The pick of the weekend\u2019s FA Cup third round ties was played out at Manchester City\u2019s Etihad Stadium on Sunday where Manchester United progressed to the fourth round of the FA Cup at the expense of their city rivals.<\/p>\n
United announced a new signing of sorts just before the game when they named the recently-retired Paul Scholes as a substitute having re-signed the 37 year-old until the end of the season.<\/p>\n
Wayne Rooney scored the first of United\u2019s three first-half goals with a powerful header before City captain Vincent Kompany was sent off in dubious circumstances for a two-footed tackle on Nani.<\/p>\n
City mounted a valiant comeback after the break, though, and goals from Aleksandr Kolarov and Sergio Aguero set up a tense final quarter but United held on to register a 3-2 victory and they were rewarded with a fourth-round tie away at Liverpool, whose 5-1 win over Oldham on Friday evening was not without controversy.<\/p>\n
Oldham\u2019s Tom Adeyemi was visibly distressed after being the victim of racist abuse from a small section of Liverpool fans in the closing minutes of the game. A 20 year-old man from Aintree has been bailed following his arrest on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence.<\/p>\n
Chelsea knocked four second-half goals past Portsmouth at Stamford Bridge, Tottenham strolled past Cheltenham 3-0 and Everton overcame Tamworth 2-0.<\/p>\n
Macclesfield Town and MK Dons came closest to embarrassing Premier League opposition but both had to settle for a replay against Bolton and QPR respectively, having led for periods.<\/p>\n
After the result against MK Dons, QPR manager Neil Warnock was sacked having failed to muster a win in nine games. Mark Hughes is the bookies favourite to replace him.<\/p>\n
England\u2019s cricketers struggled during the first two days of their warm-up match against an ICC Combined Associate and Affiliate XI in Dubai. After bowling out their opposition for 281 on Saturday, Alastair Cook (76) was the only English batsman to register a half-century.<\/p>\n
The visiting side\u2019s bowling performance was slightly better and Stuart Broad impressed, taking 2-15 from nine overs at the beginning of the ICC side\u2019s second innings.<\/p>\n
Harlequins\u2019 lead at the top of the Aviva Premiership was cut to three points as Saracens capitalised on the league-leaders\u2019 24-3 slip-up away at Northampton on Friday evening with a 26-19 win at home to Bath.<\/p>\n
Martin \u201cWolfie\u201d Adams\u2019 tilt at a record-equalling third-straight BDO World Dart Championship got off to a good start with a straightforward 3-0 win over Scott Mitchell. Former champion John Walton lost 3-1 to Martin Atkins.<\/p>\n