Maidstone United, the lowest-ranked team in the FA Cup, stunned the League One side Stevenage with a 1-0 win to advance to the fourth round and continue their dream run.
The National League South side had already made history in reaching the third round for the first time since the club reformed in 1992 and they took the lead shortly before half-time with the midfielder Sam Corne converting a penalty.
Having defeated League Two’s Barrow in the second round, Maidstone now have a third-tier scalp to add to their collection, with the full-time whistle at the Gallagher Stadium prompting jubilant scenes.
“It binds us together, forever,” the Maidstone manager, George Elokobi, told the BBC. “This is history, for the community, for everyone associated with Maidstone United Football Club, most especially it’s for our football club, our owners who are very good people and they’ve kept this club afloat, sustainable for the time they’ve been here.”
Bournemouth survived a scare at Loftus Road, coming back from 2-0 down to beat Championship strugglers Queens Park Rangers 3-2. Sinclair Armstrong opened the scoring in the 40th minute with a fine solo effort and Lyndon Dykes’s shot, just two minutes later, benefited from a deflection to double QPR’s lead. But second-half goals from Marcus Tavernier, Kieffer Moore and Justin Kluivert took the Premier League side into the next round.
Leicester, FA Cup winners in 2021, were victorious at the Den, defeating Millwall 3-2 to reach the fourth round for the fifth consecutive season. The visitors took the lead through the Chelsea loanee Cesare Casadei, who headed in a Marc Albrighton cross in the 16th minute. Ricardo Pereira then began and finished a fine team move to double Leicester’s lead in the first half.
Duncan Watmore brought Millwall back into the game before the hour with a goal from close range, but Thomas Cannon skipped around the keeper to slot in his side’s third. Zian Flemming scored in the 86th minute to keep things interesting, but Leicester held on.
League One
Cheltenham stunned league leaders Portsmouth as Liam Sercombe's brace secured a 2-1 success. Pompey had taken the lead through a 49th-minute own goal, Tom Bradbury deflecting in under pressure from Colby Bishop. But Sercombe hooked in Will Ferry's long throw two minutes later before quickly sealing his first Cheltenham brace.
New Fleetwood manager Charlie Adam suffered a second defeat as Derby spoiled his home bow with a 3-1 victory at Highbury. Adam lost his opener by the same scoreline at Shrewsbury on New Year's Day, and bottom-placed Fleetwood are now winless in nine games. Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, James Collins and Tom Barkhuizen struck for promotion-chasing Derby, with Jayden Stockley replying.
Port Vale and Charlton shared a six-goal thriller at Vale Park.
Charlton led on three occasions through Corey Blackett-Taylor, Daniel Kanu and Tyreece Campbell, but the Addicks remain winless in seven games with Ethan Chislett, Uche Ikpeazu and Gavin Massey scoring for Vale.
Exeter moved out of the relegation zone with a 2-1 victory over fellow strugglers Carlisle. Reece Cole and Sonny Cox rewarded the Grecians' superiority with second-half goals before Dan Butterworth offered the Cumbrians late hope.
Struggling pair Burton and Wycombe fought out a 1-1 draw as Chairboys striker Sam Vokes cancelled out an earlier second-half effort from Bez Lubala. PA Media
League Two
Karl Robinson was sent off inside 14 minutes of his first game as Salford manager, a 2-2 draw with Forest Green. Robinson, appointed Salford manager on Friday, was sent from the dugout after pushing the ball away to delay a Forest Green throw. Veteran striker Matt Smith put Salford ahead with his 16th goal of season after four minutes but Charlie McCann and Matt Stevens fired Forest Green in front. Ryan Watson's stoppage-time penalty denied the Rovers manager Troy Deeney a first win, both sides having been reduced to 10 men moments before with red cards for Adrian Mariappa and Ryan Inniss.
Danny Cowley's first game as Colchester boss also ended in a 2-2 draw at Swindon. The Robins led 2-0 through a Charlie Austin penalty and Tom Brewitt's close-range finish, but Matt Jay and Bradley Ihionvien - who equalised in the fourth minute of stoppage time - gave the U's a share of the spoils.
Crewe denied Mansfield top spot as Joe White's early goal secured a 1-0 victory and moved the Railwaymen up to fifth.
Fourth-placed Barrow moved within a point of the automatic-promotion places with a 1-0 win over Tranmere. Dean Campbell grabbed the winner 10 minutes from time with a splendid 18-yard strike as Rovers' four-game winning streak came to an end.
Crawley scored twice in stoppage time to clinch a dramatic 4-2 win at Bradford. The Bantams led 2-1 through Liam Ridehalgh and Andy Cook's penalty, with Danilo Orsi having equalised with his first goal of the game. Adam Campbell levelled five minutes from time before Orsi, from the penalty spot, and substitute Klaidi Lolos added late punishment.
Harrogate overcame Doncaster 3-1 as Sam Folarin, James Daly and Abraham Odoh netted, with Tommy Rowe on target for Rovers. PA Media
A first-half hat-trick from Sammie Szmodics set up Blackburn’s 5-2 rout of Cambridge United at Ewood Park. Jack Lankester gave the League One visitors the lead in the sixth minute before Szmodics scored for the third consecutive game to bring Blackburn level. Sullay Kaikai was quick to put the visitors back in front, but Szmodics turned the game around with two more goals before half-time.
Coventry enjoyed a goal-laden day at home with a 6-2 win against Oxford United. Early proceedings were eventful, with the hosts taking a 3-1 lead inside 17 minutes. The Championship side struck first thanks to Joel Latibeaudiere before Mark Harris equalised for Oxford a couple of minutes later. Their joy was short-lived, with goals fromthe former Arsenal midfielder Ben Sheaf and Kasey Palmer – who hit a wonderful strike from range – putting Coventry in control. A Callum O’Hare penalty early in the second half provided them with further smiles, as did a late Matthew Godden double.
Cameron Dawson saved two penalties inside the first 10 minutes for Sheffield Wednesday to set up a 4-0 win against Cardiff. Ryan Wintle and Callum Robinson missed from the spot after Josh Windass had given Wednesday the lead in the second minute.
Ipswich, high-flyers in the Championship, were victorious on the road, beating AFC Wimbledon 3-1. Kieran McKenna’s side took an early lead through an own goal from Josh Davison in the eighth minute but Wimbledon drew level in the 17th with a penalty from their captain, Jake Reeves.
Ipswich were back in front before half-time, with Axel Tuanzebe heading in the first goal of his professional career. Wimbledon were reduced to 10 men in the second half after Harry Pell was sent off for a second yellow, before Jack Taylor scored a late third.
Further non-league glory came in the form of 10-men Eastleigh’s 1-1 draw at Newport, with the National League team bouncing back from the first-half dismissal of George Langston to equalise through a Chris Maguire penalty in the 81st minute. Norwich will also have to take part in a replay after they drew 1-1 with Bristol Rovers, with Ashley Barnes’s opener for the Canaries cancelled out by Grant Ward’s goal.
Pick that out 🤯
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) January 6, 2024
An UNBELIEVABLE hit from Kasey Palmer for @Coventry_City 🚀#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/PFzn39im6u
Birmingham looked set to begin life without Wayne Rooney with a victory at Hull, but the home side equalised in the 87th minute through Matty Jacob after Lukas Jutkiewicz had scored first. Luke Williams’s coaching reign at Swansea began with a 2-0 over Morecambe at home.
