Boiling over and bubbling up: a dramatic weekend in the FA Cup

It was a weekend in which we saw the very best and worst of FA Cup culture, from the plucky non-league minnows of Maidstone United slaying Ipswich Town in a classic upset, to crowd ugliness so unsavoury at the Hawthorns that not even the surreal, genuinely hilarious sight of a grown man dressed as a boiler making placatory gestures in an attempt to lower the temperature made them the kind of “scenes we want to see”.

There were other games too. Billed as the tie of the round, Manchester City’s visit to Tottenham on Friday proved to be anything but. A dreary encounter in which the visitors ran rings around their hosts for 87 minutes without doing anything so vulgar as scoring was eventually settled by a contentious goal from Nathan Aké, the defender prodding home from a corner after the ball was flapped his way by Guglielmo Vicario. The debate over whether or not the Spurs goalkeeper was fouled by Rúben Dias was contentious, but he could scarcely have looked more forlorn unless he’d swapped places with [spoiler alert – Football Daily Culture Ed] gullible young Mollie, who was learning her trusted friend Harry had been a traitor all along on a far more riveting knockout competition aired on a different terrestrial TV channel at the exact same time.

Playing their seventh game in this season’s FA Cup, Maidstone ensured they’ll get an eighth by beating Ipswich, despite the two clubs being separated by 98 places in the pyramid. In a textbook giant-killing, the National League South side comprised of part-timers rode their luck with the kind of fierce tenacity not seen since AP McCoy hung up his whip and saddle, scored the only two chances to come their way and defended like dervishes – with some woodwork assistance – to earn their place in the last 16 and the disappointingly unglamorous tie away at Coventry or Sheffield Wednesday that goes with it.

Despite their best attempts, League Two side Newport County failed to join them in the hat, despite a stirring comeback from two goals down against Manchester United that prompted the author of at least one world renowned daily football email to swivel on their bar-stool and redirect their gaze at the pub TV, having lost all interest in the game for the previous 23 minutes. Disproving the long-held theory that his right leg is solely for standing on, Antony sank to his knees and offered thanks to the heavens above Rodney Parade after volleying home the goal that broke Newport hearts. While the Brazilian hailed his strike as a first step on the road to redemption, more cynical commentators wondered aloud if the 23-year-old had simply found his level.

Meanwhile at Fulham, Alan Shearer muddied his spats in an away end for the first time since 1985 and seemed to have a splendid time as Newcastle advanced to the fifth round with a minimum of fuss. Despite his best attempts to keep his presence inconspicuous, his decision to wear a coat and hat in January was always going to make him stand out in a group of hardcore travelling Mags and he was duly mobbed and serenaded. And finally, on a weekend of action in which some remarkable goals were scored, the pick was a fine solo effort from Jaidon Anthony. Having lost his mother last week, the Leeds winger revealed a T-shirt bearing the slogan “Rest In Perfect Peace Mum” and was duly booked for a tribute that was as heartfelt as it was unprovocative. Oh to have had West Brom’s Boiler Man on hand, if only to plead for some compassion and common sense as jobsworth referee Lewis Smith reached for his pocket.

Join John Brewin from 7.30pm GMT for hot MBM coverage of Blackburn Rovers 1-2 Wrexham in the FA Cup fourth round, while Yara El-Shaboury will be on deck at 8pm for updates from Senegal 3-1 Ivory Coast at Afcon.

“I could not believe it. I don’t know where it’s coming from. I think we have to be very careful when you talk about personal things especially. When someone puts a statement about what we’ve done personally. Secondly because I don’t think someone deserves to hear news like that. I’ve always said completely the opposite. That’s why I feel upset” – Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta explains why he’s feeling so funky after reports were floated and quickly shot down that he would follow the lead of Jürgen Klopp and Xavi by leaving – for the Camp Nou – at the end of the season. “I’m in the right place with the right people. I’m immersed in a beautiful journey with this football club and there is still a lot to do.”

Re: Klopp leaving Liverpool and history repeating (Friday’s Football Daily letters). Eight months after leaving Liverpool in February 1991, Kenny Dalglish took over at then-second-tier Blackburn, got them promoted and won the Premier League within four years. As a Rovers fan, I for one welcome the impending arrival of our new era of Klopp-fuelled dominance, starting around September” – Mark Rushton.

I’m grateful to Klopp for a lot of things but perhaps his biggest impact was that he made me believe in monsters. Mentality monsters” – Peter Oh.

