LONDON, 25 January 2004 — Holders Arsenal moved closer to an unprecedented fourth successive FA Cup final appearance when they crushed Middlesbrough 4-1 in a one-sided fourth round tie at Highbury yesterday.
Earlier Chelsea ended the challenge of minor league Scarborough with a narrow 1-0 away win, while third division Swansea City caused the surprise of the day with a late, 2-1 comeback win over first division Preston North End.
The all-Premier League clash between Liverpool and Newcastle United was taking place at Anfield later, while the match between minor league Telford United and first division Millwall was postponed because of Telford’s water-logged pitch.
There are five more matches today, including Manchester United at third division Northampton Town.
Arsenal swept Middlesbrough aside at Highbury with two goals from Freddie Ljungberg and one each from Dennis Bergkamp and youngster David Bentley.
Middlesbrough, who beat an under-strength Arsenal side 1-0 in the first leg of the League Cup semifinal at Highbury on Tuesday but also lost 4-1 there in the League on January 10, ended their miserable afternoon with 10 men after George Boateng was sent off late in the game for two yellow cards.
Arsenal took the lead in the 19th minute with a deflected Bergkamp shot, though Middlesbrough equalized four minutes later with a superb goal from Joseph-Desire Job who trapped the ball on his thigh and then turned and slammed home.
Arsenal, bidding to become the first club since Blackburn Rovers in 1886 to win the Cup three years in succession, went 2-1 up with a Ljungberg shot. The Swede was left unmarked to head the third after 68 minutes while youngster Bentley finished things off with a sublime chip.
First Division Gillingham, who knocked out Premier League Charlton in the last round, crashed 3-1 at Burnley.
Birmingham City and Portsmouth, the other Premier League sides in action, both won, with Birmingham beating first division Wimbledon 1-0 and Portsmouth edging third division Scunthorpe United 2-1.
Tranmere Rovers, who knocked Premier League Bolton Wanderers in the last round, won 1-0 at fellow second division side Luton to reach the fifth round for the fourth time in five seasons.
Celtic Maintain 11-Point Gap Over Rangers
In Glasgow, Rangers beat Livingston 1-0 yesterday but the Scottish champions remain a distant second in the Premier League after unbeaten leaders Celtic cruised to a 3-1 win at Aberdeen.
Swedish striker Henrik Larsson became the third-highest scorer in Celtic’s history when he notched his 220th goal in the Aberdeen game. Rangers move on to 50 points but still trail Celtic by 11.
The home fans were made to sweat for the win after Livingston looked dangerous in an open second period.
After an early kickoff Larsson’s 43rd minute strike, sandwiched between Stilian Petrov’s 30th minute opener and Stephen Pearson’s third after 57 minutes, overhauled the 219 managed by the club’s 1967 European Cup winner Steve Chamers.
It also helped ensure a 20th successive league win for Celtic. Larsson trails Bobby Lennox (273) and Jimmy McGrory (397) in Celtic’s all-time list.
