During the midweek, teams across all English football leagues played FA Cup fourth round replays. A few Nigerian players and those of Nigerian descent were also in action.
Ten days ago, Barnet, a National Conference side, forced an FA Cup replay with the Championship side Brentford. After six goals scored in the first match, another four were scored in this game.
Brentford scored in the 7th minute through Sergi Canos and then again in the 32nd minute with a goal from Julian Jeanvier. They were 2:0 up at halftime.
Brentford added a third in the 71st minute after a strike by Neal Maupay. Barnet manager made his third change in the 72nd minute by bringing in Simeon Akinola, a Nigerian born player, for Ephron Mason-Clark.
Two minutes later, the visitors pulled a goal back through David Tutonda, but it turned out to be just a consolation goal. Barnet’s out of the FA Cup, while Brentford are through to the fifth round.
League two team Newport County continued their impressive display in the FA Cup this year by kicking Middlesbrough out of the competition.
John Obi Mikel – Vlad1988 / Shutterstock.com
There were no goals in the first half. but Newport scored soon after the restart through a 47th minute Robbie Willmott goal. And they secured their win in the 67th minute after a goal by Padraig Amond. John Obi Mikel, a January signing, wasn’t in the 18-man squad for Boro who are now out of the competition.
Brighton travelled north to play West Bromwich Albion after a goalless draw in the first match. Leon Balogun was in the starting eleven for the Seagulls, after a few weeks on the sidelines due to an illness.
The only action in the first half was a headed shot from Balogun which hit the post. And, after a tightly contested first 75 minutes, the deadlock was broken in the 77th minute by West Brom. Kyle Bartley scored the goal. Just five minutes later, Brighton responded in kind to level the game through Florin Andone. His goal forced the game into 1overtime.
The Seagulls showed they were in good shape by scoring two goals in overtime which decided the match. Glenn Murray scored both goals after he came off the bench in the 101st minute. The first one came in the 104th minute and the second one in the 117th minute.
West Brom finish their appearance in the FA Cup while Brighton are through to round five.