LONDON, Feb 20: Joe Cole struck twice to ensure Premiership champions and leaders Chelsea staved off what would have been one of the all-time great upsets to advance into the quarterfinals of the FA Cup with a 3-1 win at home to Colchester United.

When Colchester went ahead at Stamford Bridge on Sunday through Ricardo Carvalho’s own-goal, a shock was on the cards.

But order, of a sort, was restored when the defender’s fellow Portuguese Paulo Ferreira poked home from close range to level before half-time.

Substitute Cole netted for the hosts 11 minutes from the finish but it was not until he scored again in stoppage time that Chelsea fans could finally relax and dream again about a treble.

In the day’s late kick-off tie 17-year-old Micah Richards kept Manchester City in the FA Cup with a superb 94th minute header from a corner to rescue a 1-1 draw against Premiership rivals Aston Villa.

It looked as if Milan Baros had made City pay for a succession of missed chances with a goal 18 minutes from time for the Birmingham club only for Birmingham-born Richards to have the last word.

Earlier, Nigeria striker Aiyegbeni Yakubu scored twice as Middlesbrough won 2-0 away to Championship Preston.

Birmingham booked their place in Monday’s draw by also defeating Championship opposition, Mikael Forssell’s goal securing a 1-0 win over Stoke.

Birmingham reached the quarterfinals for the first time in 22 years when, a minute into the second-half, Jermaine Pennant’s inswinging corner was flicked on

Liverpool advanced Saturday with a 1-0 home win over Manchester United, England striker Peter Crouch’s headersecuring a first victory in the FA Cup over their bitter rivals for 85 years.

But the match was overshadowed by the broken leg sustained by United substitute Alan Smith.

Charlton ended the run of Brentford, conquerors of Premiership Sunderland, with a 3-1 win at The Valley while Newcastle beat Southampton 1-0.

But Premiership pair Bolton and West Ham were both left in the hat for Monday’s draw after a goalless stalemate at the Reebok Stadium.

English FA Cup results: