Football writer Ninad Barbadikar analyses Saturday's FA Cup fourth-round action involving Premier League teams.
Leyton Orient 1-2 Man City
A Kevin De Bruyne winner off the bench rescued victory for Manchester City against a doughty Leyton Orient and secured progress to the fifth round of the FA Cup.
Though on the losing side ultimately, Tottenham Hotspur loanee Jamie Donley’s effort from 40 yards out for the League One side that hit the bar and went in off City ‘keeper Stefan Ortega was the match’s highlight.
It isn’t the first time Donley’s scored something like this either, doing so last season for Spurs’ PL2 team and before that in 2022, for Spurs’ Under-18s. That one was from 40 yards as well.
City recovered in the second half through Rico Lewis’s shot from distance, which beat Orient ‘keeper Josh Keeley (another on loan from Spurs) through an Abdukodir Khusanov deflection, the defender’s first goal for the club.
Though Orient pressed on in search of another lead, Pep Guardiola’s changes would pay off as De Bruyne made the difference for his club in the FA Cup once again. Since his debut in the competition in 2016, no player has been involved in more goals than the Belgian’s tally of 26.
It was only his third goal this season overall, while it was Jack Grealish’s third assist in this season’s FA Cup, two more than he has in the league.
Watch: Donley's goal | De Bruyne's goal
"It was a typical FA Cup tie and that’s why this competition is unbelievable," said Guardiola, who would have been glad to avoid extra-time or more as his team prepare to face a completely different challenge in Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League playoff on Tuesday, before Newcastle United next weekend in the Premier League.
See: Man City report
Coventry City 1-4 Ipswich Town
Jack Clarke’s brace was the highlight of a comfortable victory for Kieran McKenna’s Ipswich Town over Coventry City.
The match’s start was delayed due to congestion but there was little time wasted for the action to get going, as George Hirst scored only his second goal for the Tractor Boys after Sam Szmodics drew a foul inside the first 30 seconds. Szmodics had to be replaced later after an injury blow on his return from an ankle injury for this match, with McKenna making 11 changes to the side.
After scoring and assisting in the third round against Bristol Rovers, Clarke scored a quickfire brace to put Ipswich in a comfortable lead at half-time. Jadon Philogene sealed the win with his first goal since joining the club in January from Aston Villa.
After their shock league defeat at home to Southampton, this was a morale-boosting result for McKenna’s side who face some tough tests ahead starting with a trip to Villa Park next week.
Watch: All four Ipswich goals | See: Ipswich report
Everton 0-2 AFC Bournemouth
Andoni Iraola’s high-flying Bournemouth ensured progress after a victory over Everton that was secured in the opening half at Goodison Park.
There were starts for youngsters Ben Winterburn and Daniel Jebbison as the Cherries continue to navigate this injury-ravaged period with strong performances and results.
With his goal to make it 2-0, Jebbison has now scored two of his last 14 goals at Goodison Park, including his time with Sheffield United. Meanwhile, Antoine Semenyo opened the scoring from the spot to make it four goals in five matches in all competitions.
Everton’s January arrival Carlos Alcaraz came close to scoring on his debut with a brilliant free-kick but could not get the better of Kepa in the Cherries goal who was saved by the post three times during the match.
After a run of three wins, the defeat for a strong Everton side was not what David Moyes wanted in Goodison Park’s last-ever FA Cup tie and ahead of Wednesday’s Merseyside derby at the stadium.
After a disappointing loss against Liverpool, Iraola’s side returned to winning ways as they prepare to face bottom side Southampton next in the league.
See: Everton report | Bournemouth report
Southampton 0-1 Burnley
The optimism at Ivan Juric’s Southampton after their win at Ipswich was dented by an FA Cup exit at the hands of a miserly Burnley, after loan signing Marcus Edwards grabbed a second-half winner off the bench for Scott Parker’s side.
It is little surprise Saints failed to test a Clarets team who have one of the best defences in the country, conceding a remarkable nine goals in 31 Championship fixtures, while this was their 10th clean sheet in their last 11 fixtures.
With just one goal conceded since Christmas, Parker’s team are favourites for a return to the Premier League on the basis of their defence alone.
