VAR Makes Historic Debut in Baggies Victory

History was made at Anfield as VAR was used to great effect in a pulsating fixture between Liverpool and West Brom. VAR are not the initials of Liverpool’s new Dutch defender but the Video Assistant Referee. For the first time in an English football fixture the actual referee (Craig Pawson) went to the touchline to use a video monitor to aid in making a penalty decision. As it turned out, Firmino failed to convert said penalty which, as it happens had a dramatic effect on the result.

West Brom subsequently went on to win the game 3-2 and dump the hosts out of the FA Cup. Although VAR certainly had some influence on the game, it was Albion’s forward Jay Rodriguez who outshone even the technology, scoring two goals in a MOTM performance that may have catapaulted him back into England reckoning.

Leicester thump Peterborough 5-1

Leicester enjoyed a pleasant day out at the Abax stadium with a comfortable 5-1 victory. Two goals each from Diabate and Iheanacho plus one in extra time from Ndidi saw the Foxes advance to last 16.

Millwall Scrape Last-Minute Equaliser to Earn Replay

Millwall scored in the 90^th minute to earn a replay at home to Rochdale. The Lions who have been close to invincible at home all season lost their way against a team struggling for survival in League One.

The day started well for Millwall after Jed Wallace converted a penalty in the 17^th minute. Unfortunately, things got a lot worse for the home team with goals either side of half time for the Northerners. Millwall’s blushes were spared in injury time though by midfielder Ben Thompson. What may have seemed to Millwall fans as an easy progression to the last sixteen now requires a tricky and challenging journey north to keep their cup ambitions alive.

Upset of the Day

Wigan is a town famous for its Rugby League. It is now famous for having knocked Premier League side, West Ham out of this years FA Cup. Whether they made the Londoners play 90 minutes with an oval ball has not been confirmed, but they may as well have as the Hammers offered little in the way of resistance to the League One leaders.

Replays:

Four fixtures ended in stalemate and will be replayed in February Rochdale v Millwall, Birmingham v Huddersfield and Swansea v Notts County will play again on Tuesday 6^th. Newport County travel to Wembley to take on Spurs in their replay on Wednesday 7^th.

You can find all the latest odds for these fixtures here.