Sheff Utd overturn Aston Villa in FA Cup third round shock, Man City draw with Blackburn

ASTON Villa was dumped out of the FA Cup by Sheffield United in the biggest shock of the third round, while 10-man Man City was held by Blackburn.

Sheff Utd overturn Villa in FA Cup

ASTON Villa was dumped out of the FA Cup by third-tier side Sheffield United in the biggest shock of the third round, while 10-man Manchester City was held by Blackburn.

Villa's humbling came days after manager Paul Lambert branded the cup as a "distraction," but rather than making wholesale changes, it was still a strong side that lost 2-1.

Jamie Murphy's deflected shot and Ryan Flynn's strike steered Sheffield United into the fourth round, with Nicklas Helenius scoring Villa's only goal.

Blackburn earned a replay against City after goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon fumbled Rudy Gestede's header before Scott Dann rushed in to sweep the ball into the net to cancel out Alvaro Negredo's opener.

City was left hanging on to the 1-1 draw after Dedryck Boyata was sent off in the 85th minute when a foul on D.J. Campbell earned him a second yellow card.

Southampton squeezed into the fourth round by beating Burnley 4-3, while holder Wigan, which was relegated from the Premier League after winning the cup in May, was held to 3-3 by M.K. Dons.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's reign as Cardiff manager began with a 2-1 win at Newcastle. After Papiss Cisse put the Magpies in front at St. James' Park, substitutes Craig Noone and Fraizer Campbell hit back with goals for the south Wales club.

In another all-Premier League clash, Dwight Gayle and Marouane Chamakh gave Crystal Palace a 2-0 win at West Bromwich Albion, while Arsenal hosted north London rival Tottenham in the late game.

In surprising results involving lower-league sides, Leeds of the second-tier League Championship lost 2-0 at fourth-tier side Rochdale, and non-league club Macclesfield - the lowest ranking team still in the cup - earned a replay at Championship club Sheffield Wednesday by drawing 1-1.