26 January 2004	Monday	03 Zilhaj 1424

LONDON, Jan 25: Struggling premier league club Wolverhampton Wanderers were knocked out of the FA Cup by West Ham United on Sunday, thrashed 3-1 at home by the first division side in the fourth round.

Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur will replay their tie after the London club rallied in the second half to grab a 1-1 draw. Last season's semifinalists Sheffield United progressed with a 3-0 win at fellow first division side Nottingham Forest.

At Wolves, who introduced their new striker Carl Cort before the match, much-travelled forward Brian Deane got the first of West Ham's three first-half goals with a sweetly struck shot in the fourth minute.

Marlon Harewood doubled the lead from close range in the 21st minute, but Romanian Ioan Viorel Ganea grabbed one back for Wolves two minutes later when he ran unmarked into the box to fire home.

Less than 10 minutes later, David Connolly made it 3-1 for the visitors, beating the offside trap and finishing by curling the ball past Wolves keeper Michael Oakes.

At the City of Manchester Stadium, the home side dominated the first half and should have had more to show for their efforts than Nicolas Anelka's solitary goal from a 10th-minute corner.

Gary Doherty's clearance was sent straight back into the box by City defender Sylvain Distin, Robbie Fowler's header hit the post and the rebound fell nicely for Anelka to tap in with Spurs keeper Kasey Keller stranded.

Spurs came out firing in the second half and equalised 12 minutes after the restart, Doherty heading home unmarked after City keeper Kevin Stuhr-Ellegaard, in for the cup-tied David James, failed to intercept a Helder Postiga corner.

Jack Lester converted a penalty against his former club in the 33rd minute to set Sheffield United on their way to the fifth round against Forest. Defender Chris Morgan, with an athletic overhead kick, and a Wayne Allison header sealed a convincing victory in the second half.

In later ties on Sunday, Everton host Fulham in an all-premier league clash while Manchester United visit third division Northampton Town. On Saturday, holders Arsenal thrashed Middlesbrough 4-1, six-time winners Liverpool beat Newcastle United 2-1 and Chelsea avoided a potential banana skin by beating minor league Scarborough 1-0.

Results of English FA Cup fourth round soccer matches played on Sunday (Roman numerals denote division of non-premier league team, ML denotes Minor League):

Everton 1 Fulham 1

Manchester City 1 Tottenham 1

Northampton 0 Manchester United 3

Nottingham Forest 0 Sheffield United 3

Wolverhampton 1 West Ham 3 -Agencies