Releases » them. "Im going after them," Hughes said

LONDON -- Aston Villa was dumped out of the FA Cup by third-tier side Sheffield United in the biggest shock of the third round on Saturday, while 10-man Manchester City was held by Blackburn. Villas humbling came days after manager Paul Lambert branded the cup as a "distraction," but rather than making wholesale changes, it was still a strong side that lost 2-1. "It is just a bit sad that the FA Cup, such a wonderful competition, takes a back seat but that is the reality of it," Sheffield United manager Nigel Clough said. Backing down from the earlier comment, Lambert tried to insist he wasnt decrying the worlds oldest football cup competition that has lost some of its lustre as Premier League riches have soared. "I never demeaned the competition one bit," Lambert said. "I respect its history and I respect what the competition is about." Blackburn earned a replay against City after goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon fumbled Rudy Gestedes header before Scott Dann rushed in to sweep the ball into the net to cancel out Alvaro Negredos opener. City was left hanging on to the 1-1 draw after Dedryck Boyata was sent off in the 85th minute when a foul on D.J. Campbell earned him a second yellow card. "Im not disappointed," City manager Manuel Pellegrini said. "Of course, everyone wants to win all of the games but we were playing against a very strong team at home." Due to the replay, Abu Dhabi-owned City has cancelled a friendly in the Gulf nation on Jan. 14. The standout pairing of the third round was a one-sided contest as Premier League leader Arsenal overpowered north London rival Tottenham with the 2-0 victory secured by Santi Cazorla and Tomas Rosicky. Southampton squeezed into the fourth round by beating Burley 4-3, Everton breezed through with Nikica Jelavic scoring twice in a 4-0 rout of Queens Park Rangers, and Stoke held on for a 2-1 win over Leicester, which leads the second-tier League Championship. Ole Gunnar Solskjaers reign as Cardiff manager began with a 2-1 win at Newcastle. After Papiss Cisse put the Magpies in front at St. James Park, substitutes Craig Noone and Fraizer Campbell hit back with goals for the south Wales club. Substitutes scoring winning goals seemed apt as the former Manchester United striker, who was known for his exploits from the bench, began life in English management. "When you turn games around, its fantastic," Solskjaer said. "Thats the best feeling you have in a game." In other all-Premier League clashes, Dwight Gayle and Marouane Chamakh gave Crystal Palace a 2-0 win at West Bromwich Albion, and Norwich drew 1-1 with Fulham. Holder Wigan, which was relegated from the Premier League after winning the cup in May, was held to 3-3 by M.K. Dons. In surprising results involving lower-league sides, Leeds of the Championship lost 2-0 at fourth-tier side Rochdale, and non-league club Macclesfield -- the lowest ranking team still in the cup -- earned a replay at Championship club Sheffield Wednesday by drawing 1-1. Christian Okoye Chiefs Jersey . It was my fifth straight year attending and, as always, there are many interesting matters discussed as it pertains to the use of statistics in sports. Len Dawson Chiefs Jersey . As for regular Olympic spectators, theyre being warned that most travel insurance policies wont cover acts of terrorism or war. The Games in southern Russia, which run from Feb. 7-23, are being staged amid unprecedented security and under global warnings of danger. http://www.prochiefsauthentic.com/Youth-Khalen-Saunders-Elite-Jersey/ .com) - SirDominic Pointer posted career highs of 24 points and seven steals to lead No. Christian Okoye Jersey . The Thornhill, Ont., native, who is ranked 11th in the world, said hed hoped he would be ready when Canada begins its World Group first-round tie against Japan in Tokyo on Friday. Derrick Thomas Womens Jersey . Fans holding laudatory signs started showing up at Yankee Stadium when the gates opened at 4 p.m. Monday, an hour early in order to give them a chance to watch the New York captain take batting practice. MINNEAPOLIS -- If anyone needed a game-winning hit in extra innings, it was Aaron Hicks. The once-prized Minnesota Twins prospect was hitting just .161 and was challenged by manager Ron Gardenhire and acting general manager Rob Antony the day before to take a more professional approach to the game. Hicks responded with an RBI single in the bottom of the 10th and Phil Hughes struck out eight in six innings to help the Twins beat the Boston Red Sox 4-3 in the series finale on Thursday. Many think the only reason Hicks was not sent down already was because of the injuries that have decimated an already thin outfield group. Gardenhire and Antony both said they didnt feel Hicks was doing the necessary homework behind the scenes to be ready every day. "Maybe preparing is something I need to try to do more," Hicks said. "Try things to be able to make my game better and have an edge on the game." All-Star closer Glen Perkins blew his second save of the season, giving up a two-run single to Will Middlebrooks with the bases loaded that tied the game in the ninth. But Kurt Suzuki doubled down the left-field line and Hicks lined a 3-2 pitch to left field off of Andrew Miller (1-2) to win it. "Its such a big hit in a big situation," Hicks said. "It just comes down to how much heart you have in the game. Thats the kind of player I am. I like to play with passion and I dont like the way Ive been playing so far. But its something that sometimes youve got to go through in order to be able to make that next step into becoming a better player." Mike Carp had two hits and an RBI for the Red Sox, but David Ortiz was a quiet 1 for 4 with a single after going deep twice in each of the first two games of the series. Hughes gave up five hits and no walks and Chris Parmelee hit a two-run homer for the Twins, who took two of three from the defending champions. Suzuki and Eduardo Escobar each had three hits and Brian Duensing (1-1) picked up the win. Clay Buchholz gave up three runs on 10 hits and struck out six in six innings for the Red Sox. The Red Sox hitters had been doing well recently, with Ortizs personal home run derby contributing to 28 runs over their previous four games.dddddddddddd But Hughes put those hot bats on ice on a day when the temperature was 46 degrees at first pitch. Hughes knows Ortiz, Dustin Pedroia and the Red Sox lineup well from years of facing them while he was in the Yankees rotation. "He pitches more comfortable here, it seems," Red Sox manager John Farrell said. "They threw a lot of strikes, didnt issue many bases on balls. Didnt have a whole lot going for the first eight." Hughes retired nine of the first 10 hitters he faced, won a 14-pitch battle with Xander Bogaerts to end the fifth inning and finished with more strikeouts against the Red Sox than he had in his previous 22 appearances against them. "Im going after them," Hughes said. "Thats been my game plan and has continued to be. Just attack with my fastball and get some flyouts, some strikeouts, swings and misses. I just tried to stay aggressive the entire time." Gardenhire said he hopes Hicks big hit will be the jumpstart his young centre fielder needs. "Hes working at it. Thats all weve asked him to do, study and work and hes doing that," Gardenhire said. "Thats a big hit for him. Nice to see him smile in a big situation like that." NOTES: Farrell gave OFs Grady Sizemore and Shane Victorino the day off. Farrell said the oft-injured Sizemore is doing fine and would play a lot this weekend while Victorino is resting a sore left knee. ... The Twins gave SS Danny Santana the day off to rest some sore legs, Gardenhire said. ... University of Minnesota football coach Jerry Kill threw out the first pitch shortly after announcing a $100,000 donation to start the Chasing Dreams foundation for epilepsy research. ... The Red Sox head home to open a series against Detroit on Friday. LHP Jon Lester (4-4, 2.75) will start for Boston against Max Scherzer (5-1, 2.04). ... The Twins start a series against Seattle on Friday. RHP Kyle Gibson (3-3, 4.74) will start against Mariners RHP Chris Young (3-0, 2.63). ' ' '