FA Cup still has magic

The magic of the FA Cup lives on!

Although clubs in the Premier League prefer to finish in the top four of the league than to make progress in the FA Cup, the spirit of the world's oldest football competition lives on.

It lives on in Luton Town, who became the first non-leaguers to knock out a Premier League club, beating Norwich City 1-0.

It lives on at MK Dons of League One, who sprinted into a devastating 4-0 lead at Premier League, QPR, and ultimately ran out 4-2 winners.

It lives on at Boundary Park, where Oldham Athletic (League One) humbled Liverpool 3-2 in an amazing game.

It lives on at Brentford (League One), who, playing their rather more illustrious neighbours from five miles up the road, Chelsea, twice took the lead and eventually held the European Champions to a two-all draw and earned a replay at Stamford Bridge.

It lives on at Elland Road where Championship Leeds United knocked out fourth-placed Premier Leaguers Tottenham Hotspur.

And to a lesser degree, the spirit lives on at Aldershot Town (League Two) who ran Championship Middlesbrough close, before losing 2-1 to a late, late goal.

And Barnsley, Brighton and Macclesfield Town will all have their own FA Cup tales to tell this morning.

It was a stirring FA Cup weekend, and we should all look forward to Round 5 with relish.

South Coast stirring in League One

In League One the south coast is stirring. Brighton lead the way, with Southampton in third and Bournemouth in fourth place.

This weekend Bournemouth (40 points from 25 games) host the leaders Brighton (46 from 23). Gus Poyet started to stir Brighton in the latter part of last season and they have continued their good form into this season. Their last three games have been wins against two other south coast teams: Exeter City 2-1, in the league; Portsmouth 3-1 in the FA Cup; and another league win against Peterborough (3-1).

Bournemouth's recent form has not been quite as good: 0-0 at Rochdale, a 2-1 loss at Colchester United and before that a 3-0 against (another south coast team!) Plymouth Argyle. They have obviously not been helped by the upheaval and then departure of boss Eddie Howe, who has now taken over the reins at Burnley. Lee Bradbury has now taken over as boss at Dean Court.

Brighton, of course, are moving into the their new stadium at Falmer - The American Express Community Stadium - next season and they would be delighted if they were to do so in the Championship.

With an impressive record to date, you've got to fancy the Seagulls to edge it over the Cherries in tomorrow's game.

Spirit of the FA Cup lives on

As an erstwhile supporter of Woking (I still live in Woking and watch out for the results, but don't go any more), I was delighted to see them rekindling memories of previous FA Cup glories with a 0-0 draw earned at runaway League One leaders Brighton on Saturday. It should be noted that many non-league clubs have already had to battle through four preliminary rounds before reach the first round proper, so this was Woking's fifth tie. The reply at Kingfield on Tuesday week should be a rousing affair.

And I salute the other non-league victories and draws from the first round:

• FC United of Manchester of the Evo-Stick Premier'slower reaches won 3-2 at League One Rochdale, and will play Brighton or Woking in the second round.
• Cambridge United earned a creditable 0-0 draw at home to League One Huddersfield Town.
• Blue Square Bet South (same as Woking) Dartford drew 1-1 with League Two Port Vale.
• Fleetwood Town (BSB Premier) drew 1-1 with Walsall.
• Dover of the BSB South won 2-0 in a local derby (where no love was lost) at Gillingham.
• Vauxhall of the BSB North drew 0-0 away at Hartlepool United.
• Tamworth of the BSB Premier kocked out Crewe of League Two 2-1.

These were magnificent achievements, and show that the spirit of the FA Cup - at least in the early rounds - is still alive.