A few of us had the weekend off. Many fantasy managers, the Blackburn defence and the entire Bolton first eleven it seems. Did anyone muster some effort for the poor FA Cup? Well, yes they did – so it’s worth having a closer look at what happened. Read my thoughts on this weekend’s Cup action and what it means when the real business starts again…

Wenger gave run outs to some of his younglings along with some first-teamers about to depart for the African Cup of Nations (ACN). Toure and Eboue played their last games before departing for Ghana then. Senderos came in alongside Toure and seems likely to replace him in the defence against Birmingham at the weekend. Lehmann got a rare start in goal for Almunia and it was Bendtner and Eduardo up front. They did the business with he goals that saw off a brave Burnley performance. Eduardo caught the eye again. Van Persie could be fit to return against Birmingham but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him kept in reserve with Eduardo keeping his place alongside Adebayor in a 4-4-2. The Croatian is looking very sharp and deserves his place right now – we’ll see how he gets on on Wednesday when a similar Arsenal side is set to take on Spurs in the Carling Cup. Flamini served his one-match ban in this game.

There’s little to note from the Villa vs United clash other than the return to fitness of Carew for Villa and more significantly, Rooney for United. He should be an automatic choice against Newcastle at the weekend, given the fact that Tevez is still nursing a bruised ankle. Van der Sar also returned in this game and Brown played his last game before serving a one-match ban.

Birmingham were almost at full strength at Huddersfield. O’Connor got a second consecutive start, this time with Forssell with Jerome benched. De Ridder came in for Johnson who, like Nafti was sidelined with an injury. Jaidi moved on to the suspension tightrope with his fourth booking but, like Nafti, will now depart for the ACN. Parnaby is fit once again and was on the bench here.

Blackburn rested players and payed the ultimate price against Coventry. Bentley’s goal a consolation but reminder again of his value. Emerton picked up a knock on the hour-mark. Derbyshire was fit enough for the bench and came on in the second-half. He could well start at Bolton with Santa Cruz still a doubt and McCarthy still desperately low on confidence.

Bolton rested even more and suffered a similar fate. All the pre-match talk surrounded the omission of Anelka but Megson certainly did a good job to divert the speculation by resting almost his entire first choice eleven. Hunt returned to fitness to come in at right-back. Dzemaili also returned from long-term injury while Tamr Cohen made his debut in midfield. Neither seem likely to figure in next weekend’s game with Blackburn with the likes of Campo, Guthrie and Nolan all set to return. Davies served his one-match ban here so he’ll return at the weekend.

Talking of bans, I couldn’t help but raise a cynical smile when I saw Diouf had won the race to be the first Premiership player to ten bookings. He’s now due to start a two-match ban next Saturday but of course, he will serve this ban whilst away with Senegal at the ACN. Handy eh?

Chelsea put out a fairly strong side against QPR with only Ballack and Joe Cole rested to the bench. They sat alongside Drogba who was fit enough to get into the sixteen. He’ll join up with the Ivory Coast after this game while Obi, Essien and Kalou will also join him out in Ghana.

Grant once again rotated the full-back slots bringing in Ferreira for Belletti, while Ashley Cole came in for Bridge who was out of the sixteen. There’s still no sign or news of Cech. Chelsea face Everton in the Carling Cup on Tuesday so we might get some more clues on that situation and Grant’s likely lineup for the Spurs game, then. Essien served his one-match ban before leaving for the ACN.

Derby put themselves in Monday’s draw with a gutsy fightback from 2-0 down against Wednesday. Jewell has so many injuries right now – he doesn’t have a second-string to put out. Mears added to that list here by picking up a knock – he was subbed after half-an-hour. Jewell did at least have Todd back available to him after months out with a back injury, while new loan signing, Danny Mills, also started. Miller and Barnes got the goals to claw Derby back into the game. Fitting really as they remain the only two Derby players even worth considering in fantasy terms.

Everton were another of the Premiership sides who gambled on resting players, only to end up red-faced. With the Carling Cup semi with Chelsea on Tuesday, Moyes left out the likes of Howard, Lescott, Neville and Yakubu. Yobo was still out with a foot injury while Cahill had returned to light training in the week but wasn’t risked, clearly with the Chelsea game in mind.

Yakubu and Yobo are available to Moyes on Wednesday the leave to join up with the Nigerian ACN squad. Pienaar played his last game before joining the South African squad. Their absence should give opportunities to the likes of Gravesen and Vaughan but Moyes was clearly disappointed with their display here, subbing them both in the second-half. Baines played at left-back but was replaced with Lescott with fifteen minutes remaining. It’s still not clear whether Stubbs will get the nod over Baines in the side – Tuesday will offer us more clues when Lescott is sure to be selected either at full-back or alongside Jagielka in the centre.

It was shaky stuff from Hodgson’s Fulham against League One Bristol Rovers. Hodgson obviously fancies Volz – playing him again from the off. He paid him back with an assist here. Elsewhere Smertin got a start in midfield for Davis. Bouazza came back in after suspension on the left of midfield but picked up an injury to his arm and was subbed before the half-hour mark. Hodgson was without Kamara who is off to the ACN so Healy was recalled up front with Dempsey and did himself some favours with the opening goal.

