The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON
Player of the Fourth Round



Matt Derbyshire - Blackburn Rovers
Leroy Lita - Reading
Jamie McAllister - Bristol City
David Nugent - Preston
Scott Sinclair - Plymouth

After a weekend of stunning goals in the world's most famous domestic cup competition, we can reveal the five players who have been nominated to win the Player of the Fourth Round.

On offer for the winner is a VIP trip to this year's The FA Cup Final for two people, complete with full hospitality, courtesy of competition sponsors E.ON. The player with the most votes will also secure £500 of football equipment to donate to a local school of his choice.

Matt Derbyshire is making a name for himself at Blackburn Rovers and the 20 year old added to his burgeoning reputation with two goals against Luton Town - a performance which earned the nomination of BBC Five Live's Mark Clemmit.

The young striker, signed from Great Harwood Town, put his side ahead with a stunning drive into the far corner before heading home his second and Blackburn's third early in the second half. He bisected those two strikes when he set up Benni McCarthy for Rovers' second.

Another player to bag a brace was Reading's in-form striker Leroy Lita during the 3-2 win at Birmingham.

The England Under-21 hitman gave Birmingham the blues with two goals to earn the nomination of Nick Horler, E.ON's Managing Director, Retail.

His first goal came four minutes before half-time when he turned and prodded home. He then fired across Birmingham keeper Maik Taylor to put the result beyond doubt.

Joining those two players is Jamie McAllister who helped Bristol City come back from 2-0 down against Middlesbrough to force a replay.

Instrumental in City's revival, McAllister - nominated by David Watters, Editor of The Football and Non League Papers - could have won it for his side when he fizzed a drive past the far post.

Preston's David Nugent scored one of the goals of the weekend when he dribbled 60 yards before calmly curling into the far corner during his side's 2-0 win over Crystal Palace.

The England Under-21 striker's display won the vote of The Times' Walter Gammie.

The last of the nominations is Scott Sinclair, whose sprint from the halfway line and finish was similar to Nugent's.

On loan from Chelsea, the flying winger sealed his side's route into the Fifth Round when he picked up the ball inside his own half, danced through the Barnet defence before holding off the last man and poking home with his right foot.