14 Jan 2009

FA Cup holders avoid embarrassment of early exit

5:33 pm on 14 January 2009

Football's FA Cup holders Portsmouth have avoided the embarrassment of a third round exit in this year's competition with a 2-nil replay win at Bristol City.

Fellow Premier League side West Brom, have also made it through with a 1-nil replay win away to Peterborough United.

But non-league Histon, who'd already knocked out third-tier Swindon and fallen giants Leeds on their way to the third round, saw their Cup campaign end with a 2-1 third round loss to second-tier Championship side Swansea.

Championship side Sheffield United, beat Leyton Orient, 4-1.

In the other third round ties held over because of frozen pitches, Wolverhampton won 2-0 away to Midlands rivals Birmingham to set up a clash with Premier League Middlesbrough.

But Cheltenham and Doncaster's goalless draw left Premier League Aston Villa still waiting to discover the identity of their fourth round opponents.

Millwall beat Crewe 3-2 and will play either Hull or Newcastle.

Charlton booked themselves a tie against Sheffield United after scraping past fellow second-tier strugglers Norwich 1-nil.