In the FA cup competition, Arsenal turns the high-profile casualties of the third round as they lost 1-0 at Nottingham Forest, but Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur avoided crashing out early after intimidation against lower-league sides yesterday.
Nottingham Forest recoiled their third-round win over the 14-time winners in 2018. Liverpool came from a goal down to win 4-1 against third-tier Shrewsbury Town, while Tottenham trailed until the 74th minute at home to third-tier Morecambe before winning 3-1. A lacklustre Arsenal failed to muster a shot on target and could have no complaints about only their second third-round defeat in 26 seasons. Forest more than matched their visitors and Grabban, surprisingly left on the bench at the start, made a huge impact as he stretched out a leg to convert a Ryan Yates cross and seal a fourth-round Midlands derby against top-flight Leicester City.
“I’m really proud of the boys, pleased with the performance. It’s brilliant to get through and I hope the players now really believe in what we’re doing,” said Forest boss Steve Cooper.
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“They won, they scored a goal and we didn’t. We were not good enough and we have to apologise for it,” he said.
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Liverpool commenced with numbered first-team regulars and five youngsters and were at the back in the 27th minute when Daniel Udoh sent in Nathanael Ogbeta’s cross from close range. Teenaged winger Kaide Gordon equalized seven minutes later with a calmly and Fabinho offered Liverpool the lead prior to halftime from the penalty spot. Substitute Roberto Firmino scored with an intelligent backheel in the 78th minute and Fabinho crowned it up with his second goal in stoppage time, shooting in from a tight flank.
“When you get the first goal against you, so many things can happen but I liked the way we responded,” manager Juergen Klopp, who returned to the touchline after his recovery from COVID-19, told the BBC.
Shrewsbury manager Steve Cotterill said: “I don’t think it was a 4-1 game. But, once they got the third goal we probably weren’t going to get back into the game, being a realist.”
Antonio Conte’s Tottenham vacated the field that raised applause at halftime as they trailed to Morecambe, courtesy of Anthony O’Connor’s sharp volley after being left unmarked from a corner in the 33rd minute. It was only when Harry Kane, Lucas Moura and Oliver Skipp came off the bench midway through the second half that the eight-times winners began to look like avoiding a shock exit. Harry Winks equalized with a free-kick that was intended as a cross but flew in and Moura then stole possession in midfield before racing through to round keeper Trevor Carson and slot in. Kane wrapped up the win with a neat finish after being smartly picked out by Giovani Lo Celso.
“We deserve to win because in these types of games you have to show your strength,” Conte said. “They defended with 11 players and that’s normal in these games, but it is important to find the right solution.”
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EASY FOR WEST HAM
West Ham United defeated Leeds 2-0 after Manuel Lanzini scored the opener from close range in the 34th minute and Jarrod Bowen scored in the final minute of stoppage-time following Michail Antonio’s pass. West Ham faces a trip to minor league Kidderminster Harriers, the lowest-ranked side remaining, in round four. Wolverhampton Wanderers enjoyed a 3-0 win against Sheffield United with two goals from Daniel Podence and another from Nelson Semedo, while Premier League bottom club Norwich City earned a morale-boosting 1-0 win at Charlton Athletic thanks to a second-half goal from Milot Rashica. Two fourth-tier sides had their runs ended as Stoke City beat Leyton Orient 2-0 and Luton Town thrashed Harrogate Town 4-0. Cardiff City defeated Preston North End 2-1 in extra time.