You have to feel sorry for Xavi. Have we ever seen a football player change from joyful sprite to dead-eyed depressive so fast? He has a triumphant career with Barcelona – the old Barcelona, the magic one – disappears for a while into the desert sands, returns as the prodigal and is swiftly crushed. We know that management does that to a player over the years, but this was what, 18 months or so? Sic transit gloria, sure, but the transit looks indecently fast in this case. One more step down in Barcelona’s dismal spiral” – Charles Antaki.

Send letters to the.boss@theguardian.com. Today’s winner of our prizeless letter o’ the day is … Mark Rushton.

Plymouth Argyle and Leeds will have to go again after a 1-1 draw at Elland Road, setting up a replay that the Championship pair could probably do without. “This league is relentless,” sighed Daniel Farke after watching his side pegged back by Adam Randell’s equaliser, after Anthony’s earlier strike. “It’s a bit annoying because we could have done with a proper weekend off after the Bristol [City] game [next weekend] – the players would have deserved it.” The winners face a trip to Chelsea or Aston Villa in round five and Argyle boss Ian Foster tooted: “We’re in the hat. Home Park is a difficult place to come for anybody and if we play like we did in the second half, we’ll fancy our chances.”

Jordan are through to the Asian Cup last eight after a 3-2 win over Iraq in which they came from behind to score twice in added time, helped by tournament top scorer Aymen Hussein being sent off earlier for his goal celebrations.

DR Congo have claimed a dramatic spot in the Afcon quarter-finals, dumping out Egypt 8-7 on penalties after a 1-1 draw. Goalkeeper Mohamed Abou Gabal missed from the spot as DRC set up a date with Guinea.

West Midlands police have warned that those involved in the violence at Wolves’ win over West Brom can expect to be hit with “club bans and wider football banning orders”. In total there were six arrests made, five during the game and one beforehand. With ages ranging from 16 to 58, the men were held on a variety of offences ranging from brandishing a corner flag to assaulting a police officer.

A win percentage of 13% has done little to save Darren Moore, who’s been given the boot by Championship strugglers Huddersfield Town. “We appointed Darren on the strength of his credentials as a manager, but it is now clear that this has not worked as we envisaged and hoped,” parped owner Kevin Nagle.

Erik ten Hag says he’ll deal with Marcus Rashford after omitting the forward from Manchester United’s trip to Newport because of an “internal matter”.

And Ipswich have salved their wounds by winning the race to sign AFC Wimbledon striker Ali Al-Hamadi, one of the best talents outside England’s top two tiers. “Everyone I have spoken to has given the club unbelievable reviews so I’m just excited to get to work when I get back,” he cheered.

Settle in for a very big interview with Uefa bigwig Aleksander Ceferin, courtesy of Nick Ames.

With Jürgen Klopp and Xavi both revealing their departures at the end of the season, Jonathan Wilson examines the burden of the managerial love affair. Catch up with Mr Wilson on what comes next for Liverpool and Will Unwin’s view from Anfield as the news starts to sink in.

Sid Lowe goes long on Xavi’s impending exit, lamenting the Barça manager’s inability to inject his footballing DNA into the current crop.

Leipzig could muster no coherent answer as Deniz Undav helped himself to a treble in a win that keeps Stuttgart’s daydream of a season cast with a lovely hazy filter. Andy Brassell unpicks the latest Bundesliga fun and frolics.

Jannik Sinner accounted for plenty of Italian eyeballs over the weekend but Inter and Juve have set up a humdinger of a Derby d’Italia, reports Nicky Bandini.

Come get your WSL talking points, as Bristol City are cut adrift at the bottom while Arsenal and Manchester City keep things tight at the top.

Here are 10 more, this time from the weekend’s FA Cup fourth round ties. Includes important chest-puffing joy from George Elokobi. And John Brewin separately explores Manchester United’s meat-grinding of talent after they huffed and puffed past Newport.

And Kimmich? Spurs? Grist for the Mill.

Five hundred games for Juventus equals a plaque and plastic model of a Fiat 500 for Alessandro del Piero before their Serie B game against Bari in January 2007. Following all that Calciopoli unpleasantness, Juve were able to put out a team in the Italian second tier featuring the likes of Del Piero, Pavel Nedved and David Trezeguet, among many others. Juve would top the table that season in front of second-placed … Napoli.