Mullin stings Hornets to earn Rovers replay
Paul Mullin’s late penalty clinched Tranmere an FA Cup third- round replay against Watford after the League One side fought back from 3-0 down.
Goals from Tom DeleBashiru, Nathaniel Chalobah and Roberto Pereyra eased Watford into a 3- 0 half- time lead at Vicarage Road before Tr a n m e r e responded through Connor Jennings’ header. Emmanuel Monthe pulled it back to 3-2 with 12 minutes left, and Mullin equalised from the spot after Mason Barrett’s foul on Corey Blackett-taylor. Pereyra was shown a straight red card in the 89th minute for his challenge on Kieron Morris. Veteran striker Aaron Wilbraham’s late equaliser in a lunchtime kick- off at Spotland earned Rochdale a replay in a 1- 1 draw against Newcastle. Wilbraham, 40, a halftime substitute, converted a cross from teenager Luke Ma t h e s o n a f t e r Mi g u e l Almiron had given Steve Bruce’s side an interval lead.
In the evening kick- offs, holders Manchester City, Leicester and Bournemouth all avoided upsets, while Manchester United drew 0-0 at Wolves.
City took the lead through Alexander Zinchenko at home against Port Vale and – although they were briefly pegged back by Tom Pope’s header – Sergio Aguero made it 2- 1 at the break before Taylor HarwoodBellis and Phil Foden added second-half goals. Leicester won 2-1 at home against Wigan, who scored through Ja m a l L ow e’s second- half effort after Tom
Pe a rc e’s ow n goal and Harvey Barnes had put the Foxes in control.
Phillip Billing struck twice as Bournemouth dispatched Luton 4- 0 – Callum Wilson and Dominic Solanke were also on target – while Wolves defender Matt Doherty’s late header was ruled out by VAR for handball at a goalless Molineux.
Premier League sides Brighton and Aston Villa both crashed out against Championship opposition.
Adam Reach’s second-half free-kick proved decisive for Sheffield Wednesday against Brighton at the Amex Stadium, and Villa lost 2-1 at Fulham.
Anthony Knockaert curled Fulham into a 54th- minute lead and, after Anwar El Ghazi’s equaliser, Harry Arter fired the Londoners back in front. Hartlepool, one of only two non- league sides left in the competition, also bowed out as Oxford hit back after going behind t o Ma r k Kitching’s early goal to win 4-1 at the Kassam Stadium. E m i l i a n o Ma rc o n d e s’ free- kick secured Brentford a 1- 0 home win against Stoke, while Cardiff fought back from 2-0 down to draw 2- 2 at home against League Two side Carlisle. Adam Idah struck a hattrick as Norwich won 4- 2 at Preston, and Reading twice hit back to draw 2-2 at home against Blackpool. Second- half goals from teenagers Will Smallbone and Jake Vokins secured Southampton a 2- 0 home win against Huddersfield, and Jay Rodriguez’s double eased Burnley to a 4-2 home win against Peterborough. Sean Goss’ second- half equaliser secured Shrewsbury a replay in a 1-1 draw at Bristol City, who had been given an interval lead by Famara Diedhiou. Tom Eaves headed a stoppage- time winner to complete his hat- trick as Hull won 3- 2 at 10- man Rotherham, and Jeremie Bela’s last- minute winner sent 10- man Birmingham through in a 2- 1 home win against Blackburn.
Blackburn levelled through Adam Armstrong’s penalty after Dan Crowley had given Birmingham an early lead.
Armstrong’s spot-kick was awarded after Ivan Sunjic was sent off for bringing d ow n Bl a c k b u r n’s Sam Gallagher, less than two minutes after stepping off the bench, but Bela clinched it for Birmingham in the 90th minute.
Ma t t Smi t h , Connor Mahoney (penalty) and Tom Bradshaw were all on target for Millwall in a 3- 0 home win against Newport.
Portsmouth won 2- 1 at Fleetwood with Ja m e s Bolton and John Marquis scoring for the visitors before Conor Mcaleny’s late consolation for the hosts.