Former Premier League club Leeds kept its FA Cup run alive by
stunning Tottenham in the sixth minute of stoppage time as Jermaine
Beckford's penalty clinched a 2-2 draw.
Spurs had been heading into the fifth round following goals
by Peter Crouch and Roman Pavlyuchenko, but Beckford's second came
after the striker was fouled by Michael Dawson in the penalty area.
Having ousted English champion Manchester United earlier this
month, Leeds will now host Spurs in a replay.
Reading, which beat Liverpool in the third round, claimed its
second successive Premier League scalp by eliminating Burnley with
a 1-0 win.
Wolves and Wigan only avoided defeats to lower league
opposition by scoring late equalizers. Wigan drew 2-2 at
fourth-tier Notts County and Wolves was held by the same scoreline
by Crystal Palace.
But Chelsea maintained its trouble-free FA Cup defense with a
2-0 victory over second-tier Preston, while five other topflight
sides progressed.
Portsmouth put aside protests against the club's owners by
defeating Sunderland 2-1, League Cup finalist Aston Villa edged
Brighton 3-2, Everton's hopes of a second successive FA Cup final
were ended by Birmingham's 2-1 win, Bolton beat Sheffield United
2-0 and Fulham won 3-1 at Accrington.
In the day's only Premier League match, Manchester United
striker Wayne Rooney's four goals clinched a 4-0 win over Hull that
sent the champions to the top of the table. Chelsea trails United
by two points, but it has two games in hand, while remaining on
course for another FA Cup triumph.
At Preston, Nicolas Anelka made the breakthrough in the 36th
minute against the League Championship club with his 11th goal of
the season.
Anelka brushed past Youl Mawene and fired in a shot that had
too much power for goalkeeper Andy Lonergan.
Daniel Sturridge sealed the win two minutes after halftime
after John Terry's header rebounded to him. It was the English
striker's third goal since arriving from Manchester City in the
offseason.
"We found it hard in the first half, but that's what the FA
Cup is all about," said Terry, whose side beat Watford 5-0 in the
previous round. "We tried hard to break them down in the first half
and finally got a goal, then managed better in the second half."
Having masterminded a victory over Liverpool in the third
round, Reading caretaker-manager Brian McDermott can now look
forward to the last 16 after Gylfi Sigurdsson's goal clinched the
League Championship side's win over Burnley.
Leeds could yet join them in the next round.
Leeds goalkeeper Casper Ankergren denied Jermain Defoe from
the penalty spot early in the match and made a string of other
saves before finally being beaten by Peter Crouch just before
halftime.
But Beckford leveled for the former Premier League power in
the 52nd when Jermaine Jenas failed to clear Robert Snodgrass'
corner.
Substitute Roman Pavlyuchenko made the best of his rare
appearance by restoring Tottenham's lead in the 75th, only for
Beckford to grab the late equalizer.
A late goal from Ben Watson denied League Two Notts County a
win over Wigan, while Wolves' Ronald Zubar also struck late on to
ruin Crystal Palace's chances of an upset at Molineux.
Fulham was being held 1-1 by 10-man Accrington at half time.
But Fulham, which is 70 places ahead of the home side in the
English standings, advanced once Damien Duff and Zoltan Gera scored
after the break.
Aston Villa survived a scare to beat League One side
Brighton. Tommy Elphick's goal gave Brighton the lead before goals
from Nathan Delfouneso, Ashley Young and Fabian Delph handed Martin
O'Neill's side a 3-1 lead. Nicky Forster pulled one back for
Brighton but Villa held on for the win.
In matches not involving top flight teams, League One side
Southampton beat League Championship outfit Ipswich 2-1, West
Bromwich Albion enjoyed a 4-2 win over Premier League promotion
rival Newcastle and Cardiff beat Leicester by the same scoreline.
