At Ewood Park a brace from England forward Emile Heskey helped holders Liverpool record a 4-3 win over Blackburn Rovers.

Blackburn took the lead through Dwight Yorke but, after Lucas Neill was ssnt-off, Liverpool ran riot to safely book their place in the fourth round.

Danny Murphy scored a penalty to bring Liverpool level before Heskey scored two goals in twelve second half minutes. Heskey should have completed his hat-trick moments later but he struck a weak penalty which Friedal saved easily.

Harry Kewell looked to have made the game safe when he scored with eleven minutes left but Blackburn fought their way back with goals from Barry Ferguson and a second from Yorke.

However it was too little too late and Liverpool hung on to win.

At Stamford Bridge, Chelsea stuttered to a 4-2 win over Secon Division Notts County thanks to two goals from Icelandic striker Eidur Gudjohnsen. England midfielder Joe Cole, on as a late substitute wrapped up victory with Chelsea's fourth.

Bobby Zamora scored his first goal for Tottenham as the White Hart Lane outfit edged out West Ham 1-0 in extra-time. Neither side could find the net in normal time but Zamora needed less than 60 seconds of the additional half hour to hit the winner.

Eugen Bopp scored twice but still ended up on the losing side as Portsmouth won 4-2 in extra-time to dump Nottingham Forest out of the competition.

Bopp gave Forest the lead after 42 minutes but veteran defender Des Walker put through his own net to gift the south coast outfit an equaliser 12 minutes into the second half.  Nigerian striker Yakubu Ayegbini gave Pompey the lead on 64 minutes but Bopp scored his second of the night just three minutes after that to level the scores once more.

In extra time, Jason Roberts (101 minutes) nosed Portsmouth in front for the second time and Ayegbini's second (108) wrapped up the win.

There was a surprise at St James' Park as West Bromwich Albion knocked Newcastle out of the competition. Shola Ameobi, who scored for Newcastle against Portsmouth at the weekend, netted an own goal after 29 minutes but the home side equalised through Laurent Robert after 65 minutes. Then, 11 minutes into extra time, Lee Hughes opped up to send the Baggies through.

Middlesbrough were 2-1 winners over First Division Wigan after taking a 36th-minute lead when Massimo Maccarone deflected home a Danny Mills shot. The Teesiders made it two on 66 minutes when Spanish international Gaizka Mendieta scored a well taken goal. Jimmy Bullard netted a 75th minute consolation for Wigan.

At Goodison Park, Tobias Linderoth struck after 42 minutes to give Everton a 1-0 victory over Charlton. Wayne Rooney received a pass from Gravesen but hit the angle of bar and post with his volley. Linderoth reacted quickest to head home his first goal for the club.

Finally, Thomas Hitzlsperger netted the only goal of a poor game as Aston Villa saw off
Leicester 1-0 at Villa Park.

Full Third Round Results

 Arsenal 1-1 Rotherham Utd

 Aston Villa 1-0 Leicester City 

 Blackpool 1-3 Crystal Palace

 Blackburn Rvs 3-4 Liverpool 

 Bolton W 2-0 Gillingham

 Chelsea 4-2 Notts County

 Bristol City 0-3 Southampton

 Everton 1-0 Charlton Ath

 Leeds Utd 2-3 Manchester Utd

 Newcastle Utd 1-2 WBA

 QPR 0-3 Manchester City

 Nottm Forest 2-4 Portsmouth

 Reading 1-0 Huddersfield

 Tottenham 1-0 Portsmouth

 Wolverhampton W 2-0 Burnley

 Wigan 1-2 Portsmouth

Fourth Round Draw

Aston Villa v Crystal Palace
Reading v Chelsea
Tottenham v Manchester City
Southampton v Portsmouth
Liverpool v Bolton Wanderers
West Bromwich Albion v Manchester United
Arsenal v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Middlesbrough v Everton

Ties to be played week commencing 1 December