Luton will hope to attract a saviour on Monday after earning themselves a replay at Anfield with a superb performance against a tired Liverpool side. Not surprisingly, Rafa rested a few for the trip to Luton but resisted going rotation crazy. Reina got a day off, as did Torres. Itandje started in goal with Crouch coming in up front with Kuyt. Arbeloa was sidelined so Hyypia returned from an ankle injury alongside Carragher. Aurellio was also out so Riise got the left-back berth. Gerrard picked up a knock against Wigan so Lucas came in to a midfield that also included Alonso and Babel. Mascherano and Kewell dropping out. It will be all change for the trip to Boro, injuries permitting.

Southgate need a Boro win at Ashton Gate and he got one. Just. He took few chances with his lineup but was without Woodgate through a hamstring injury and Boateng who appears to be on the move. O’Neil was suspended while Lee was dropped to the bench and Tuncay rested. Wheater came back in after suffering from illness over Christmas – he duly scored the winner as a reminder of the knack he has of finding the net. The victory came at a price, Arca and Cattermole picked up their fifth bookings here and will both be out of the Liverpool game.

Newcastle survived at Stoke with a battling performance which included…wait for it…some solid defending. Evidence that Allardyce is sorting his backline out just as he loses half of it to the ACN. Today he was without Milner through illness so Duff move to the right-wing with Nzogbia on the left and Enrique behind him. Rozenhal was brought in at right-back – he could get a run in that position with Beye off to the ACN although Carr is said to be available. Martins is also off to that tournament so Owen started with Viduka up front. Allardyce has reportedly struck a deal to get Martins back for the trip to Old Trafford at the weekend and he’ll need him – Owen looked off the pace here. Butt, like Diouf, picked up his tenth booking of the season here. He’ll miss the replay and the Premiership clash with Bolton on January 19.

Smith skippered the side from midfield alongside Butt. Smith is set to continue here with Geremi away at the ACN and Barton’s still unavailable while Newcastle look into his bail conditions.

Portsmouth were another Premiership side taking no chances. Harry put out an almost full-strength lineup at Ipswich. Benjani and Muntari did get rests with Mvuemba coming into a wide midfield role and Kanu coming in up front. Mendes replaced Hughes in midfield. He’s likely to be recalled at Sunderland at the weekend as Diop, Utaka, Muntari and Kanu all depart for the ACN. Nugent appeared as a second-half sub as Harry went to 4-4-2. His goal could well put him on the verge of a start, although Harry is likely to go with 4-5-1 with Benjani recalled at the weekend.

The absence of Taylor from the bench adds further fuel to the suggestion that he is about to depart Fratton Park although Harry is insisting he can’t let him go with so many ACN absentee’s. Pamarot was a notable name on the bench having returned from a hamstring injury. He could well come in for Hreidarsson at Sunderland. Hreidarsson moved on to four bookings for the season with the yellow here.

Sunderland’s defeat to fellow strugglers Wigan will have alarmed Keane, particularly as he put a new look back four which is likely to be his defence against Portsmouth at the weekend. This saw McShane move to right-back with Whitehead moving to a more familiar midfield role. New loan signing Evans, came in at centre-back alongside Nosworthy who returned from injury. Higginbotham was out with a broken toe. Elsewhere Keane gave rare starts to Kavanagh and O’Donovan. Waghorn also got another run out.

Wigan also rested a few with Bruce giving a start to Olembe at left-back, pushing Kilbane into midfield in a 4-4-2. Koumas and Skoko also started as did Taylor with Valencia, Brown and Landzaat rested. Heskey and Sibierski formed the striker partnership with Bent rested. Granqvist came in for the suspended Bramble.

Wigan have a couple injury concerns. Most significantly for fantasy managers, Taylor picked up a knock and was subbed after just fifteen minutes. Sibierski was also in the wars and was hauled off just before half-time.

It was a full strength Spurs side that was held by a weakened Reading. Ramos didn’t muck about but could have paid the price. Huddlestone picked up a red for violent conduct and he now faces a three-match ban, pending an appeal. Jenes and Zokora also picked up their fifth bookings. Both will miss the visit to Chelsea along with Huddlestone, although Zokora is absent regardless at the ACN. That’s likely to see Spurs go to Stamford Bridge with O’Hara and Boateng in central midfield.

Another notable event in this match was the Spurs penalty. Keane earned the spot-kick but Berbatov fired it home. Keane had previously missed the last two so it appears he has now handed duties over to his strike partner. He has previously taken penalties he’s earned.

Reading put out a second-string lineup as expected. Hunt and Convey were the only regular first choice players on show. Duberry returned from injury to lineup in defence – he is likely to start at Villa at the weekend with Sonko and Bikey both away at the ACN.

West Ham and City went full strength for their tie at Upton Park. Curbishley dropped Spector with Ashton coming in to a 4-4-2. Ferdinand lined up with Upson in central defence. Etherington returned from injury to take Ljungberg’s place – he strained his hamstring again at Arsenal last time out. Bowyer was also back from a hernia op and appeared as a second-half sub for Mullins. West Ham lost skipper Lucas Neill to injury. He was replaced by Spector at half-time and will be a doubt for the home game with Fulham.

Sven made one change from the side he put out at Newcastle with Castillo handed a debut. He came in for Elano who was rested from the sixteen. Corluka was once again in midfield with Onuoha at right-back. Sven seems to have settled on this with Johnson injured. The pair have lined up like that over the last six outings. Ball kept Garrido on the bench – he too looks to be settled having started the last six. Both Ball and Onuoha offer decent budget options then – although the trip to Goodison at the weekend will be a hard-earned clean sheet.