LIVE SPORTS BLOG - Saturday, January 5, 2013 (From The Northern Echo)

4:58pm

FULL-TIME:

Middlesbrough 4 Hastings 1

It's Boro who are in the fourth round after avoiding a FA Cup shock at the Riverside to non-league Hastings.

Zemmama's brace and a goal each from  Halliday and Miller did the damage. For a full report see the match report section. 

4:53pm

FULL-TIME: BOLTON 2 SUNDERLAND 2

Good comeback from Sunderland, who remain in the FA Cup.

They started dreadfully, but deserve a lot of credit for their comeback, which was unquestionably sparked by the arrival of Connor Wickham.

4:49pm

And by the way, can you believe that the official attendance is more than 12,000 at the Riverside - including 1068 Hastings fans. You'd have thought Boro would lock the doors two away fans earlier. 

4:48pm

Goal: Middlesbrough 4 Hastings 1 (Miller 84)

Miller makes up for his penalty miss by slotting in a tidy finish after Haroun's pass. 

4:32pm

GOAL: Middlesbrough 3 Hastings 1 (Goldberg 69)

Goldberg, the son of former Crystal Palace chairman Mark, has scored a fantastic consolation. A terrific drive from outside the box flew high beyond Steele.

4:31pm

GOAL: Middlesbrough 3 Hastings 0 (Zemmama 68)

Zemmama has added his second. A long range strike which took a wicked deflection.

4:21pm

Lee Carey's 22 yard strike tipped on to the post by Steele. Lifts the Hastings fans behind the goal. That would have made it interesting. Boro still 2-0 up.

4:16pm

Bolton 2 Sunderland 0

More injury problems for Sunderland as Carlos Cuellar goes off feeling his hamstring. He's replaced by Connor Wickham, with Phil Bardsley going to centre-half.

4:09pm

Sounds like Boro will be the only North-East team in round four. Bolton have gone 2-0 up at the Reebok against Sunderland. 

4:09pm

Vital last-ditch challenge by South Shields' Mark Brown takes the ball off David Dowson’s toes as he was about to shoot following  Adam Nicholls’ through-ball.

4:08pm

GOAL: Middlesbrough 2 Hastings 0 (Halliday 47)

Halliday on hand to turn in from Williams' corner. Boro should take complete control now. 

4:05pm

Richard Mason - Brighton 2 Newcastle 0:

It won't help Newcastle's mood to see Demba Ba open his Chelsea account today. Not even a little bit.

3:50pm

Richard Mason - Brighton 2 Newcastle 0:

Spoke to Alan Pardew and Mike Williamson after the game. The inquest will not be kind on the Magpies, but the mitigating circumstances were there. The squad looked leggy and will now miss an extra two players for the next game against Norwich, with Ameobi suspended and Perch a doubt with a knee injury. It doesn't rain...

Here's your post-match report anyway, if you wish to relive the game again. Go on.

3:47pm

HT: BOLTON 1 SUNDERLAND 0

A poor first half means Sunderland are just 45 minutes away from going out of the FA Cup at the first hurdle.

They've had plenty of the ball, but have sent a succession of crosses into the Bolton box without really troubling their opponents.

And they've been really poor at the other end, with Cuellar's error contributing to the goal and Bramble making a succession of mistakes and bad passes.

3:47pm

Approaching half-time and Steele just had to make a save from Halliday's goalbound block from Camara cross. Boro still leading 1-0.

Hastings fans have found their voice since Boro goal. They've had a few half chances and Mowbray will want to see more in the second half.

3:46pm

HT: South Shields 0 #Darlington 1. Only a one-goal lead, though DFC had chances to score more, especially early on. #echosport

3:44pm

Another save from Darlington’s Mark Bell, this time low to his left to deny Graham. South Shields encouraged by last 10mins.

3:38pm

Hastings have got their first corner, but then Boro break and almost add a second. But  Hastings' player-boss Sean Ray made a superb block on Ishmael Miller as he went clean through. 1-0 

3:35pm

Cracking save by Mark Bell keeps Darlington 1-0 up, tipping over a Steven Graham blast. South Shields' Tony Coe headed over from the corner. 

3:33pm

The peanut butter pitch has just made a fool of South Shields’ Mark Brown, hammering the ball out for a throw when he tried to pass back to the keeper. Or perhaps he just took his eye off the ball. 34mins, Darlington 1-0 up and balance of play more level now.

3:29pm

A hugely uninformed South Shields fan has just expressed surprise that George Reynolds is no longer involved with Darlington. “I thought he was dedicated to the club?”

3:28pm

Bolton 1 Sunderland 0

Sunderland coming back into this and forcing plenty of pressure, but the Bolton defence holding firm so far.

Plenty of crosses going into the box, but Zat Knight and Sam Rocketts have won a succession of headers so far.

3:25pm

Pitch is dreadful at Filtrona Park. Soft and boggy, for the South Shields and Darlington players it must be like playing on peanut butter.

No excuse, though for Joe Tait’s blunder which gave Tony Coe a shooting chance. The defender dallied on the ball inside his own penalty and was dispossessed, but recovered and blocked the resulting shot. 25mins, 0-1 still.

