FA Cup fourth round: 10 talking points from the weekend’s action

Support for Scott Parker at Burnley looks increasingly fragile. Despite loyalty from figures such as chairman Alan Pace, fan backing has dwindled and the squad’s lack of winter reinforcements has left few routes out of their predicament. The head coach’s Premier League record and an unentertaining style have compounded concerns, and after a missed chance to follow a rare league win with FA Cup progression at Mansfield the Clarets’ second-half showing felt close to an embarrassment.

Officiating and the role of VAR were major talking points at Villa Park. Tammy Abraham’s opener came from an offside position and Newcastle’s defenders appeared to be waiting for a video intervention, underlining how semi-automated offsides and delayed flags have altered how players react.

Chris Kavanagh’s performance overshadowed Newcastle’s comeback, while Sandro Tonali impressively stepped up in the absence of Bruno Guimarães.

fa cup, scott parker, burnley, alan pace, mansfield, premier league, var, offside, tammy abraham, newcastle