National League duo Lincoln City and Sutton United upset Football League sides to reach the fourth round of the FA Cup this week.

Darren Cowley’s Lincoln beat Championship side Ipswich Town 1-0 at Sincil Bank on Tuesday, having drawn 2-2 at Portman Road a few weeks ago, while Sutton came from behind to defeat AFC Wimbledon 3-1 at Kingsmeadow.

It means that both sides will entertain Championship opposition in the fourth round, with National League leaders Lincoln at home to high-flyers Brighton, while Paul Doswell’s Sutton will play host to 1972 FA Cup winners Leeds on January 29.

Joining the non-league duo in the last 32 are Liverpool, who narrowly got past Plymouth Argyle 1-0 on Wednesday night, and fellow Premier League sides Burnley, Crystal Palace, and Southampton, who overcame Sunderland, Bolton, and Norwich respectively.

Elsewhere, League Two mid-table side Blackpool shocked Championship outfit Barnsley 2-1 at Oakwell, Bristol City narrowly got past Fleetwood, and second tier leaders Newcastle United inflicted more misery on Birmingham boss Gianfranco Zola with a 3-1 victory at St James’ Park.

In what has been an exciting week of FA Cup action, here is What’s Hot and What’s Not from the third round replays…

HOT – Lincoln City

What a night it was for Lincoln City and their supporters on Tuesday!

Danny Cowley’s men outfought and outplayed Championship outfit Ipswich Town at Sincil Bank to secure a passage into the fourth round, thanks to Nathan Arnold’s late winner.

It was no less than what they deserved after a spirited and committed display against the Tractor Boys, and a similar performance against Championship high-flyers Brighton in the next round will certainly give Chris Hughton’s men something to think about.

Nonetheless, it was a great evening for the Imps on a night where we were all reminded what the FA Cup is all about.

NOT – Ipswich

Photo: Steve Parkin

What does the future hold for Ipswich and manager Mick McCarthy?

His side were completely outplayed by the National League leaders on Tuesday night, and were fortunate not to go behind earlier on in proceedings.

After three successive top ten finishes in the Championship, the Tractor Boys are 14th in this season’s edition, and currently 11 points off the play-offs.

You wonder whether former Sunderland and Wolves boss McCarthy has taken the club as far as he can and, based on Tuesday’s display at Sincil Bank, he’ll be under a lot of pressure over the coming weeks, where they face four of the Championship’s top nine clubs.

HOT – Sutton United

Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.

Non-league outfit Sutton United fell behind to an early Tom Elliot goal away at AFC Wimbledon on Tuesday night, but they were not to be denied a place in the FA Cup fourth round.

Helped by a red card to Paul Robinson 15 minutes into the contest, Paul Doswell’s men grew into the match and netted three times in the final quarter of an hour to set up a mouth-watering tie at home to 1972 FA Cup winners Leeds in ten days’ time.

The U’s, currently 15th in the National League, took over 1,000 fans to Kingsmeadow on Tuesday night, and their commitment and passion were duly rewarded as their side continue their incredible FA Cup run.

It will be a wonderful occasion at Gander Green Lane on January 29 – who knows, can Sutton spring another upset?

NOT – Gianfranco Zola

Photo: Mark Leech

Birmingham were beaten 3-1 at Newcastle on Wednesday night and, although many sides will come unstuck at St James’ Park this season, the Blues’ loss is magnified by Gianfranco Zola’s poor start to life as manager.

The former Chelsea forward replaced the sacked Gary Rowett last month, and has since won none of his seven matches in charge.

It has meant that the club have fallen from the cusps of the play-off places to 12th in the division, but more importantly, they are now nine points off the top six.

While it’s not an insurmountable gap, Birmingham don’t look like getting that elusive victory anytime soon – Zola needs to get things going fast before he comes under increasing scrutiny at St Andrew’s.