Juric’s Southampton will now turn focus back to league action as the league's bottom team prepare for a tough run of matches including fixtures against Bournemouth, Chelsea as well as Liverpool.
See: Southampton report
Wigan Athletic 1-2 Fulham
A Rodrigo Muniz brace was enough for Marco Silva’s Fulham to see off Wigan Athletic.
The Brazilian forward, who has found starts rare to come by of late, made it back-to-back matches with goals, after netting the winner against Newcastle United in the league.
Watch: Muniz's brace
Silva rang the changes, making 10 in total, though there was little struggle in terms of their dominance as Fulham averaged over 70 per cent of the possession during the match and 90 per cent in the opening 15 minutes.
They had to hang on in the end after a Wigan fightback, but back-to-back wins in league and cup will boost the London team’s confidence as they prepare to take on high-flying Nottingham Forest at Craven Cottage.
See: Fulham report
Birmingham City 2-3 Newcastle
Eddie Howe’s Newcastle held on to emerge 3-2 winners against Birmingham City in a classic tie at St Andrew’s. After booking their place in the final of the EFL Cup on Wednesday, Newcastle’s cup joy continued despite naming a team which faced more resistance in the Second City than at home to Arsenal in midweek.
Former Manchester United defender Ethan Laird opened the scoring for the home side after only 44 seconds to set the tone for the half. Joe Willock responded 20 minutes later to equalise, his first goal since late August in the second round of the EFL Cup against Nottingham Forest.
Callum Wilson registered his first goal for Newcastle since May after connecting with Tino Livramento’s cross which had been comically missed by both Willock and William Osula.
Signed from Sheffield United in the summer, Osula stood out with a brace of assists after scoring against Bromley in the third round. The home side kept the pressure on and were rewarded for their efforts when a screamer from Tomoki Iwata lit up St Andrew’s ahead of half-time.
Howe sought more control in the second half though the game spiralled into a series of fouls and yellow cards. Eventually, it would be Willock who would find the breakthrough, calmly finishing past Bailey Peacock-Farrell to restore the Magpies’ lead. "It has not been an easy season for me," said Willock who has struggled for starts. "I've been waiting for my chance to push on and hopefully this is the start of the rest of my season."
Watch: Wilson's goal | Iwata's goal | Willock's winner
Defender Dan Burn limping off in the second half will be the big concern for Howe as he prepares for a trip to Man City next weekend in the league. "It was something with his groin," Howe said. "Fingers crossed it’s not too bad."
See: Newcastle report
Brighton 2-1 Chelsea
Fabian Hurzeler’s side put the humiliation of their 7-0 defeat to Forest last weekend behind them, coming from behind to beat Chelsea at the Amex.
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca made six changes for this one, though retaining both Cole Palmer and Enzo Fernandez from the start.
It was Palmer’s volley from a superb Jadon Sancho pass that forced an own goal from Brighton 'keeper Bart Verbruggen, who spilled the cross into his own net.
Georginio Rutter’s brilliant headed equaliser marked his fifth goal for Brighton in his last six appearances, after scoring only twice in his first 10 this season. He also grabbed a brace in Brighton’s 4-0 win over Norwich City in the third round.
The Frenchman was involved again in the winner from Kaoru Mitoma, laying on the assist for the Japanese winger to finish with a superb piece of improvisation past his former team-mate Robert Sanchez.
With the lead secured, Brighton put numbers at the back to contain any threat from a largely toothless Chelsea, whose only shot on target came in the fourth minute. While Rutter thrived up front, there was a particularly impressive shift from Tariq Lamptey, who won six of nine tackles in a stellar defensive display.
After a run of seven wins in a row in November and December, Chelsea now only have three victories from their last 10 games in all competitions.
Maresca will be keen to arrest this slide in form when the Blues travel to Brighton again in the league on Friday.
Watch: Mitoma’s goal
Which other Premier League clubs are in fourth-round action?
Sunday 9 February
Monday 10 February
Tuesday 11 February
When is the fifth-round draw?
Teams will discover their fate in the fifth round when the draw takes place from 19:10 GMT on Monday 10 February.
The fifth-round ties are scheduled to be held on the weekend of 1-2 March, after Matchweek 27 and before Matchweek 28 in the Premier League.