LONDON — Demba Ba made an instant impact with two goals on his Chelsea debut as the holder romped to an emphatic 5-1 victory at Southampton in the FA Cup third round Saturday. Newcastle United, the club Ba left on Friday, continued its dismal run of form with a 2-0 defeat at Championship (second tier) side Brighton and Hove Albion — a rare upset on one of the most eagerly-awaited days in the English season. Goals from Andrea Orlandi and Will Hoskins earned Brighton a repeat of their fourth round victory over Premier League Newcastle last season, condemning Alan Pardew's side to an 11th defeat in 14 matches. Major shocks were non-existent although Cardiff City, currently romping away at the top of the Championship, was beaten 2-1 at minor league Macclesfield Town — which reached the fourth round for the first time. Minor league Luton Town also beat second tier Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-0. Several clubs struggling in the Premier League flirted with defeats against lower league opposition but survived. Fulham drew 1-1 at home to Blackpool, third tier Bournemouth earned a replay with Wigan Athletic after holding them to a 1-1 draw while Sunderland drew 2-2 at Bolton Wanderers who were relegated from the top flight last season. Reading had to come from a goal down to beat third tier Crawley Town 3-1 away. South coast seventh-tier minnow Hastings United, the lowliest survivor of the 758 clubs which began the 132nd edition of the knockout competition in August, had its fairytale cut short in a 4-1 defeat at Middlesbrough. Premier League champion Manchester City, winner of the competition in 2011, eased into the fourth round with a 3-0 defeat of Gianfranco Zola's Championship side Watford. Tottenham Hotspur's fine run of form continued with Clint Dempsey scoring twice in a 3-0 home victory over third tier Coventry City, the side they lost to in the 1987 FA cup final. Lampard joins Dixon on 193 Chelsea goals Frank Lampard became Chelsea's joint second highest goal-scorer of all time alongside Kerry Dixon when he converted a penalty in the 5-1 win at Southampton. England midfielder Lampard's second-half penalty, the fifth of the game for the FA Cup holders, put him on 193 career goals for the London club. Bobby Tambling leads the way with 202 goals. Lampard, 34, who came on in the 64th minute for Branislav Ivanovic, smashed home his spot kick 18 minutes later after a cross from fellow substitute Marko Marin was handled. The penalty also helped Lampard join Tambling as the club's highest FA Cup scorer on 25 goals. Drogba could move to Italy Former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba could move to either AC Milan or Juventus in the January transfer window, according to his agent Carlos Arino Bajo. In an interview with the Italian website tuttomercatoweb.com, Bajo said Drogba had been in contact with both Serie A clubs over a potential transfer after only six months with Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua. “I think there is a good chance that he might come to Italy now,” Bajo said. “There is genuine interest from Juventus, AC Milan and Didier himself regarding the transfer. “There has been contact with Milan and Juventus to understand the contract situation with the Chinese and we will have further contact and meetings with them both next week. “He would love to compete in one of the world's best leagues like the Italian Serie A.” However Juventus coach Antonio Conte said on Saturday he knew nothing about a possible transfer by the 34-year-old Ivory Coast captain. “I keep reading about Drogba but the club have never proposed him to me or vice versa,” he said at Juve's pre-match news conference Saturday ahead of their clash with Sampdoria. — Agencies
