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maltatoday SUNDAY 7 JANUARY 2018 53 FOOTBALL Sports Valletta edge past Senglea Athletic Valletta .................... 1 Senglea Athletic ........ 0 WARREN ZAMMIT VALLETTA went close after twenty minutes. Joseph Zerafa hit a shot that forced a good save from Matthew Farrugia. On the 24th minute, Farrugia was alert once more as he de- nied Michael Mifsud. A minute later, Umeh Uchenna Calistus sent a cross from the left that was met by debutant Albert Prosa whose shot forced another save from Farrugia. On the 35th minute, Farrugia proved worthy once more as he denied Denni Rocha Dos San- tos. Senglea hit back on the 42nd minute. Ivan Paz hit a shot from a free-kick that was saved by Henry Bonello. Valletta went ahead on the 57th minute. Following a cross from the left, a defender han- dled the ball inside the penalty area and the referee ordered a penalty. Denni took charge of the shot from eleven metres and finished inside the net. The last opportunity of the match was created by Valletta on the 77th minute. Santiago Malano's cross from a cor- ner went into the path of Kyr- ian Nwoko who headed slightly over. Valletta starting line-up: Henry Bonello, Ryan Camilleri, Juan Gill Cruz, Santiago Malano, Mi- chael Mifsud, Jean Borg , Umeh Uchenna Calistus, Joseph Zer- afa, Albert Prosa, Denni Rocha Dos Santos, Romeu Pericles Ro- mao Senglea Athletic starting line- up: Matthew Farrugia, Jonathan Bondin, Steve Bonnici, Gonzalo Leyton, Matias Garcia, Sergio Osagho Uyi, Ivan Paz, Gonzalo Virano, Terrence Vella, Augusto Rene Caserers, Peter Paul Sam- mut Referee: Fyodor Zammit Assistant Referees: Luke Por- telli, Sammy Attard Fourth Of ficial: Alan Mario Sant BOV Player of the Match: Den- ni Rocha Dos Santos (Valletta) PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRISTINE BORG Valletta kept the pace with Balzan as they secured a narrow 1-0 win over Senglea Athletic Coventry pile misery on Stoke, Chelsea held by Norwich Fourth-tier Coventry City piled on the misery for Stoke City manager Mark Hughes by pulling off the only genuine upset on a hectic day of FA Cup third-round action yesterday. FORMER Cup winners Cov- entry, now plying their trade in the bottom division of the Football League, revived mem- ories of happier times as Jor- dan Willis and Jack Grimmer scored the goals in a 2-1 vic- tory at the Ricoh Arena. Elsewhere, the 25 ties offered only crumbs for the romantics seeking Cup magic although second tier Norwich City did hold champions Chelsea to a 0-0 draw. Top-f light Bournemouth needed a late Steve Cook goal to draw 2-2 at home to League One leaders and 2013 Cup winners Wigan Athletic and Leicester City drew 0-0 at third-tier Fleetwood Town who struck the post in stop- page-time. Chelsea manager Antonio Conte made nine changes and his side struggled to make clear-cut chances in a dour game at Norwich who created the better opportunities. Runaway Premier League leaders Manchester City main- tained their pursuit of an un- precedented four trophies, Sergio Aguero scoring twice as they came from a goal down to beat Burnley 4-1. Goals by Leroy Sane and Ber- nardo Silva killed off Burnley who had led at halftime thanks to an Ashley Barnes effort. Several clubs in the thick of the Premier League relegation battle survived potential ba- nana skins. Alan Pardew enjoyed his first win as West Bromwich Albion manager as his team beat fourth-tier Exeter City 2-0, Southampton overcame Championship Fulham 1-0 and bottom club Swansea City held on for a worthy 0-0 draw at free-scoring Championship leaders Wolverhampton Wan- derers. Seven-times Cup winners Aston Villa, fifth in the Cham- pionship, lost 3-1 at home to third-tier Peterborough United while Brentford, also from the second tier, were humbled by fourth-tier Notts County with Jon Stead scoring the winner. Stoke manager Hughes would have hoped for respite after his side's tumble into the Premier League's relegation zone, but there was none coming in the Midlands clash as they suf- fered a sixth defeat in the last eight matches. "It's clearly a difficult time for us. When we make mistakes, they're getting penalised," Hughes said. "We're all under pressure. I can take the pressure and the focus. I'm not naive and I re- alise people will talk about my position. But we've got good owners who will make the right decisions for the club." Coventry won the Cup in 1987 but have been on a downward spiral since they were relegated from the top f light in 2001 and are in England's bottom tier for the first time since 1959. But there are signs of a re- vival and the mood was, for a change, joyous on Saturday. Willis headed Coventry in front and although Charlie Adam levelled for Stoke from the penalty spot Grimmer fired home Coventry's winner in the 68th minute. Manager Mark Robins said he would love to draw his old club Manchester United in round four. "For us it's brilliant, we're in the fourth-round draw. Hope- fully, we'll get a big club away from home - United away would be perfect," he said. Newcastle United scored three times in nine minutes - Ayoze Perez with two - to see off League Two leaders Luton Town while fellow top-f light side Watford made light of a poor recent run to beat sec- ond-tier high-f liers Bristol City who are in League Cup semi-fi- nal action against Manchester City next week. In a north-east derby, Mid- dlesbrough deepened Sunder- land's gloom with a 2-0 victory at the Riverside Stadium. FA Cup holders Arsenal face Nottingham Forest today. Coventry City's Jack Grimmer celebrates scoring their second goal as Stoke City's Stephen Ireland looks dejected