Demba Ba made an instant impact with two goals on his Chelsea debut as the holders romped to an emphatic 5-1 victory at Southampton in the FA Cup third round today.
Newcastle United, the club Ba left on yesterday, continued their dismal run of form with a 2-0 defeat at Championship (second tier) side Brighton and Hove Albion - a rare upset on one of the most eagerly-awaited days in the English season.
Goals from Andrea Orlandi and Will Hoskins earned Brighton a repeat of their fourth round victory over Premier League Newcastle last season, condemning Alan Pardew's side to an 11th defeat in 14 matches.
Major shocks were non-existent although Cardiff City, currently romping away at the top of the Championship, were beaten 2-1 at minor league Macclesfield Town - who reached the fourth round for the first time.
Minor league Luton Town also beat second tier Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-0.
Several clubs struggling in the Premier League flirted with defeats against lower league opposition but survived.
Fulham drew 1-1 at home to Blackpool, third tier Bournemouth earned a replay with Wigan Athletic after holding them to a 1-1 draw while Sunderland drew 2-2 at Bolton Wanderers who were relegated from the top flight last season.
Reading had to come from a goal down to beat third tier Crawley Town 3-1 away.
South coast seventh-tier minnows Hastings United, the lowliest survivors of the 758 clubs which began the 132nd edition of the knockout competition in August, had their fairytale cut short in a 4-1 defeat at Middlesbrough.
Premier League champions Manchester City, winners of the competition in 2011, eased into the fourth round with a 3-0 defeat of Gianfranco Zola's Championship side Watford.
Tottenham Hotspur's fine run of form continued with Clint Dempsey scoring twice in a 3-0 home victory over third tier Coventry City, the side they lost to in the 1987 FA cup final.
VAN PERSIE SAVES UNITED
In the evening game, Manchester United's Robin van Persie scored a superb late equaliser to salvage a 2-2 draw at West Ham United after Joe Cole set up both goals for the hosts on his homecoming.
Premier League leaders United rested several players but manager Alex Ferguson sent on striker Van Persie in a bid to earn a replay and the Dutchman struck in the final minute after controlling a superb long pass by Ryan Giggs.
West Ham's 31-year-old midfielder Cole, who re-signed for his boyhood club on Friday 10 years after leaving for Chelsea and then subsequently Liverpool, provided perfect crosses for James Collins to twice head past goalkeeper David de Gea.
United, 11 times FA Cup winners but not since 2004, had taken the lead through Tom Cleverly after 23 minutes but central defender Collins equalised with a glancing header from Cole's inswinging cross four minutes later.
West Ham's second after 59 minutes was a carbon copy of their first goal, Collins again sending the ball looping past De Gea from another textbook delivery from Cole who was given a standing ovation when he was later substituted.
"We were unlucky not to win," Cole told ITV. "It was a great start for me but it feels like a missed opportunity."