Starting closer to home on a weekend of thrills and spills in the world’s oldest domestic cup competition, Billy Gilmour returned to the Norwich City side following a six-week spell on the sidelines with injury and wasted no time in making a significant impact for the Canaries.

The Scotland international lined up in central midfield for Dean Smith’s men away at Wolverhampton Wanderers and provided bite as well as craft, curling in a teasing delivery from which Kenny McLean headed in the only goal of the game in first-half stoppage time. The win made it three in a row in all competitions for Norwich, who will head to Liverpool in the last-16.

Teeing up in the Cup

Crystal Palace’s reward for a 2-0 victory over League Two Hartlepool United is a home tie against Stoke City and their latest win owed much to Conor Gallagher’s industry and impact once again. The midfielder, who turned 22 yesterday, was involved in his 12th goal of the season for the Eagles, shifting the ball along to Michael Olise who finished emphatically.

Patrick Vieira’s men had taken an early lead through former Blues youngster Marc Guehi, who turned in a brilliant free-kick swung in from the right by Olise. Palace are Chelsea’s next opponents following the Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi.

It was less routine for Southampton on the South Coast as Coventry City forced extra-time in their fourth-round tie. Armando Broja started on the bench but came on with 26 minutes of normal time remaining and had a hand in the winner eight minutes before penalties. The Albanian international played in Kyle Walker-Peters down the left and the defender finished smartly into the bottom far corner.

There was some concern for the young striker after a hefty tackle left him in pain on the ground following his introduction and Saints boss Ralph Hassenhuttl admitted after the game that ‘it was a hit on the top of the knee but hopefully not too serious.’

Among the Coventry starting 11 were Jake Clarke-Salter and Ian Maatsen, the latter playing in an advanced left-sided role. The Dutch teenager had made his comeback from a four-game absence in a 1-0 defeat at Middlesbrough earlier in the week, while Clarke-Salter played on the left of a back three in that one as well as a 1-0 victory against Stoke City four days previously. The Sky Blues are currently five points off the play-off places, albeit with games in hand on those above them.

Sterling and Baxter impress

Dujon Sterling was in the Blackpool defence that recorded an impressive 1-1 draw at table-topping Fulham and a 3-1 victory against Bristol City this week in the Championship, demonstrating his versatility by playing 90 minutes in both at left-back and wing-back. The Tangerines are now level on points with Coventry in mid-table having played two games more.

Hull City have had a change in manager but Nathan Baxter kept his place in goal and promptly kept a clean sheet in a 2-0 win against Swansea City to ease some of the Tigers’ relegation concerns. He had ended the month of January with the highest number of saves and second-most clean sheets in the division, though missed the 1-0 reverse at home to Preston North End this weekend.

There were back-to-back defeats for Baba Rahman and Danny Drinkwater with Reading, who lost 4-3 against Huddersfield Town and 4-0 at Queens Park Rangers. The Ghanaian did claim an assist for Lucas Joao to open the scoring against the Terriers but it ultimately proved worthless for the Royals, who have lost their last six matches in all competitions and currently sit just two points above the Championship drop zone.

Back in attack

Emerson Palmieri has featured in an attacking role for Lyon in their two games this past week following his return from a Covid-19 absence. The Euro 2020 winner helped Les Gones to a 2-1 victory against Marseille courtesy of Moussa Dembele’s 89th-minute winner in a game that had to be replayed following crowd trouble in the original fixture.

Yet Lyon’s European aspirations were then dented by a 2-0 defeat at Monaco, who leapfrogged them in the Ligue 1 table, with Emerson again starting in attack.

In Italy, Ethan Ampadu and Venezia held firm for almost an hour against title-chasing Napoli before Victor Osimhen’s thumping header broke the deadlock. There were still opportunities for the Lagunari, who are fighting against an immediate return to Serie B, but a red card for Tyronne Ebuehi and an even later goal from Andrea Petagna consigned them to a 10th league game without a win.

Turkey’s title race is currently playing out without the traditional big three of Besiktas, Fenerbahce or Galatasaray involved and it was another frustrating afternoon in the Super Lig for the Black Eagles as they drew 0-0 with Antalyaspor. Michy Batshuayi led the line for 83 minutes but was unable to help his side find the breakthrough.

Clean sheets keep Cumming

Jamie Cumming registered back-to-back clean sheets for MK Dons, who are up to third in League One following three wins in a row against Burton Albion, Wycombe Wanderers and Lincoln City.

Juan Castillo made his debut for Charlton Athletic in the EFL Trophy against Hartlepool United, a game in which Mason Burstow netted six days prior to his deadline day switch to Chelsea, though the Addicks were ultimately knocked out on penalties. Burstow also featured as a substitute in the 3-2 weekend win against AFC Wimbledon.

There was also a debut for Ethan Wady at Hendon in the Southern Football League’s Premier South division. The California-born goalkeeper played in a 1-0 defeat to Gosport Borough and a 2-1 win against Hartley Wintney.