The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON
Third Round Proper Replays
Tuesday 22 January 2008
Winning clubs receive £40,000
Click here for fixtures

All three of Tuesday’s FA Cup replays went to penalties with the biggest shock of the evening coming at The Memorial Ground as Bristol Rovers beat Fulham. Elsewhere Derby edged passed Sheffield Wednesday and Barnet beat Swindon.

Fulham’s defeat means only eleven Premier League clubs have qualified for The FA Cup Fourth Round, the lowest in Premier League history and the least number of top flight clubs since the 1981/82 season.

The game ended goalless after extra-time and Fulham’s returning midfielder Jimmy Bullard missed the decisive penalty meaning Rovers went through 5-3 after the spot kicks.

Bristol Rovers started the game on top, much like they started the first game between the two sides earlier in the month.

Fulham defender Aaron Hughes had to hack away to stop Rickie Lambert latching on to a ball into the box and Fulham were back under pressure when Rovers were awarded a free-kick 25 yards in front of goal.

The visitors carved out their first chance for Paul Konchesky following a swift interchange between American Clint Dempsey and David Healy but the former West Ham man spoiled their hard work with a wayward shot.

Fulham needed Keeper Tony Warner to keep them level in the 42nd minute when he pulled off a point-blank stop to deny David Pipe after Lines had got the better of Chris Baird down the left and poked the ball across the box.

The Premier League side piled on the pressure in the second half and Healy’s volley on the hour mark forced Rovers keeper Steve Phillips to make a smart save.

But on a difficult pitch neither side created too many chances in normal time or extra time and the game went to penalties.

Rovers went first and converted all their spot kicks, while Fulham got off to a bad start when Bullard, who had been the best player on the pitch, missed his kick.

Derby were another side who needed penalties to edge past lower league opposition.

The Premier League’s bottom side got off to the worst possible start when Sheffield Wednesday’s veteran midfielder Steve Watson gave them the lead inside ten minutes.

Watson arrived late in the box to volley home a Jermaine Johnson cross to put The Championship side ahead.

The goal gave Wednesday confidence as they piled on the pressure as they went in search for a second.

It nearly came moments before the break as Lewin Nyatanga used his head to clear a Akpo Sodje shot off the line.

Derby were back in the game just after the restart when Stephen Pearson’s cross found Scottish international Kenny Miller who calmly put the ball into the back of the net leaving Lee Grant helpless in the Wednesday goal.

Derby then shaded the rest of the encounter and profited when Kenny Lunt and Glenn Whelan missed in the shoot-out.

League Two Barnet also caused a shock beating their League One rivals Swindon 2-0 in the penalty shoot-out at Underhill.

The Robins took the lead three minutes before the break when Jamie Vincent threaded a ball through to striker Billy Paynter, who fired home from a tight angle.

But Barnet refused to lie down and they were level with a goal inspired by star player Jason Puncheon.

The winger skinned Vincent, raced to the bye-line and then his low cross was turned into his own net by Paynter.

The Bees then had Michael Leary sent off for a two-footed lunge on Sofiene Zaaboub.

But they kept their nerve, took the game to the wire and then saw Swindon miss all four penalties in a dramatic shoot-out while Joe O'Cearuill and Anthony Thomas both hit the target for Paul Fairclough's battlers.