FA Cup Team Of The Third Round

It is hard enough to select a 'Best XI' from a mere ten Premier League clashes each week, so a 32-match programme guarantees that any selection will meet with disapproval and dissent over both those included and, especially, those omitted. But the third round of the FA Cup is the most democratic weekend in the English football calendar - and I make no apology for putting the spotlight on some of the
unsung heroes of teams who rarely get much media attention. It was a good weekend for many such teams, and therefore for the FA Cup itself, but while the 'Honourable Mentions' section is longer than usual, those selected in this Best XI do, I believe, justify inclusion on the basis of their contribution to their team on the day, in the context of their particular tie. You, of course, may well think differently...


Hart

Gearey Shittu Taylor Hamshaw

Ramsey McDonald Hamosi Petriov

Mifsud Talbot


Goalkeeper

Joe Hart (Manchester City)

Manchester City and clean-sheets are beginning to go together quite regularly, and at Upton Park on Saturday in a highly entertaining goalless draw, Hart again excelled, as he has since Sven-Goran Eriksson named him as his number one. The young keeper pulled off a string of saves, notably from Mark Noble and Dean Ashton, to underline his importance to City's cause.


Defenders

Derek Gearey (Sheffield United)

The Blades' excellent win at The Reebok over Premier League opponents Bolton was built on solid defence, in which Gearey at right-back was the star performer.


Dan Shittu (Watford)

The powerful centre-back helped Watford keep a clean-sheet as they ended Crystal Palace's 13-game unbeaten run. and he scored both the Hornets' goals in near-identical fashion to underline his value at set-pieces. Shittu headed in Lee Williamson's inswinging corner in the first-half, then headed home a Jodam Stewart corner midway through the second. Aidy Boothroyd will miss his services while he represents Nigeria in the African Cup of Nations.


Steve Taylor (Newcastle United)

This was a game Newcastle dare not lose, so keeping a clean-sheet was a first priority. And their normally suspect defence had to stand firm against concerted pressure from a lively and direct Stoke City. They did so, with Taylor the linchpin, his crowning moment being that heroic block on the goal-line from Jon Parkin. Taylor also hit the post at the other end.

Matthew Hamshaw (Mansfield Town)

Mansfield, second-from-bottom of League Two - that's 91st in England - have not won an away match all season in the League, and lost their last five on the road. Yet they went to Brighton in League One and secured a 2-1 victory, with left-back Hamshaw contributing at both ends, including taking advantage of some lax Brighton defending to fire low past Michel Kuipers and send the Stags on their way.


Midfielders

Aaron Ramsey (Cardiff City)

Cardiff were cast in the ole of party-poopers as they were up against the lowest-ranked team left in the Cup, non-league Chasetown. The Bluebirds were on a hiding to nothing but dealt with the situation (and going an own-goal down) well. Their star man was Ramsey, who celebrated his 17th birthday only on Boxing Day and who has just signed his first professional contract. Ramsey impressed in his first FA Cup tie and also headed home from close range to put Cardiff in control after the break with their crucial second goal in a 3-1 win.


Gary McDonald (Oldham Athletic)

Oldham appeared to have one of the toughest assignments of all, going to in-form Everton, but they rose to occasion superbly to beat the Premier League giants, the decisive goal coming on the stroke of half-time when McDonald found both the time and the space - as well as the technique - to send a superbly judged, dipping shot over Toffees' keeper Wessels to crown a fine all-round display.

Peter Halmosi (Plymouth Argyle)

Hungarian midfielder Halmosi was involved in all three of Plymouth's goals as the Pilgrims overcame Hull City 3-2 at Home Park. Halmosi's free-kick set up Nadjim Abdou to put them ahead, then scored Plymouth's second three minutes later from his own set-piece delivery at a free-kick. And he capped a mazy run by unselfishly setting up Sylvan Ebanks-Blake with the winning header.


Martin Petrov (Manchester City)

A frequent selection in the Premier League team of the week, Petrov was never far from Manchester City's best moves in the game against West Ham. Often at the centre of some slick passing moves, he was a thorn in the Hammers' side, cutting inside in the 16th minute and being brought down by Anton Ferdinand, though not earning a penalty, firing in a deep cross to the far post for Stephen Ireland. whose resulting volley was brilliantly tipped over by Rob Green, and tormenting Lucas Neill to such an extent that the Aussie was withdrawn at half-time.


Strikers

Michael Mifsud (Coventry City)

The Maltese Mosquito scored twice as Coventry swept aside Blackburn Rovers emphatically with arguably the weekend's most impressive scoreline - a 4-1 win at Ewood Park. Mifsud had scored twice when the Sky Blues humbled Manchester United in the Carling Cup earlier this season, and against Rovers he set Coventry on their way by hooking in a volley from 12 yards, then put the icing on a tasty cake with a ferocious drive in stoppage-time.

Drew Talbot (Luton Town)

Unquestionably the best striker on the Kenilworth Road pitch on the day, Talbot caused Liverpool problems all afternoon with his tireless and indefatigable leafing of the Luton Town line. He was a bundle of energy, constantly buzzing around the Reds' back-line and creating problems, and while with more composure he would have scored with two great chances, the second a close-range header from Darren Currie's cross, he was the provider when Luton equalised, crossing for John Arne Riise, under pressure from David Edwards, to put the ball into his own net.


Honourable Mentions

West Ham's Rob Green for that save from Ireland; Dean Brill, who was brilliant for Luton; and Heinz Muller, who shone for Barnsley, all impressed between the posts, while Edwin Van der Sar and Jens Lehmann did well on their returns to the Manchester United and Arsenal first-teams, respectively.

In defence, the Manchester United pair of Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand were again solid, while Kolo Toure showed the qualities that Arsenal will be missing during the African Nations Cup. Burnley's Jon Harley; goalscoring left-back Craig Hinton of Bristol Rovers; Liam Fontaine (also a scorer) from Rovers' rivals Bristol City; Norwich veteran Dion Dublin; Southend's Adam Barrett, Andreas Granqvist (Wigan), Swindon's Miguel Comminges and Richard Dunne of Manchester City all deserve a mention.

Among the midfielders, star performers included Danny Murphy (Fulham), Michael Ballack (very briefly, as a late substitute) for Chelsea, Peterborough's Charlie Lee, Simon Whaley of Preston, Andrew Surman (Southampton), Dean Morgan (Southend), Reading's Stephen Hunt, Steven Jennings (Tranmere), Ben Smith (Hereford), Matty Etherington and Mark Noble (both West Ham).

Striker Luke Beckett was outstanding for Huddersfield, scoring one and setting up the other in the Terriers' 2-1 victory over Birmingham. Dimitar Berbatov (Spurs) and Scott Rendell (Cambridge) both did well in their different ways. And Rocky Baptiste scored the precious equaliser for Havant & Waterlooville at Swansea. Other impressive strikers were Stoke's Ricardo Fuller, the in-form Arsenal striker Eduardo, Kenny Miller of Derby, Marcus Tudgay of Sheffield Wednesday and the classy Wayne Rooney, who lifted Manchester United several notches when he came off the bench.