
LONDON (AFP) - Premier League champions Manchester City began their FA Cup campaign with a 7-0 thrashing of Rotherham on Sunday (Jan 6) but Fulham, battling to avoid relegation from the Premier League, were beaten 2-1 by fourth-tier Oldham.
Barnet ensured there would be a non-league presence in the fourth round with a 1-0 win away to second-tier Championship club Sheffield United.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola may have made eight changes from the team that beat Premier League leaders Liverpool on Thursday but still fielded a strong side for the visit of Championship club Rotherham, with Raheem Sterling, Riyad Mahrez and Gabriel Jesus all starting as playmaker Kevin De Bruyne returned from injury.
De Bruyne played in Sterling for a 12th-minute opener and City then scored twice in the closing stages of the first half.
Phil Foden, the England Under-21 international, got on the end of a cross from Ilkay Gundogan in the 43rd minute before Rotherham defender Semi Ajayi turned the ball into his own net.
Jesus made it 4-0 early in the second half before Mahrez, Nicolas Otamendi and Leroy Sane added further goals.
Denis Odoi put Fulham ahead in the 52nd minute at Craven Cottage but Sam Sturridge drew Oldham level with a penalty before Callum Lang's header two minutes from time sealed a comeback win.
Daniel Iversen compounded Fulham's misery by saving an Aleksandar Mitrovic penalty just moments earlier.
Elsewhere, Barnet beat Championship high-flyers Sheffield United thanks to Shaquile Coulthirst's 21st-minute penalty.
Watford manager Javi Gracia changed his entire starting side from the team that drew 3-3 at Bournemouth, with Venezuela forward Adalberto Penaranda making his Hornets debut against non-league Woking.
But hopes of Woking, 110 places adrift of the Hornets, enjoying a shock win suffered a setback when Will Hughes curled in a 13th-minute shot from the edge of the area.
Watford made it 2-0 16 minutes from time when Troy Deeney scored from close range.
Millwall came from a goal down to beat Championship rivals Hull 2-1, substitute Shane Ferguson scoring twice inside the closing eight minutes.
QPR beat Championship leaders Leeds by the same scoreline, Jake Bidwell scoring a 75th-minute winner for the west London club.
Fourth-tier Newport County are at home to Premier League Leicester in Sunday's 1630 GMT kick-off.
On Saturday, FA Cup holders Chelsea cruised to a 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest in what seems certain to have been Cesc Fabregas's final match for the Blues.
It was the same scoreline as Manchester United beat Reading to make it five wins out of five under caretaker boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Arsenal, the record 13-times FA Cup winners, won 3-0 at Blackpool, West Ham beat Birmingham 2-0 but Everton had to work hard to see off Lincoln 2-1.
Saturday also saw Championship club Bristol City beat top-flight basement club Huddersfield 1-0.
Elsewhere, in an all-Premier League clash, Brighton won 3-1 away to south coast rivals Bournemouth.
Second division Derby, managed by former England midfielder Frank Lampard, came from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Premier League strugglers Southampton.
Newcastle were also held to a draw, 1-1 against second-tier Blackburn.
Premier League leaders Liverpool will complete a third round that started with Tottenham's 7-0 thrashing of Tranmere on Friday when they travel to top-flight rivals Wolves on Monday.

Palatsides tipped for FAS technical director role, Football News & Top Stories - The Straits Times The Football Association of Singapore (FAS) has cast its net far and wide for a new technical director and could well settle on someone from Down Under.
Director Fas Jobs, Employment | Indeed.com

Neymar has denied an accusation that he raped a woman in Paris. A leaked police report filed in Sao Paulo reveals the woman alleges that the attack took place in a hotel in the French capital.
Brazil footballer Neymar denies rape allegation - telegraph.co.uk

Soccer Football - FA Cup Third Round - Manchester United v Reading - Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - January 5, 2019 Manchester United interim manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer during the match REUT
Solskjaer unimpressed as United ease past Reading in Cup

Maurizio Sarri condemns the alleged racist abuse of Raheem Sterling by Chelsea supporters but wants the club's main focus to be on Thursday's clash with Vidi. The Blues visit Budapest this week for their final Europa League group match, having already secured qualification to the last 32 in top spot

A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Sunday Times on March 24, 2019, with the headline ''Electric' Sterling has boss purring'. Print Edition | Subscribe.
'Electrical' Sterling has boss purring - Latest News

Santiago Solari said head coaches need to trust in VAR after Real Madrid benefited from a controversial call in Wednesday's 2-1 Champions League win at Ajax. Holders Madrid took control of their
The Straits Times - Breaking News, Lifestyle & Multimedia News

Football: Bournemouth's Nathan Ake strikes late to sink nine

Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri has backed Gonzalo Higuain to earn a permanent move for Stamford Bridge next season. Higuain moved to Chelsea during the January transfer window on loan from Juventus, having spent the first half of the campaign with AC Milan, but has struggled to find his feet in the Premier League.
Higuain must earn permanent Chelsea deal - Sarri - World
worldsoccertalk.com/2019/01/23/higuain-must-earn-permanent-chelsea-deal-sarri/
Higuain must earn permanent Chelsea deal - Sarri AFP January 23, 2019 AFP No Comments London (AFP) - Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri is confident Gonzalo Higuain can be the short-term solution to his side's need for goals and urged the Argentine to earn a permanent move to the Premier League.

BHUBANESWAR: Controversy seems to be synonymous with BJD's Pipili MLA candidate and former minister Pradeep Maharathy, who was arrested on Monday for allegedly assaulting a team of election
'French Open sucks compared to Wimbledon': Kyrgios courts

Inter Milan name Antonio Conte as coach The 49-year-old former Chelsea manager has signed a three-year contract worth nine million euros ($10 million) plus bonuses, according to press reports.
Antonio Conte excited for 'new chapter' after being appointed

London (AFP) - Cardiff City captain Sol Bamba dedicated his goal and a 2-1 victory over Southampton to Emiliano Sala after an emotional match for the Welsh club. Saturday's fixtures were the first round of Premier League games since the player's death was confirmed earlier this week.
'Victory and goal for Sala', says Cardiff captain Bamba

"Kepa should be sacked, not Sarri": Pundits split on Chelsea

Man City fans say Blues show perfect qualities to push Liverpool FC in win over Bournemouth. Manchester City beat Bournemouth 1-0 in the Premier League despite fatigue and injuries affecting the squad
Man City fans fear another nightmare after shock change for

Cardiff claim they are shocked by a report that the pilot in the plane crash that killed Emiliano Sala was not qualified to fly at night.
Cardiff City 'shocked' by Emiliano Sala pilot report
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