FA CUP ROUND-UP

AFC WIMBLEDON manager Wally Downes was only half-joking about the prospect of making more FA Cup history. A last-minute goal from Kwesi Appiah clinched a 3-2 win at FLEETWOOD and a place in the fourth round for the first time since the club’s reformation in 2002. The old Wimbledon beat Liverpool 1-0 in the 1988 final. ‘The country holds Wimbledon in high esteem with the FA Cup,’ Downes said. ‘There is a connection there.’ Asked if he wants to make more history, he added: ‘Wembley is only five games away now... why are you laughing?’ A topsy-turvy tie saw Wimbledon take a 2-0 lead through Andy Barcham and Anthony Hartigan, only for Fleetwood to equalise with goals from Paddy Madden and Ched Evans — a penalty. Fleetwood boss Joey Barton said: ‘I’ve got no dough now because we are out of the FA Cup!’

OXFORD manager Karl Robinson was close to tears on the touchline as substitute Shandon Baptiste was carried off with suspected ruptured cruciate ligaments after falling awkwardly in the 1-0 defeat at BRENTFORD. ‘This was his first game after nearly three months out. I saw the pain he went through,’ Robinson said. Bees’ Neal Maupay won it from the spot — his 16th goal of the season.

ASTON VILLA keeper Lovre Kalinic will recall his debut for the wrong reasons after SWANSEA cruised to a 3-0 win. Nathan Dyer, Courtney Baker-Richardson and Jay Fulton scored and Villa boss Dean Smith said: ‘It’s the first game in which the lads didn’t show enough energy, commitment or desire.’ Josh Magennis scored a hat-trick in

BOLTON’S 5-2 win over WALSALL and discovered even that was not enough to earn a pat on the back from Phil Parkinson. ‘The goals will do him good but he must do more,’ said the Bolton manager. Wanderers, one down to Andy Cook’s header, hit back with three goals in six minutes. Their other goals came from Clayton Donaldson and an own goal from Jon Guthrie, while Walsall’s second was a Mark Beevers own goal.

MIDDLESBROUGH went goal crazy against PETERBOROUGH, old boy Britt Assombalonga scoring twice in the 5-0 thrashing. Yet Posh boss Steve Evans said: ‘It’s the best we’ve played in 10 months.’ Bakary Sako scored his first goal for WEST BROM as they beat WIGAN 1-0. Peter Crouch came off the bench to rescue a 1-1 draw for STOKE at SHREWSBURY, while

SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY and LUTON finished goalless.