FA Cup Round Up: Doherty and Szmodics shine as Coughlan’s Exiles bow out

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Matt Doherty and Sammie Szmodics were the standout players as we look at the Irish players who featured in the fourth round of the FA Cup last weekend. 

On Monday night, Sammie Szmodics continued his fine form in front of goal with another brace in a 4-1 win for Blackburn against League Two Wrexham. The Irish hopeful now has 21 goals to his name this season. 

Matt Doherty and Wolves are into the fifth round of the cup after a 2-0 win in the Black Country Derby. The wing back assisted Pedro Neto’s opener at the Hawthorns, where the off-pitch violence dominated the headlines as Wolves were victorious. Joe Hodge and Jayson Molumby will be disappointed not to get any minutes. 

There was big Irish interest at Rodney Parade on Sunday afternoon as Graham Coughlan, Ireland’s only permanent manager in the top four divisions in England, saw his side narrowly lose 4-2 to Manchester United.

Despite mounting a spirited comeback to bring the game level in the second half, late goals by Antony and Rasmus Høiljund ended any chance of an upset. 

Fellow Irishman Ryan Delaney captained the side while Harry Charsley, and Shane McLoughlin featured for The Exiles. 

McLoughlin bowed out of the competition with three goals to his name. Only Kyle Wootton of Stevenage and Brighton’s João Pedro, who bagged a hat-trick against Sheffield United, have scored more. 

Bournemouth kicked the fourth round off in style with an emphatic win at home to Swansea on Friday night. Mark Travers kept a relatively stress-free clean sheet, his first since returning from his loan spell at Stoke. Gavin Kilkenny made his maiden appearance of the season from the bench. 

Brighton’s Evan Ferguson assisted Facundo Buonanotte for their opener at Bramall Lane. The Seagulls came out on top in a seven-goal thriller; however, the Meath man’s goal drought continues as he is without a goal since November. 

John Egan hasn’t featured for the Blades since August after undergoing surgery. 



Southampton were without Gavin Bazunu for their trip to Watford, while Will Smallbone was sprung from the bench as the Saints salvaged a draw. 

Ryan Manning was rested following his strong performances in recent weeks during Southampton’s impressive 22 game unbeaten run. A potential trip to Anfield is on the cards shall they prevail at home in next week’s replay.

Chiedozie Ogbene completed 90 minutes at wing back for Luton Town as they defeated Everton with a last-gasp winner. His counterpart Séamus Coleman missed the game due to a hamstring injury. 

In another seven-goal thriller at Anfield, Caoimhín Kelleher was surprisingly not in the starting line up as Liverpool defeated Championship 4-2. Serie A linked Adam Idah featured for the last half an hour of action. 

Sixth tier Maidstone United’s fairytale run continued this weekend at the expense of high-flying Ipswich. 25-year-old Irish midfielder Jack Taylor assisted Jeremy Sarmiento’s equaliser, ten minutes before Sam Corne’s winner sent Maidstone fans into delirium. 

Tom Cannon set up Dennis Praet for Leicester’s third goal at home to Birmingham; despite being capped at under 21 level, the former Everton striker is contemplating a switch of allegiance. 



Scott Hogan made a short cameo for Birmingham, who suffered their first defeat since Wayne Rooney’s departure.

Bristol City goalkeeper Max O’Leary kept his second clean sheet in as many games against Premier League opposition on Saturday. Andrew Omobamidele also kept his first clean sheet for his new club, Nottingham Forest in this scoreless draw. 

Jason Knight played 90 minutes for Bristol City in a more advanced role. Mark Sykes impressed on his international debut against New Zealand in Stephen Kenny’s last game, however he missed this tie. New signing from St Patrick’s Athletic, Adam Murphy, didn’t feature and is yet to make his debut.

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