Javier Hernandez saved Manchester United’s blushes as the Premier League leaders came from behind to defeat Southampton 2-1 and advance to the last 16 of the FA Cup.
Hernandez slid home a 75th minute winner after a Michael Owen header for an understrength United had cancelled out a stunning strike from Richard Chaplow which had given League One side Southampton the lead just before half-time.
United manager Alex Ferguson fielded a virtual second string side at St Mary’s, with Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggs, Dimitar Berbatov and Nani all left on the substitutes bench.
For long periods of the first half it looked as if Ferguson’s gamble would backfire as Southampton seized control of the game before taking a deserved lead through Chaplow.
But with Ferguson ringing the changes at half-time, United hit back and proved too strong for the Saints, who are pushing for promotion from League One, the third tier of English football.
“They played well, they are flying high in their division, and always in the FA Cup no matter what standard you’re playing against it’s always tough in the first 45 minutes,” relieved goalscorer Owen told ITV.
“Against lower league teams it’s difficult for the first hour but you tend to get on top after that.”
In earlier matches, Chelsea maintained their bid for a third consecutive FA Cup after snatching a 1-1 draw with Everton while non-league Crawley advanced to with a 1-0 win over Torquay.
A goal from Salomon Kalou on 75 minutes earned Chelsea a draw at Goodison Park after the Toffees had taken a deserved lead through a 62nd-minute headed effort from Louis Saha.
“It was a difficult match because Everton put a lot of strong pressure on us all the time,” Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti said.
“We showed good spirit. The second half we didn’t play well but the spirit was good.”
Crawley, meanwhile, became only the sixth non-league side to reach the fifth round after Matthew Tubbs scored on 39 minutes to down the Gulls in a stormy encounter at Plainmoor.
Crawley, who had knocked out Swindon and Derby in earlier rounds, missed two penalties as both sides finished with 10 men.
“We expected to come here and win. We said it and we have done it,” said jubilant Crawley boss Steve Evans.
“We are just proud to get where we are and now we are in the fifth round we would like the draw to be kind to us. If it is, then fantastic, but whoever we get in the fifth round, we will go and try and win like we did today.”
Lowly League One side Leyton Orient were the first team to reach the last 16 with a 2-1 upset away at Championship outfit Swansea, before Aston Villa downed Blackburn 3-1 in an all-Premier League tie.
Villa’s goals included the first for the club from French veteran Robert Pires, who earned praise from manager Gerard Houllier afterwards.
“He has still got the touch and the eye for the pass and he brings some fluency to the game with his technique,” Houllier said.
“I was pleased by the reaction of the bench when he scored. That is something very telling. The whole bench went up and were very happy and proud for him. He is a popular fellow.”
Birmingham staged a dramatic fightback against midlands rivals Coventry to advance, recovering from 2-0 down to win 3-2 at St Andrews thanks to goals from David Bentley, Stuart Parnaby and Kevin Phillips.
Burnley defeated Burton Albion 3-1 while Championship side Watford were stunned 1-0 at Vicarage Road by Brighton from League One.
League Two Stevenage, conquerors of Newcastle in the previous round, saw their hopes of an extended cup run extinguished by Reading, who grabbed a 2-1 win courtesy of an 87th-minute strike from Shane Long.