KEY POINTS:
Premier League strugglers Charlton Athletic and Sheffield United were both knocked out of the FA Cup by third division sides last night (NZ time) as Nottingham Forest and Swansea City respectively took the third round honours.
Charlton, struggling near the foot of the Premier League, were convincingly beaten 2-0 by Forest - who lost 5-0 last week - while a weakened Sheffield went down 3-0 at home to the Welsh side.
There were no such problems for Chelsea, however, as a Frank Lampard hat-trick helped them thump Macclesfield 6-1, while Bolton Wanderers, West Ham United and Watford all progressed against lower league opposition.
Middlesbrough, Fulham and Newcastle United were all held to draws by second division teams while Portsmouth beat Wigan Athletic 2-1 in all-Premier clash.
The dreams of the two remaining minor league clubs ended as Tamworth lost 4-1 at home to second division Norwich City while while Aldershot went down 4-2 at third division Blackpool.
The third round continues later this morning (NZ time) with holders Liverpool against Arsenal. There are four more ties tonight, including two more all-Premier games between Manchester United and Aston Villa and Everton and Blackburn Rovers.
- REUTERS