Altidore did not dress for Sunderland in their 1-0 FA Cup victory over Southampton. Fabian Johnson got the start for Hoffenheim, currently leading Stuttgart 2-0, 53'. Johnson having a very quiet match thus far.
Shea did not dress for Barnsley. Packwood started in central defense for Birmingham; Holmes did not dress for Huddersfield. Huddersfield lead 1-0 at halftime. Packwood one of the least poor in a poor first half performance for Birmingham. Ream started at left back for Bolton. Quiet first half for him, with Bolton leading Milwall 1-0 at HT.
Stuttgart pull one back with a header off a corner kick, 3-1, 79'. One minute later, Leithner gets sent off for a 2nd yellow, and Stuttgart are down to 10 men.
Penalty for Hoffenheim, Firmino buries it, 4-1 in stoppage time. And FT. Quiet match for Johnson, but he did go 90'. Hoffenheim spent most of the match attacking in the Stuttgart half.
Woolford ties it up for Milwall vs. Bolton, 1-1, 82'. Goal came from the opposite side from where Ream is playing. Edit: also, Jutkiewicz had a penalty kick for Bolton saved in the 78', could have made it 2-0.
FT, Millwall 1 - Bolton 1. FT Birmingham 1 - Huddersfield 2. Lovenkrands pulled one back for Birmingham in the 90', but too little, too late. Packwood rated 2nd best player for Birmingham on the day.
It's likely just a rest issue. Fletch is still out, so there's nobody that could actually replace Jozy in the lineup. Probably just saving him for Man City on the 20th followed by Arsenal on the 22nd. Crucial point or two if they can get them...
Matt Taylor didn't make it off the bench today as Münster defeated Elversberg 2-1 Dominique Fennell went 90 as the Stuttgarter Kickers defeated Osnabrück 1-0. Apparently he had a shot that just missed in the 7th minute.
Hello!! Are you awake in the back row? Please pay attention! (S'land are fighting relegation, in the finals v Man City of the other cup and would have been almost better off to lose this game - from a too many games and all we really want to do is stay up - perspective. Poyet made pretty wholesale change to the side, gave Scocco a run out and, true to form, S'land scored off a poor S'hampton clearance, rather than actual service to the striker. Southampton inexplicably put out a weaker side than S'land did, from the looks of it.)
Next up is Bedoya and Nice vs. Nantes, in about 2 hours from now. Conflicting reports as to whether Bedoya is healthy enough to participate. Juan and Aron are on 45 minutes after that.
Some mentions of Scocco and Wickham (they guys who are going to kick Jozy to the kerb/curb) from telegraphs always fun matchtracker: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/fo...nd-v-Southampton-FA-Cup-fifth-round-live.html 1 min Scocco, who hasn't played since November having arrived from South American football in the transfer window, has half a sight of the Southampton goal but his touch lets him down. 20 min Sunderland's turn to put a neat attack together with Cattermole searching out Borini who feeds the ball into Scocco's feet in the area and he tees up Borini again for a cross that Gardner just fails to reach first at the back post. 22 min Sunderland, having a good spell, come forward again with Gardner trying to feed a cute pass infield to Scocco but, again, Southampton get enough men around the ball to snuff out the danger. For all of the Saints' success this season, and Sunderland's struggles, the Mackems haven't lost in three previous meetings with Pochettino's side this season. 47 min Scocco runs in behind Southampton but he's offside. Thirty seconds later Gardner runs in behind Southampton and he's offside as well. I believe it is customary to mention something about George Graham's Arsenal at this point. 66 min Connor Wickham, standing 6ft 8ins, of which seven inches is fringe, comes on for Ignacio Scocco who has been a game runner but had little positive influence. Wickham scored eight goals in 11 games on loan at Sheff Wed over the winter and has been linked with a return to Hillsborough but can stake a claim for a regular place with his parent club with a strong showing here. 73 min Big moment for Wickham who ghosts in behind a static visiting defence but just cannot get a toe to Larsson's excellent through ball and Davis is able to claim. 80 min Now Wickham is flagged offside. Linesman is going to need to put his elbow on ice tonight. BLT for me I think. Or Chinese chicken.
Scocco went 69', rated 6.5 by WhoScored; his replacement Wickham rated 6.13. Altidore's starting spot seems safe based on these performances.
Will Packwood is starting for Birmingham in their clash vs. Huddersfield. I'm unsure if Duane Holmes is on the bench for Huddersfield. HTFC are up 1-0 in the 40th min. Packwood not at fault and looking decent as HTFC have put BC under considerable pressure all half. Game is on BeIN Sports. Edit: Damn, I should have read the thread! Didn't realize Packwood was mentioned and this game was a replay. I guess the match that was scheduled for this time slot was PPD due to the nasty weather in England.