad to see key midfielder Victor Wanyama limp off with an apparent hamstring problem during the game last night, on top of the recent loss of central defender Toby Alderweireld to a similar issue that also leaves them short of cover at the back.
Initial reports suggest that Wanyama could be out for up to five weeks as a consequence on top of Alderweireld's four week assessment. They were without the transfer-linked Morgan Schneiderlin last night due to a leg injury, which could keep him out for a few more games as well as the injury toll begins to stack up at the south coast club.
Saints' win confirmed a fourth round tie against Crystal Palace.
