FA Cup Team of the Third Round – McAtee, Tosin, Dibling | OneFootball

The FA Cup’s third-round action did not disappoint this weekend and we’ve celebrated the finest performers with our Team of the Round.

Goalkeeper: Altay Bayandir – Manchester United

Ruben Amorim called Altay Bayindir Manchester United’s ‘hero’ after the club’s shootout success at Arsenal. The goalkeeper was full of nerves early on and at fault for Arsenal’s equaliser, but redeemed himself superbly to send the Red Devils through.

A brilliant stop denied Martin Odegaard in normal time before a point-blank save to push Declan Rice’s header over the bar. In the shootout, he guessed right to save from Kai Havertz and send United into round four.

Centre-back: Matthijs de Ligt – Manchester United

His best performance in a Manchester United shirt. Authoritative in the air and determined on the ground, the Dutchman epitomised the fighting spirit Ruben Amorim demanded from his side. An astonishing goal-line clearance kept United in the game, as the 10-man Red Devils went through on penalties at Arsenal.

Centre-back: Jordan Cullinan-Liburd – Tamworth

Tamworth’s run might be over but The Lambs deserve huge credit for their third-round performance. Just the fourth non-league side to take a Premier League team into extra time, Jordan Cullinan-Liburd was part of a Tamworth backline that held Spurs goalless for 101 minutes. The centre-back made a mammoth 18 clearances, blocked three shots, and won 7/10 of his aerial duels to dominate Timo Werner.

Centre-back: Tosin Adarabioyo – Chelsea

An afternoon to remember for the Chelsea defender, who was on target twice as the Blues beat Morecambe 5-0 at Stamford Bridge. There was a slice of luck for the defender’s deflected opener, but nothing fortunate about his second as Tosin bent in a beauty from distance. Pushed into midfield to pin Morecambe back and made his presence felt further forward.

Midfield: Lewis Miley – Newcastle United

After a tough season disrupted by injury, Lewis Miley was back to his best in a Newcastle shirt this weekend. The 18-year-old was outstanding in the 3-1 win over Bromley and netted Newcastle’s equaliser with one of the strikes of the round.

His thunderous hit was the highlight of a performance that saw Miley lead the contest for touches (133), complete 94% of his passes, and create five chances.

Midfield: James McAtee – Manchester City

Pep Guardiola has said James McAtee deserves more minutes at Manchester City and he will find it hard to leave out the midfielder now. McAtee had a dream night at the Etihad, as the Citizens thrashed his hometown team Salford 8-0 to reach round four.

Brilliant movement inside the box saw McAtee help himself to a hat-trick, delicately turning in Jeremy Doku’s cross for his first. He then sharply controlled and finished a stray shot from Phil Foden, before steering in his hat-trick goal late on. Has the 22-year-old arrived in a blue shirt?

Forward: Zian Flemming – Burnley

Decided the Clarets’ clash with Reading from the bench to continue a fantastic start to 2025. With Burnley in search of a goal in extra time, Flemming steered in Mike Tresor’s cutback to give Burnley the lead before wrapping up the 3-1 win with a second.

Winger: Demetri Mitchell – Exeter City

Demetri Mitchell had a 28th birthday to remember after scoring twice as Exeter progressed into the next round. The winger’s well-taken brace helped The Grecians to a 3-1 win over Oxford. He volleyed in an equaliser after Oxford’s opener, before completing the comeback before half-time with a sharp snap-shot. Exeter’s reward is a date with high-flying Nottingham Forest in round four.

Winger: Jeremy Doku – Manchester City

Unplayable. Salford struggled to deal with the direct approach and pure pace of Doku, who tormented the fourth-tier visitors at the Etihad. He scored twice and set up another two goals as Manchester City hit their lower-league neighbours for eight. An electric performance from the Belgian.

Forward: Tyler Dibling – Southampton

It was a weekend in which several starlets shone and Southampton’s Tyler Dibling is among the brightest in English football right now. The 18-year-old scored a brace as the Saints eased past Swansea City 3-0 to reach the fourth round. Dibling got himself into good areas repeatedly and now has four goals and two assists this season. The future is bright.

Forward: Georginio Rutter – Brighton

Brighton breezed into the fourth round after winning 4-0 at Norwich City. The Premier League quality told at Carrow Road with Georginio Rutter scoring twice in the first half to put the visitors in control.

An excellent header from Joel Veltman’s cross opened the scoring before the Frenchman fired in a fierce second to double the lead – Brighton’s best player in a comfortable win over the Championship side.

Read – FA Cup fourth round draw: Liverpool travel to Plymouth

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