Reds hit by new racism claimLONDON – If Blackburn and Wigan were hoping for some respite in the FA Cup amid their miserable campaigns in the English Premier League, they were to be sorely mistaken. The topflight's two bottom teams were the big casualties as world football's oldest knockout competition threw up a typically mixed bag of results in the third round Saturday. Argentine midfielder Jonas Gutierrez scored the winner in the fifth minute of stoppage time as Newcastle snatched a 2-1 victory over Blackburn in one of the round's two all-Premier League matches. In the day's biggest giantkilling act, fourth-tier Swindon – managed by former West Ham forward Paolo Di Canio – rallied to beat Wigan 2-1 at the County Ground. It wasn't all plain sailing for the rest of the Premier League teams either. Queens Park Rangers required a last-minute equalizer by Heidar Helguson to secure a 1-1 draw and a replay against third-tier MK Dons while David Wheater's 77th-minute header earned Bolton a 2-2 draw at Macclesfield, which plays in England's fourth division. Tottenham, which is third in the Premier League, avoided what would have been the mightiest upset by easing past fourth-tier Cheltenham 3-0 thanks to goals by attacking trio Jermain Defoe, Roman Pavlyuchenko and Giovani dos Santos. Some of the famous romance of the cup was lost as Tamworth, Fleetwood and Salisbury were all defeated, ensuring there won't be any non-league teams in the fourth-round draw. Everton beat Tamworth 2-0 after goals by defenders Johnny Heitinga and Leighton Baines and fellow fifth-tier team Fleetwood was thrashed 5-1 at home by northwest rival Blackpool. Salisbury, which at 17th in the sixth-tier Conference South was the lowest-ranked club left in the competition, was defeated 3-1 at Sheffield United. United States midfielder Clint Dempsey scored a hat trick in Fulham's 4-0 home win over Charlton, Ireland striker Simon Cox did the same for West Bromwich Albion in a 4-2 win at Cardiff City while Premier League teams Aston Villa, Stoke and Norwich also progressed. Liverpool beat Oldham 5-1 Friday. Aston Villa beat Bristol Rovers 3-1 away, Stoke won 3-1 at Gillingham and Norwich defeated Burnley 4-1 at home. Liverpool was at the center of another race row Friday after Oldham player Tom Adeyemi was alleged to have been racially abused by a supporter at Anfield. The incident happened toward the end of the match and comes as the club is on the defensive over the handling of the Luis Suarez affair. Adeyemi, who is on loan at Oldham from Premier League side Norwich, seemed to be in tears, and Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard moved across to the corner of the ground where the incident occurred, and comforted the 20-year-old.
