Graeme Lee was delighted to oversee an FA Cup shock in his first game in charge of Hartlepool as his new side knocked out Lincoln at the LNER Arena.The club legend returned to Victoria Park earlier in the week to take up his first managerial job after leaving his role as coach of Middlesbrough Under-23s, bringing along another former Pools player in Michael Nelson as his assistant.They may have ...Full Story »

Walsall boss Matt Taylor said he felt like “a broken record” after the Saddlers slipped out of the FA Cup with a 2-1 defeat at home by Swindon.The Robins continued their sensational run on the road with an eighth successive away victory to reach the third round for the first time in a decade.Tyreece Simpson, on loan from Ipswich, slotted home Jack Payne’s through ball to put th...Full Story »

Bristol Rovers came from behind to book their place in the FA Cup third round thanks to a narrow 2-1 victory at home to League Two rivals Sutton.The away side came close early on before Rovers goalkeeper James Belshaw was sharply off his line to thwart David Ajiboye.At the other end, Antony Evans’ effort was confidently saved by veteran goalkeeper Dean Bouzanis.Midway through the first hal...Full Story »

Barrow earned an attractive FA Cup replay after holding League One Ipswich to a goalless draw at Portman Road.The two teams had never met each other in a competitive encounter but the League Two Bluebirds held their own against the Tractor Boys, who hit the woodwork twice.The visitors enjoyed a confident start to the game and Josh Kay dragged a shot wide in the sixth minute after cutting in from...Full Story »

A brace from Harry Smith plus a strike by Omar Beckles and a penalty by Aaron Drinan put Leyton Orient into the third round of the FA Cup after a 4-0 win over Tranmere at Brisbane Road.The Londoners were rewarded for a totally dominant first-half performance with a two-goal lead at the interval.They took the lead after 22 minutes when Hector Kyprianou produced a defence-splitting pass for Smith ...Full Story »

Harvey Knibbs struck a controversial late winner as Cambridge beat Exeter 2-1 to reach the FA Cup third round for the first time in five years.Knibbs headed in Wes Hoolahan’s cross two minutes from the end but saw it disallowed for offside, only for the goal to then be awarded following Cambridge protestations.The visitors had earlier gone ahead when Jubril Okedina clipped Sam Nombe in the...Full Story »

Non-league Buxton’s FA Cup dream was ended following a 1-0 second-round defeat at home to League One Morecambe.The seventh-tier side enjoyed a bright start and nearly took the lead when Diego De Girolamo hit the woodwork on a wet and windy afternoon in Derbyshire.But Cole Stockton’s 29th-minute goal settled the nerves and saw Morecambe boss the contest from then on.De Girolamo hit th...Full Story »

Rotherham manager Paul Warne admitted the better side lost as his League One outfit edged past National League visitors Stockport 1-0 to reach the third round of the FA Cup.Michael Smith’s 43rd-minute winner extended the Millers’ club record unbeaten run to an 18th game in all competitions but Warne paid tribute to their opponents and the raucous 2,300 visiting fans afterwards.He sai...Full Story »

Michael Smith’s 15th goal of the season saw Rotherham edge past National League Stockport to take their place in the third round of the FA Cup.The 1-0 triumph also saw the Millers extend their unbeaten club record run to an 18th game, although they were pushed all the way in a tight contest.Buoyed by a raucous travelling army of 2,300 supporters, Stockport belied their position 55 places b...Full Story »

Charlton caretaker manager Johnnie Jackson praised FA Cup opponents Gateshead after his side were given a severe test by the National League North club before winning 2-0.The Addicks made their way into Monday’s third-round draw thanks to two goals from captain Jayden Stockley – but their hosts had a whole host of chances to cause an upset during a lively performance.The likes of Mac...Full Story »

Buxton boss Steve Cunningham is hopeful of having a full squad to pick from for his side’s FA Cup clash with Morecambe.Cunningham has a few players nursing bumps and bruises but nothing that is expected to keep anyone out of Saturday’s tie.The Bucks include former Coventry defender Ben Turner and former Sheffield United forward Jamie Ward among their ranks and both should be involved...Full Story »

Bristol Rovers look set to be without Josh Grant for their FA Cup second-round tie with Sutton after the versatile midfielder joined the Pirates’ lengthy casualty list.Grant is likely to be missing for at least a few games after being forced off in last weekend’s 2-0 defeat to Forest Green with a hamstring problem.He joins long-term absentees Alfie Kilgour (knee), Anssi Jaakkola (Ach...Full Story »

Orient expect to have midfielder Craig Clay back for Saturday’s FA Cup second-round tie against Tranmere after missing the last two games with an ankle injury.Manager Kenny Jackett is also hoping striker Paul Smyth could return after sitting the last two matches with a hamstring issue as the O’s bid to avoid another exit from a cup competition.Jackett’s men drew 0-0 with MK Don...Full Story »

Doncaster head into their FA Cup second-round clash against Mansfield without a manager following the departure of Richie Wellens on Thursday.Under-18s coach Gary McSheffrey has been placed in temporary charge after Wellens was relieved of his duties with Rovers having won just three of their 19 League One games so far and sitting 23rd in the table.Defender Joseph Olowu serves the second match o...Full Story »

Cambridge winger Shilow Tracey could be in line for a return to the side in the FA Cup tie against Exeter.Tracey came off the bench for the closing stages of last Saturday’s Sky Bet League One home defeat by Sunderland, having missed five games with a hip problem picked up in the last round, and also scored in the midweek Papa John’s Trophy win over Walsall.Defender Lloyd Jones is st...Full Story »

Rotherham will assess Will Grigg ahead of Friday’s FA Cup tie with Stockport.The on-loan Sunderland striker – who would be eligible to play – sustained a buttock injury in midweek, which boss Paul Warne says has left him looking “a bit like Kim Kardashian”.The Millers have no other fresh injury concerns so Warne must decide how strong to go against the National Leag...Full Story »

Salford remain without the suspended Ash Hunter for the televised FA Cup tie with non-league Chesterfield.The midfielder was sent off in the draw with Bristol Rovers on November 23 and serves the second of a three-match ban.Matty Willock also received a red card in that game and, although it was rescinded, he did not make the matchday squad for last week’s win over Oldham.Goalkeeper Connor...Full Story »

Colchester are set to be without Frank Nouble and Tom Eastman for the FA Cup second-round tie with Wigan on Sunday.Striker Nouble is awaiting the results of a scan on a knee injury, while manager Hayden Mullins said Eastman is quarantining after testing positive for coronavirus.The duo join a lengthy absentee list, with Shamal George dealing with a rib problem and Ryan Clampin, Gene Kennedy and ...Full Story »

Exeter staged a rousing second-half comeback to book an FA Cup second-round trip to Cambridge on Saturday with a 2-1 win over Bradford in their replayed replay.The match had to played for a third time when it emerged the Grecians had used six substitutes in the original replay.Bradford dominated the first half and went in front after 11 minutes. Oscar Threlkeld delivered a cross to the back post...Full Story »

Either European champions Italy or Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal will miss out on the 2022 World Cup after being drawn in the same playoff path on Friday. The draw means either Ronaldo and the 2016 European champions or four-time World Cup winners Italy will fail to make the tournament next year. Italy finished as runners-up to Switzerland in the group stage of qualifying, while Portugal were...Full Story »