Neil Etheridge was Birmingham City’s hero as they booked their place in the fourth round of the FA Cup, but according to Roy Keane the goalkeeper was just doing his job.
Philippines international Etheridge tipped a long-range Regan Hendry effort onto the woodwork as the Blues looked to keep themselves in the tie against Forest Green Rovers. The next stop was perhaps even better, with the keeper getting back up to deny Matty Stevens on the rebound, and he then completed the heroic effort by clawing the ball away from an onrushing crowd of Forest Green players.
It proved decisive, with Birmingham coming from behind to win 2-1 and set up a fourth round meeting with Blackburn Rovers. It wasn’t enough to impress the famously hard-to-please Keane, though.
“That’s his job!” Keane said while breaking into a laugh. “I think they’re standard saves! That’s why he’s wearing gloves. It’s his job, honestly, pretty straightforward.”
Before Keane sent himself and the rest of the studio team into hysterics, fellow pundit Robert Earnshaw had suggested Stevens gave Etheridge too much of an opening to make the save. “If I’m looking at that I’m like ‘come on, go finish that,’ the former Wales striker said.
The game between Forest Green and Birmingham had been postponed due to a waterlogged pitch, and the League One side had a giant-killing in their sights in the rearranged fixture when Ben Stevenson put them in front. However, Lukas Jutkiewicz equalised and then – after Etheridge’s triple save – Kevin Long scored the visitors’ winner.
Was Etheridge just doing his job? Have your say in the comments section
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BBC)
Birmingham’s win wasn’t the only midweek FA Cup success as all but one of the third round ties was resolved. Accrington Stanley and Boreham Wood are the only sides waiting, after their replay was postponed until January 24.
Liverpool and Leeds United were among the sides to claim victories at the second attempt. Jurgen Klopp’s team won narrowly at Wolves thanks to a long-range Harvey Elliott goal, while Jesse Marsch’s men put five past Cardiff City with Willy Gnonto and Patrick Bamford both bagging braces.
The pick of the fourth round ties sees the Premier League’s top two face off. Arsenal and Manchester City will be meeting for the first time this season when they do battle at the Etihad Stadium when they face off on January 27.
That is one of several games picked for TV, including another all-Premier League clash between Brighton and Liverpool. Non-league Wrexham will also be televised as they seek another scalp against Championship high-flyers Sheffield United, while a potential giant-killing between Derby and West Ham is among the other match-ups being shown live.