3:24pm

Middlesbrough 1 Hastings 0  (Zemmama 22)

GOAL: Zemmama curls the opening goal in from 22 yards, delightful. Hastings have started like a part-time team, need to show more if they are going to spring a surprise. 

3:20pm

Bolton 1 Sunderland 0

Sunderland's afternoon has just gone from bad to worse, with Danny Rose hobbling off with a hamstring injury.

The full-back went straight down the tunnel, and has been replaced by Jack Colback. He'll definitely be out for a few weeks.

3:18pm

Boro waste a penalty. Miller won it and then missed it. Rubbish penalty, comfortably saved by O'Brien. Still 0-0

3:17pm

Darlington on top. James Winter saved low down from Stephen Thompson who fired in a low effort 20 yards out. Minutes earlier, Amar Purewal tried a shot on the turn as Quakers looked for a second goal.

3:15pm

Darlington had already hit the woodwork after six minutes. Terry Galbraith’s free-kick towards the near post diverted onto bar by SS’s Tony Coe.

3:14pm

GOAL: #Darlington 1-0 up at South Shields with Joe Tait’s fourth goal of the season. Back-post tap-in after a Terry Galbraith corner. #echosport

3:11pm

Bolton 0 Sunderland 0

Fairly low key opening ten minutes here at the Reebok, with neither side having created a chance of note at this stage.

Sunderland are lining up in a 4-5-1 formation with Craig Gardner playing furthest forward of the three central midfielders.

3:09pm

3:09pm

3:08pm

Tony Mowbray loves to mix it up and he has done so again.

This time the Boro boss has gone for Nicky Bailey, Rhys Williams and Andy Halliday as a three-man defene.

Adam Reach and Stuart Parnaby effectively join a four man midfield with Kevin Thomson and Richie Smallwood behind three-man attack.

No joy so far. Still 0-0 although Hastings yet to get near Boro box. 

2:49pm

2:48pm

Bolton vs Sunderland

There are 5,000 Sunderland fans housed in the away end at the Reebok today - on the first weekend of the new year, that's quite a statement of support.

The sun's gone in, but it's still unseasonably mild in a stadium that is usually right up there as one of the coldest in the country.

Let's hope the action's just as hot....

2:43pm

South Shields: Winter, Smith, Pickering, Renshaw, Brown, Graham, Wightman, Henderson, Ramsey, Coe, Feasey. Subs: Kane, Robinson, Burnicle, Anzevui, Robinson

Darlington: Bell, Harrison, Galbraith, Davis, Brown, Tait, Thompson, Scott, Purewal, Nicholls, Dowson. Subs: Sweet, Porter (gk), Richardson, Emms, Mitchell

2:42pm

Amar Purewal returns to the side as league leaders Darlington’s only change for today’s top versus bottom match at South Shields.

The forward returns to the starting XI ahead of Nathan Thomas in what is Quakers’ first match since the 4-2 Boxing Day win over Norton & Stockton Ancients.

That was Darlington’s last match as their game with Bishop Auckland last Saturday was postponed, but Martin Gray’s men remain seven points clear at the top of the Northern League.

They should be quietly confident of maintaining that advantage today as they face a side in freefall that has lost its last seven matches. Furthermore, South Shields have tasted defeat in 13 of their past 14 league fixtures.

After a blip in form, Darlington’s form has improved. Before beating Norton, they drew with second-placed Spennymoor and defeated Durham, which boosted morale following surprise back-to-back defeats at Team Northumbria and Newton Aycliffe.

2:38pm

2:37pm

Brighton might have made the most of Pardew's selection at the Amex, but if Hastings were to knock Middlesbrough out of the FA Cup this afternoon it would rank alongside some of the greatest shocks.

Surely not ...

2:35pm

Twenty minutes until kick-off at the Riverside. As expected Nicky Bailey looks set to play centre-back because of a long list of injuries.

Scott McDonald does make the bench along with Faris Haroun. There are also inclusions among the substitutes for 16-year-old Bryn Morris and fellow academy graduate Jordan Jones.

Teams:

MIDDLESBROUGH (4-2-3-1): Steele; Parnaby, R Williams, Bailey, Halliday; Smallwood, Thomson; Reach, Zemmama, L Williams;  Miller. Subs: Leutwiler (gk), Jutkiewicz, Jones, McDonald, Morris, Burgess, Haroun.

HASTINGS (4-4-2): O'Brien; Cox, Ray, Jirbandey, Whitehead; Crelin, Dixon, Carey, Goldberg; Camara, Vickers. Subs: Howard (gk), Ellis, Okojie, Manning, Daly, Richardson, Abbott. 

2:31pm

Bolton vs Sunderland

Unlike Newcastle boss Alan Pardew, Martin O'Neill has decided to go with a full-strength side for Sunderland's FA Cup third-round game at Bolton.

Stephane Sessegnon is unavailable because of injury, while Matt Kilgallon and Jack Colback drop to the bench from the side that started Wednesday's 3-0 defeat at Liverpool.

Phil Bardsley and Titus Bramble return to the Black Cats' back four, with David Vaughan lining up in a five-man midfield.

