Liverpool 0 Bolton 0
Liverpool's avoided an FA Cup upset at home to Bolton but even on a day of shocks it was not much of an achievement after a toothless display against Championship opponents Bolton.
There was a distinct absence of the vigour and verve of their exhilarating second-half performance against Chelsea in the Capital One Cup in midweek as Neil Lennon succeeded where Jose Mourinho had failed in keeping a clean sheet at Anfield.
The visitors defended resolutely, if sometimes illegally, to earn a replay after Liverpool failed to break them down.
There was no cup fairytale for Emile Heskey on his return to his former club as part of a combined 73-year-old strikeforce with Eidur Gudjohnsen as he was replaced just after half-time. The consolation is he gets another go back at the Macron Stadium, where there will be a greater chance of an upset.
Southampton 2 Crystal Palace 3
Marouane Chamakh inspired Crystal Palace's progress to the FA Cup fifth round as Alan Pardew oversaw victory against former club Southampton in a pulsating, goal-laden tie.
A lot has changed since Saints travelled to Selhurst Park on St Stephen’s Day, with that 3-1 defeat leading to Neil Warnock’s sacking and the appointment of the popular former Eagles midfielder.
Even the most optimistic of Palace fans, though, could not have predicted Pardew’s impact, with this 3-2 win – their second in succession – continuing his 100 per cent start to life at the helm, ending Southampton’s eight-match unbeaten run.
Like Burnley last weekend, an impressive comeback was required to secure victory from a match which was just nine minutes old when Graziano Pelle ended a seven-match goal drought to put Saints ahead, a lead quickly wiped out as Chamakh bundled home on his return from a six-week injury lay-off.
The first half was like two boxers with weak chins swinging wildly at one another, epitomised by Yaya Sanogo coming close, before Saints broke and Scott Dann turned a Ryan Bertrand cross into his own goal.
However, that lead was once again short-lived as Sanogo netted his first Palace goal, before the 3,225 travelling fans saw their side go ahead as Chamakh rounded Fraser Forster to slot home.
It meant Saints had conceded more in 39 minutes than in their five previous games in 2015 combined and, while they upped the ante in the second half, they were unable to find the equaliser required to force a replay.
Tottenham Hotspur 1 Leicester City 2
Leicester came from behind to net a stoppage-time winner from Jeff Schlupp and beat Tottenham 2-1 at White Hart Lane.
After a good start from the Foxes, who forced a couple of fine saves from Michel Vorm, Spurs went ahead from the penalty spot after 19 minutes through Andros Townsend.
Leicester's frustration grew as they were denied what looked a clear penalty before half-time with Andrej Kramaric instead booked for diving, but their industry was rewarded with seven minutes left when Leonardo Ulloa swept the ball into the bottom corner.
There was then late drama in stoppage time when Vorm allowed a scuffed shot from Schlupp to squirm over the line to send the Foxes into the fifth round.
Birmingham City 1 West Bromwich Albion 2
Victor Anichebe’s quickfire brace edged West Brom into the last 16 as they survived a scare to beat Birmingham 2-1.
After his first-half double, the striker has now scored three goals in four games since Tony Pulis took over at The Hawthorns.
Jonathan Grounds pulled a goal back just before the break but bullish Birmingham could not force a replay against their local rivals.
Andrew Shinnie headed over and Demarai Gray forced Ben Foster into a smart save as Albion rode out second-half pressure at St Andrews to remain unbeaten under Pulis.
Sunderland 0 Fulham 0
Substitute Hugo Rodallega was denied an FA Cup giant-killing act by a post as Championship side Fulham very nearly shocked 10-man Premier League outfit Sunderland.
The Colombia international blasted against the woodwork as time ran down with the Black Cats, who played the final 24 minutes without midfielder Jack Rodwell after he was dismissed for a second bookable offence, teetering on the brink.
Until that point, the Black Cats had looked the more likely winners after emerging from their early torpor with goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli making three saves from new boy Jermain Defoe inside 10 second-half minute to secure a 0-0 fourth round draws.
Sunderland were desperately poor for long periods, although they rallied belatedly to put the visitors under pressure as time ran down.
However, it all proved to to be too little too late as head coach Gus Poyet was left with a replay he did not really want, while opposite number Kit Symons headed home with plenty at which to be pleased.
Cardiff City 1 Reading 2
Hal Robson-Kanu booked Reading’s place in the fifth round with a late winner in a 2-1 victory at Cardiff.
Wales international Robson-Kanu, on as an 82nd minute substitute, swept home Jordan Obita's cross six minutes later after Oliver Norwood had cancelled out Kenwyne Jones's first-half header for the Bluebirds.
Derby County 2 Chesterfield 0
Darren Bent scored his first goal for Derby but the Championship promotion chasers were given a real scare by League One Chesterfield before they won a pulsating FA Cup fourth-round tie 2-0 at the iPro Stadium.
Bent headed in from close range in the first half but Chesterfield dominated possession for long periods and wasted good chances before Will Hughes sealed victory with a late solo effort.
Preston 1 Sheffield United 1
Diego De Girolamo scored his first goal for Sheffield United as last season's semi-finalists earned a fourth-round replay with a draw at Deepdale.
Preston began the brighter and Paul Gallagher opened the scoring on 19 minutes but Italy under-20 international De Girolamo struck midway through the second half for the Blades.
