Published 1/28/2007 1:40:37 AM by Staff from PremierLeague.com

Wayne Rooney stepped off the bench to secure Manchester United's passage into the fifth round of the FA Cup with a 2-1 win over Portsmouth at Old Trafford.

The England striker scored twice in the space of seven minutes to give United the upper hand, the first a tap-in from Ryan Giggs' cross and the second a sensational chipped effort from 20 yards.

Kanu deflected in Pedro Mendes's shot to pull a goal back for the visitors with three minutes remaining, but they ran out of time in their effort to take the tie to a replay.

United had earlier seen Nemanja Vidic's goalbound header cleared by Mendes, with replays suggesting the ball had crossed the line, and Henrik Larsson's volley harshly disallowed for offside.

Anthony McNamee's overhead kick was enough to dump West Ham United out and book Watford a place in the fifth round.

The Hammers were a shadow of the side which reached the final last year, with such verve and invention.   They dominated the second half but could not conjure any clear-cut openings as Watford sat back and held on to their lead.

The Hornets broke through three minutes before the interval when goalkeeper Roy Carroll rose above Christian Dailly and Darius Henderson but missed his punch - and the ball fell to McNamee, whose overhead effort beat the retreating Jonathan Spector.

Matt Derbyshire's rise to prominence continued as Blackburn Rovers ruthlessly swept aside Luton Town 4-0 to move into the fifth round.

The 20-year-old scored twice at Kenilworth Road to take his tally to five in his last six appearances while Benni McCarthy and Morten Gamst Pedersen also found the net.

Derbyshire, a lifelong Blackburn fan who initially worked as a coach in the club's community office before signing as a player in a £20,000 move from Great Harwood, is proving an increasingly influential figure for his hometown club.  He also showed notable bravery to set up the simplest of tap-ins for McCarthy as Rovers recorded a crushing victory which did not flatter them.

Aaron Lennon dazzled on the flanks as Tottenham Hotspur progressed at the expense of Southend with a 3-1 victory at White Hart Lane.  Robbie Keane had scored the opener before Lennon set up Jermaine Jenas for the second.  Freddy Eastwood’s penalty dragged the Championship’s bottom-placed club back into the tie but Lennon then created a goal for Mido to score.

A second-half fightback helped Bristol City earn a 2-2 draw to set up a fourth-round replay at Middlesbrough.

Boro grabbed an early lead at Ashton Gate when Adriano Basso could only parry Stewart Downing’s shot and Aiyegbeni Yakubu was on hand to fire in the rebound.

Malcolm Christie added a second for the Teessiders after 22 minutes from James Morrison’s pass. Richard Keogh pulled one back for the hosts in the 53rd minute and a fabulous strike from Scott Murray restored parity.

Reading beat Championship side Birmingham City 3-2 at St Andrews, the Royals forging ahead in the third minute when Dave Kitson’s swivel and shot beat Maik Taylor in the home goal.

Leroy Lita’s second after 40 minutes put Steve Coppell’s men in control but a collector’s item of a strike from Martin Taylor (47) brought the hosts back into it. However, Lita’s second ensured the Berkshire side went through despite Sebastian Larsson’s late free-kick.

In west London, Fulham came through as comfortable 3-0 winners against Championship side Stoke.  Vincenzo Montella, who grabbed two goals in the third-round replay victory over Leicester, was at it again to score from close range in the 11th minute after the Potters failed to clear a corner.  Brian McBride volleyed in a second seven minutes before half-time and the Cottagers made sure of victory with a third from Tomasz Radzinski.

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Blackpool secured a replay at Norwich after holding the Championship side to a 1-1 draw at Bloomfield Road.  Darren Huckerby’s goal on the stroke of half-time gave the visitors the lead but Ian Evatt’s header brought Blackpool level.

A solo effort from David Nugent and an 83rd-minute effort from Kelvin Wilson gave Preston a 2-0 win at Crystal Palace while Alan Lee’s 64th-minute penalty steered Ipswich past Swansea at Portman Road.

Barnet’s run came to an end with a 2-0 defeat at home to Plymouth. Hasney Aljofree scored the first goal from the penalty spot before Scott Sinclair, on loan from Chelsea, made the result safe.  Substitute Paul Peschisolido’s goal proved decisive for Derby at home to Bristol Rovers.

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