BOLTON (4-4-2): Lonergan; Riley, Knight, Ricketts, Alonso; Pratley, Andrews, Lee, Petrov; Sordell, Ngog.

Subs: Bogdan (gk), Mears, Ream, Eagles, Spearing, Lester, Davies.

SUNDERLAND (4-5-1): Mignolet; Bardsley, Cuellar, Bramble, Rose; Johnson, Larsson, Gardner, Vaughan, McClean; Fletcher. 

Subs: Westwood (gk), Kilgallon, Colback, McFadden, Wickham, Campbell.

2:13pm

Richard Mason - Brighton 1 Newcastle 0:

Newcastle have had a bit of a go, but they're getting nowhere here. You can't put your money on any of the Magpies' players out there to grab a goal.

Meanwhile, Kazenga LuaLua has skewed a low shot into the side netting. 1-0, 5 to play.

1:58pm

Richard Mason - Brighton 1 Newcastle 0:

Sylvain Marveaux coming on for Newcastle, they need something... anything. Something.

1:55pm

Richard Mason - Brighton 1 Newcastle 0:

Ameobi will be suspended for the Norwich game now. What is worse for Newcastle is that you can't appeal yellow cards, so the suspension will stand regardless. Seemed to be harsh for me. Would have to see it again to make my mind up.

1:48pm

Richard Mason - Brighton 1 Newcastle 0:

Observing Paul Dummett closely. He's highly rated by Newcastle, and has just returned from a loan spell at St Mirren where he made 19 appearances this season.

For Brighton, Orlandi is replaced by Kazenga LuaLua. The former Newcastle youngster missed the chance to face his old team last season through injury.

1:46pm

Richard Mason - Brighton 1 Newcastle 0:

Change in formation has seen Newcastle look a bit brighter. But only a bit. Looking at both XIs on the pitch, it's hard to compare man to man and come away with any other opinion than this is Brighton's for the taking. Brighton have got potential and quality in Bridcutt, Mackail-Smith, Bridge, Lopez and Hammond. A huge indication that Newcastle need reinforcements this month.

1:38pm

1:36pm

Richard Mason - Brighton 1 Newcastle 0:

Half-time substitutes an interesting one for Newcastle - James Perch off as Paul Dummett comes on, and Mehdi Abeid's afternoon ends as Nile Ranger comes on as the Magpies go 4-4-2.

1:24pm

Richard Mason - Brighton 1 Newcastle 0:

Former Newcastle manager - and the last one before Pardew to take a side into Europe - Glenn Roeder is in the crowd today, wondering what he makes of it.

1:23pm

1:19pm

HALF TIME: Brighton 1 Newcastle 0

Brighton are ahead, but can't see that much wrong with Newcastle so far. Defending was poor for the goal, but we've seen enough evidence of that in the last few weeks. Newcastle will come out of the blocks in the second half and they will go for it. The last thing they need right now is taking this tie to a replay.

1:17pm

Richard Mason - Brighton 1 Newcastle 0:

Just before the goal, the usually mild-mannered (!) John Carver exchanged a few curt words with Brighton coach Charlie Oatway in the technical area. I've covered my fair share of Newcastle games this season and never does a game go by without him getting involved in some kind of handbags on the bench. I'm all for getting behind your team, but with Newcastle's record this season, shouldn't he be concentrating on his own team rather than starting fights with opposition coaches?

1:11pm

Richard Mason - Brighton 1 Newcastle 0:

Liking the look of Liam Bridcutt in the centre for Brighton. Sits in front of the Seagulls defence and keeps it neat and tidy. Seen him a few times over the last couple of seasons and he's one of those players that doesn't get the plaudits he deserves.

1:05pm

Richard Mason - Brighton v Newcastle:

Andrea Orlandi opens the goalscoring with a deft touch and finish from Wayne Bridge's cross.

1:01pm

Richard Mason - Brighton v Newcastle:

Here's your teams. As expected, Papiss Cisse and Fabricio Coloccini are left out, with Shola Ameobi ploughing a lone furrow up top. James Tavernier is given a run out at right back, while Mehdi Abeid, Vurnon Anita and Gael Bigirimana make up a youthful central midfield. Rob Elliot starts between the sticks.

BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION (4-5-1): Ankergren; Lopez, Greer, El-Abd, Bridge; Barnes, Hammond,  Bridcutt, Dicker, Orlandi; Mackail-Smith. Subs:Kuszczak, Dunk, Hoskins, Crofts, Dobbie, LuaLua, Buckley.
NEWCASTLE UNITED (4-5-1): Elliot; Tavernier, Williamson, Santon; Sam Ameobi, Anita, Bigirimana, Abeid, Obertan; Shola Ameobi. Subs: Krul, Amalfitano, Marveaux, Ranger, Ferguson, Dummett, Campbell.

12:59pm

Richard Mason - Brighton v Newcastle: 

Apologies for the delay. Technical gremlins have thus far prevented me providing you with action from today's FA Cup third round game between Brighton and Newcastle. It's on the TV anyway, so it's not as if you've been missing out. Unless you're watching Saturday Kitchen. If you are, I have to seriously question your priorities in life.