FA Cup: Chelsea and Spurs progress; City draw with Leicester

Chelsea spanked Ipswich Town at Stamford Bridge, Leicester City were unfortunate not to beat Manchester City at Filbert Street, while Spurs eased past Charlton at White Hart Lane.

Chelsea 7-0 Ipswich

It seems that Roy Keane got out of Ipswich at the right time as the Tractor Boys were humiliated by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Struggling badly in the Premier League, the Blues received a much-needed confidence boost as they hit seven goals in a one-sided encounter.

Two goals in two minutes just after half an hour set Chelsea on their way; Salomon Kalou got the opener after Martin Fulop failed to deal with a Nicolas Anelka effort, while Daniel Sturridge back heeled a José Bosingwa cross to the net shortly after.

An own goal from Carlos Edwards four minutes before the break put Chelsea three to the good and the game was as good as over at half-time.

Four minutes after half-time, Anelka struck for his first goal in ten games, before Sturridge added his second and Chelsea’s fifth three minutes later.

Frank Lampard compounded Ipswich’s misery with two strikes in as many minutes late on as Carlo Ancelotti’s side put their Premier League woes behind them and eased into the fourth round.

Tottenham 3-0 Charlton

Jermain Defoe was on target twice against his old club as Spurs eased past League One side Charlton at White Hart Lane.

The hosts failed to score in the first half, but found the net three times in the space of fifteen minutes at the start of the second to seal their passage to the next round.

Winger Andros Townsend put Spurs in front after 49 minutes with a long range effort to cap what was an impressive debut performance by the 19-year old.

Defoe then wrapped the game up with two goals in three minutes; the first an effort from 18 yards after being teed up by Niko Kranjcar after 58 minutes, quickly followed by a confident finish after he had won the ball back from the Charlton defence.

Although pedestrian at times in the first half, Spurs were far better after the break and the win what was exactly what they needed ahead of a massive clash with Manchester United at White Hart Lane next Sunday.

Leicester City 2-2 Manchester City

Leicester City claimed a deserved draw against Manchester City in a cracking FA Cup tie at Filbert Street.

Sven Goran Eriksson’s side took the lead inside the first minute when defender Sol Bamba poked to the net from inside the six-yard box.

The wealthy visitors had turned things around by half time, however. James Milner equalised after 23 minutes with a crisp shot from the edge of the area, while Carlos Tevez put City in front on the stroke of half-time with a neat flick from close range.

The Foxes more than played their part in what was an excellent encounter and they were rewarded for their efforts after 64 minutes when Andy King bundled to the net after a howler from Manchester City ‘keeper Joe Hart.

Leicester had the better chances to win the game, but neither side could find the net in the remaining 26 minutes and will have to do it all again at Eastlands on 18 January.