LONDON: Sam Allardyce secured his first victory as Crystal Palace manager by reaching the fourth round of the FA Cup on Tuesday when two non-league teams also advanced.
Palace fell behind to third-tier side Bolton Wanderers but two goals from substitute Christian Benteke clinched a 2-1 victory for Allardyce against the team he managed between 1999 and 2007.
It ended Allardyce’s five-match winless streak with Palace in all competitions.
Palace will next host Manchester City in the FA Cup, but more important for Allardyce is producing a win in the league. Palace are only out of the Premier League relegation zone due to their superior goal difference.
Burnley piled on the misery for struggling Sunderland with a 2-0 win at Turf Moor in their all top-flight meeting. A header from Sam Vokes before halftime was followed late in the game by substitute Andre Gray’s strike.
Burnley’s fourth-round opponents are second-tier Bristol City, who beat Fleetwood 1-0 in their replay at Highbury Stadium thanks to Jamie Paterson’s 17th minute goal.
Lincoln City and Sutton United, who play in the fifth tier, will both face second-tier League Championship sides in the fourth round later this month.
Lincoln stunned Championship side Ipswich Town with a stoppage-time goal from Nathan Arnold securing a 1-0 win to set up a meeting with Brighton & Hove Albion.
Sutton knocked out 10-man AFC Wimbledon with a 3-1 victory to secure a match against Leeds United.
Fourth-tier Blackpool beat Barnsley 2-1 away to set up a derby clash with Blackburn Rovers.
Published in Dawn January 19th, 2017
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