Suspected racism mars FA Cup tie
BIRMINGHAM keeper Neil Etheridge was allegedly targeted by racist abuse from a supporter during his side’s dramatic 2-2 FA Cup draw at Blackburn.
A visibly upset Etheridge was seen speaking to the referee after teammate Jordan James had equalised in stoppage time for the Blues.
Reda Khadra, who was on loan at Blackburn from Brighton last season, also made his old mates squirm when he whacked home for Birmingham with only three minutes on the clock.
The 4,000 Blues following went wild, but Rovers fought back and Bradley Dack levelled.
When Joe Rankin-Costello put Blackburn ahead, it looked odds-on for a hosts’ victory, until James struck, only a couple of minutes after coming on.
A belting cup tie between Fulham and Sunderland was deep into added time when Black Cats keeper Anthony Patterson’s reflexes denied Bobby De Cordova-Reid and his fingertips diverted Willian’s follow-up over the bar.
Jack Clarke’s early opener, after robbing Issa Diop, was cancelled out by Fulham skipper Tom Cairney’s slick finish.
Climax
In a dramatic climax, 15-yearold sub Chris Rigg was denied by an offside flag. Then came Patterson’s acrobatics.
Baghdad-born Belgian defender Ameen Al-Dakhil’s Burnley debut ended with a clean sheet, earning a replay against Ipswich.
The 20-year-old capture from Sint-Truiden, a Belgium international at Under-21 level, is now set to show his new boss, Vincent Kompany, what he can do in the replay.
“It was a proud moment for me because he is someone special to us in Belgium,” said Al-Dakhil, whose family left Iraq as refugees when he was five for a new life in Europe.
Luton threatened to take the game away from League Two opponents Grimbsy when Elijah Adebayo equalised from the spot and Jordan Clark’s shot proved too powerful for keeper Max Crocombe.
But within a minute Grimsby equalised through hometown hero Harry Clifton, sending the 1,473 travelling Mariners fans into raptures.
Woodburn (Ledson, 70) ................. 6 Fernandez (Brady, 78)
Cross-Adair (Evans, 89)