Villa, West Brom advance in FA Cup

LONDON (AP):

Aston Villa avoided FA Cup embarrassment in this miserable season by overcoming fourth-tier Wycombe at the second attempt, winning a replay 2-0 to reach the fourth round yesterday.

But Villa took 75 minutes to find a breakthrough against a team from England's lowest professional league, with Ciaran Clark heading the Premier League's bottom side in front.

Villa's passage to a January 30 meeting with Manchester City was not secured until Idrissa Gana netted his first goal for the club in the 90th.

West Bromwich Albion also won their third-round replay, with Salomon Rondon scoring early in the second half to clinch a 1-0 win over second-tier Bristol City, and a home match next against fourth-tier Peterborough.

Chelsea discovered their fourth-round opponents after M.K. Dons eliminated Northampton 3-0.

There are no non-league teams remaining in the competition after Eastleigh lost 3-2 at second-tier Bolton.