West Brom thrashed fifth-tier Gateshead 7-0 in Tony Pulis’ first game as manager in the FA Cup third round on Saturday, while seventh-tier Blyth surrendered a two-goal lead to lose 3-2 against second-division Birmingham.
Striker Saido Berahino fired four goals at The Hawthorns for West Brom, including a hat trick in 11 minutes. He volleyed the opener into the roof of the net in the 42nd, curled a tremendous shot beyond goalkeeper Adam Bartlett in the 46th, and completed his treble in the 53rd when he converted a cross from Chris Baird. Berahino got his fourth in the last minute after Chris Brunt, Victor Anichebe and James Morrison added their names onto the score sheet in a ruthless display from the Premier league side. “Until the first goal went in, we looked a little bit nervous,” Pulis said, before heaping praise on Berahino. “He’s obviously a very talented kid. I am looking forward to working with him.”
In a competition renowned for lower-league sides emerging victorious, Blyth looked set to overcome a five-tier difference and cause the upset of the day against Birmingham when captain Robbie Dale scored twice in six first-half minutes. More than 3,600 were packed into Blyth’s park, and they gave their team a standing ovation at halftime, with the prospect of making the fourth round for only the second time in their 116-year history. Then Birmingham exceeded Blyth’s quick double-strike with three goals in six minutes in the second half to win the tie. “We’re disappointed, but if someone had said before the game we were going to lose 3-2 and have a chance in the final minute we might have taken it,” Blyth manager Tom Wade said.
Manchester clubs through, QPR stunned
Manchester City and Manchester United were among a slew of Premier league teams to leave it late in overcoming lower-league opposition in the FA Cup on Sunday, as third-tier Sheffield United delivered the biggest shock of the third round. Makeshift striker James Milner scored twice — including an injury-time winner — as Man City, the joint-leader in the Premier league, came from behind to beat second-tier Sheffield Wednesday 2-1 at home.
Man United was also unconvincing against Yeovil, which is bottom of the third tier, and needed goals in the final 26 minutes from midfielders Ander Herrera and Angel Di Maria for a 2-0 win. Stoke scored three times in the final 10 minutes to beat non-league Wrexham 3-1 and Christian Benteke’s 88th-minute strike earned Aston a 1-0 victory over Blackpool, which plays in the second tier.
It was left to Sheffield United to produce the upset — something it has been used to doing of late, having belied its lowly league placing to reach the semifinals of the FA Cup last season and the same stage of the league Cup this season.
United added Queens Parks Rangers to its growing list of Premier league scalps, winning 3-0 at loftus Road thanks to Marc McNulty’s 36th-minute goal and a second-half double from Jamal Campbell-Ryce. The team managed by former England forward Nigel Clough has eliminated five Premier league teams from cup competitions in the last two seasons. QPR, which is struggling in the Premier league, has won just two FA Cup games in 11 years.Also on Sunday, Southampton was held to a 1-1 draw by second-tier Ipswich, Crystal Palace.