The Premier League program took a back seat this weekend as the third round of the FA Cup got underway. Following a hectic festive schedule, many top-flight managers made wholesale changes with varying degrees of success, though those bosses who did opt for near full-strength starting XI’s were rewarded in the main. Here’s the dispatches from yesterday’s cup ties…

Arsene Wenger made plenty changes for the Gunners’ tie with Leeds, resting the likes of Samir Nasri and Robin Van Persie after the pair picked up knocks in the recent home draw with Man City. Johan Djourou was again selected to start in the centre of defence, with Nicklas Bendtner earning a start wide right as Marouanne Chamakh was re-installed as the lone forward for Arsenal. Bendtner and Andrei Arshavin missed plenty chances for the home side and it took the introduction of subs Theo Walcott and Cesc Fabregas to respectively earn and convert a late penalty to prevent Wenger’s side slipping to defeat. A draw, though, only adds to their busy fixture list, with the Carling Cup semi final against Ipswich just round the corner.

Alex McLeish made seven changes for Birmingham’s visit to Millwall, giving starts to Nikola Zigic and Alexander Hleb. Following a start against Blackpool last game week, Matt Derbyshire kept his place up front and responded with two goals. Zigic again disappointed, and Cameron Jerome took just two minutes to find the net after replacing him on 70 minutes.

A strong Everton line-up easily saw off Scunthorpe, with Toffees fans witnessing Louis Saha’s second goal in as many matches. Jermaine Beckford also netted, as did Fantasy Premier League favourites Leighton Baines and Seamus Coleman. Just three changes from the side that played Spurs last midweek saw Mikel Arteta benched for the away trip as David Moyes’ men followed up their fine win against Harry Redknapp‘s high-flyers. Beckford, in particular, impressed throughout and earned the praise of Everton assistant boss Steve Round for his performance.

Bolton’s favoured front two, Kevin Davies and Johan Elmander, were benched for the home tie with York City and it took the pair’s second half introduction for Owen Coyle’s side to see off the visitors. A goal apiece late in the game was enough to seal the Trotter’s progress by two goals to nil.

Blackburn made three notable changes for their home tie with QPR from the side which so resolutely beat Liverpool in midweek. David Dunn, Martin Olsson and team captain Chris Samba (who is still at the moment intimating he wants to leave the club) were all given a complete rest. Young Canadian striker Junior Hoillet’s first goal for the club provided the difference in the end as Rovers beat Rangers by a goal to nil. Gael Givet needed to be substituted after just half an hour but is expected to make a recovery in time for our return to Premier League action next weekend.

West Brom traveled to Reading and took the chance to give Bo Myhill a rare start as well as giving Peter Odemwingie a good spell of rest which saw Ishmael Miller start up front. Jara and Barnes also came in for Mulumbu and Thomas. The Baggies wound out on the end of a 1-0 defeat thanks to a Shane Long goal. The return of Jonas Olsson from injury was a bright spot for West Brom only for it to be soured just 14 minutes into his substitutes appearance as he was sent off for two bookable offences.

Wolves made just four changes from the side that beat Chelsea midweek, but Mick McCarthy’s side’s defensive frailties again emerged as they threw away a 1-0 lead at Doncaster; in the end it took a Stephen Hunt penalty away to prevent them from exiting the cup at the first time of asking.

With just one home league defeat to their name, Sunderland were strong favourites to dispose of Notts County but Steve Bruce made several changes -including the introduction of Marcos Angeleri and Paolo da Silva to the back four and benching Jordan Henderson and Ahmed Almuhamady till the 60th minute- which ultimately backfired. Darren Bent and Asamoah Gyan played the full 90 minutes, though, and despite a Bent penalty, the Black Cats went down 2-1. Bruce will be looking for a response in their next game- up next is a home match with Newcastle and a chance to avenge their 5-1 St James’ Park mauling earlier this season.

Newcastle were the recipients of another of the big ”cupsets” of the day as they traveled to Stevenage and left empty handed after the League Two club earned a deserved 3-1 victory over the Toon Army. A sorry day for much of the North-East as the aforementioned Sunderland and Middlesbrough also crashed out. Peripheral players such as Tim Krul, Alan Smith, James Perch and Wayne Routledge all came into the fray on a disappointing day and performance from Newcastle. Joey Barton scored a well taken goal but there was little to be happy about.

To compound measures Cheik Tiote was given a straight red card for a high challenge, but Alan Pardew has confirmed he will appeal this ruling. If Newcastle are unsuccessful then Tiote will miss Newcastle’s next three Premier League fixtures on top of already being one yellow card away from a 2 game ban.

Tony Pulis used the FA Cup, as with most managers, to give some of his most important players a little respite following the hectic Premier League schedule. The likes of Kenwyne Jones, Matty Etherington, Asimir Begovic, Rory Delap and Dean Whitehead all sat on the bench or out completely and so it was left to regular bit-part player Tuncay to dig the Potters out of a hole as they drew one-all at home to Cardiff, forcing a replay with the Bluebirds in a little over a weeks time.

If Wigan had put out a side any more ‘reserve’ for their trip to Hull then they would be at risk of being forced on the next flight to Kabul or Baghdad. With that in our pocket’s it’s hard to take much from a fantasy perspective from this game. New signing Adrian Lopez made his Latics debut while youngster Callum McManaman put in a spirited performance in his first start for the club and was rewarded with a goal for his efforts. Most of the XI playing today will be expected to be back on the bench but Mohamed Diame stood up as a senior member of the side to score the other two goals in a 3-2 victory.

Mark Hughes fielded a nigh-on full strength side which again saw Carlos Salcido benched in favour of Chris Baird at left-back. Baird kept up his recent good form with an assist but it was Diomansy Kamara who grabbed the headlines with a hat-trick as Fulham hit Peterborough for six. The forward has only just recovered from injury and Hughes will be hoping he can stay fit ahead of a vital double gameweek (STK, liv) in week 24.

Aston Villa brought a little relief to under-fire boss Gerard Houllier with a 3-1 win at Stockport which saw Kyle Walker net on his debut. The right-back, on loan from Tottenham, put the visitors ahead and Marc Albrighton once again impressed, grabbing the second. Stewart Downing was benched in favour of Robert Pires and Barry Bannan started instead of Stilian Petrov, though the Bulgarian sealed the game late on, scoring from an Albrighton assist. Ashley Young saw two yellows, meaning he’ll be suspended for Villa’s next match, the Midlands derby away to Birmingham.

Ian Holloway has never hidden his priority is to keep Blackpool in the Premier League and his team sheet for the trip to Southampton was a reflection of this thinking: nine changes were made from the team that lost at home to Birmingham last Tuesday and the bench was littered with youth players. As a result, the Seasiders were sunk 2-0, though with a critical home league game against Liverpool this coming Wednesday, Holloway has ensured that Charlie Adam and co have remained fresh. With two double game weeks still on the horizon, Blackpool Fantasy Owners will no doubt be delighted with such a decision.

West Ham are another side with a Carling Cup Semi Final to think of and Avram Grant rung the changes for their home tie with Barnsley, replacing eight of the players that lost 5-0 at Newcastle last week. Scott Parker and Frederic Piquionne were late subs, with the latter clinching the match in the dying seconds as the Hammers won 2-0. Carlton Cole was left out the squad altogether and Matthew Upson stayed on the bench as Grant decided to give some key players a rest.