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Angry Benitez claims negative Everton played for a draw

Rafael Benitez guaranteed that the FA Cup fourth-round replay between Liverpool and Everton on 4 February would have an even greater edge by claiming that Everton had been negative in their approach yesterday and played for a draw. David Moyes countered by claiming that it was his club that had...

Round three as Reds feel the derby drain

To draw one Merseyside derby at home may be regarded as misfortune, to draw two in the space of six days just looks like carelessness. If this really is the first Liverpool team in 19 years capable of conquering English football, then they will first have to conquer the other team in their...

Adebayor's big bungle leaves Cardiff happy with a pay-day after

The romance of the Cup? Not when there is a chance of a lucrative replay. In the 93rd minute Joe Ledley, Cardiff's highly-rated young midfielder and captain, had the opportunity for one last attack, one last cross into the Arsenal penalty area, one last opportunity to find the goal to win this tie....

Sam Wallace: Pennant and Oher's emergence from shadows proves sport is force for good

There was a photograph published recently of the gates to Jermaine Pennant's house which had been smashed by burglars. Pennant was in the picture too with the gesture of staged disbelief favoured by local newspapers for victims of crime. One thing stood out: Pennant seemed still to be in his...

Sullivan heroics earn second crack at Villa

Neil Sullivan kept Rovers in a dramatic, if goalless, Cup-tie at the Keepmoat, but it was another Scot who nearly won it for the Championship side.

Westcarr redefines romance of Cup

Craig Doyle, the presenter of ITV's FA Cup Saturday night highlights show, turned to guest Robbie Earle after the coverage of Kettering Town's brave defeat to Fulham, and repeated an after-match quote from Poppies' manager Mark Cooper. "It's what the FA Cup is all about. It's not about Man...

Ballack and Lampard justify top billing among Chelsea high-rollers

While the values distilled by this competition have become perilously adulterated, perhaps it now discloses more purely than ever the depth – or otherwise – of a player's commitment.

Fleck gives Rangers flicker of hope for future

Rangers are trundling along, beset by mediocrity and by the financial restraints that led to it, so the emergence of John Fleck, just 17 but staring down the barrel at his breakthrough season, is a beacon of hope.