Our FA Cup awards honour the best – and worst – of the fourth round action from the weekend.
Moment of the Week
The best tie of the weekend came at The Racecourse Ground, as Wrexham’s Hollywood owners were given another epic episode for their docu-series on the club.
Ryan Reynolds was in attendance as Wrexham continued their FA Cup campaign against Sheffield United, in search of a second successive Championship upset.
It was a game that had it all as the two teams played out a six-goal thriller, with twists and turns, a red card, and a stoppage-time equaliser that saw the visiting Blades escape from North Wales with a replay.
WHAT A GAME ⚡️@Wrexham_AFC ???? @SheffieldUnited had it ALL with 6️⃣ goals, both teams making comebacks and a 95th-minute equaliser ???? pic.twitter.com/fSokLr9I3s
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) January 29, 2023
Wrexham might not be your usual non-league side since their transformative takeover two years ago, but continue to fly the flag for teams outside of the Football League this season.
On the evidence of their league form and FA Cup performances against Coventry and Sheffield United this season, it shouldn’t be long before the club rejoin the EFL.
A special mention goes to this photographer from Grimsby’s 2-2 draw at Luton, who clearly got caught up in the moment as the League Two side struck an equaliser to earn a well-deserved replay.
When the photographer is also a massive fan ????????#FACup pic.twitter.com/d4W7xWYlsi
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) January 28, 2023
Player of the Week
The Kaoru Mitoma fan club is growing larger each week and we’re fully-fledged members.
Mitoma is a delight to watch at the moment and produced another scintillating performance of evasive footwork and feints during Brighton’s win over Liverpool.
The Japan international has been a revelation in recent weeks and his performances have allowed Brighton to part with Leandro Trossard amid minimal fuss, with Mitoma having made the left flank his own in Roberto De Zerbi’s impressive side.
Kaoru Mitoma for Brighton against Liverpool:
100% shot accuracy
57 touches
8 duels won
6 take-ons completed (most)
3 crosses
2 shots
2 shots on target
2 fouls won
1 big chance created
1 goalTerrorised Liverpool's defence and then scored the winner. ⚽ pic.twitter.com/7RiQWFa8Hw
— Squawka (@Squawka) January 29, 2023
He was electric as Brighton piled the pressure on struggling Liverpool, completing a game-high six take-ons and tormenting Trent Alexander-Arnold and a vulnerable backline.
In an entertaining cup contest, Liverpool struggled to deal with his deft touches and bursts of acceleration. Mitoma decided the contest with a magical moment and has now scored or assisted in eight of his last 11 appearances for Brighton.
He kept his cool to bamboozle Joe Gomez in the area and score a stoppage-time winner, juggling the ball past the defender’s desperate challenge before firing home.
It just gets better every time you watch it ????????@OfficialBHAFC #EmiratesFACup 3 pic.twitter.com/QYyDc2OiVu
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) January 29, 2023
Mitoma is box-office entertainment right now and a key reason why Brighton will be cautiously optimistic of venturing deep into this tournament. Three of the ‘Big Six’, plus Newcastle, are already gone and no team will fancy facing the Seagulls in the next round.
Goal of the Week
It’s been a challenging campaign to date for Son Heung-min, but the Spurs star looked back to his best as the north Londoners won at Preston.
Son was the best player on the pitch as Spurs won 3-0 at Deepdale, proving the difference as Antonio Conte’s side broke down their stubborn Championship opponents.
After twice testing the goalkeeper in the first half, Son left Freddie Woodman with no chance as he opened the scoring with a spectacular strike from distance.
UNBELIEVABLE ????@Sonny7 with an unbelievable strike for @SpursOfficial ????#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/Wje8QXGOrY
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) January 28, 2023
He added a second soon after with a sharp finish inside the area and Spurs will hope this can be the start of the South Korean returning to his finest form.
Save of the Week
Accrington Stanley’s Toby Savin earns our Save of the Week accolade, after a brilliant show of athleticism to turn Luis Sinisterra’s drive onto the post against Leeds.
Sadly for the 21-year-old, Accrington found a clash with Premier League opponents a step too far in the fourth round as Leeds won 3-1 at the Crown Ground.
The post is still shaking ????
But did @SavinToby of @ASFCofficial get a touch? ????#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/OjYJHrKeIj
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) January 28, 2023
Stat of the Week
Kelechi Iheanacho just loves the FA Cup.
The Nigeria international has scored more goals in the competition than any other player since his FA Cup debut in January 2016 and struck the decisive goal as Leicester won 1-0 at Walsall this weekend.
17 – Since his FA Cup debut in January 2016, Kelechi Iheanacho's 17 goals in the competition is the most of any player, while the Nigerian has netted seven in his last seven appearances in the cup. King. pic.twitter.com/tzYGvhSqZP
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 28, 2023
Given the Foxes’ struggles in the Premier League this season, perhaps it’s time for Brendan Rodgers to hand a chance to a forward who has started just once in the league this season?
Donkey of the Week
Just what was Andy Carroll doing?
Already fortunate to have escaped a red card for a horrible challenge on Christian Eriksen, the forward proceeded to pick up two yellow cards in quick succession with Reading trailing at Manchester United.
The Royals were already 2-0 down and struggling before Carroll’s moments of madness and 34-year-old let his teammates and the club’s fans down badly at Old Trafford.
Andy Carroll did not receive a card for this challenge on Christian Eriksen.
The midfielder left Old Trafford on crutches ???? pic.twitter.com/7w1eZC8xLz
— ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) January 29, 2023
Carroll lost possession on 15 occasions, failed to register a single shot, and completed just 42% of his passes in a performance that saw him contribute nothing to Reading’s cause, before a ludicrous lunge on Casemiro saw him sent down the tunnel.
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