Stoke were undoubtedly involved in the tie of the round as they scored four times in the final 15 minute to come from 2-0 down to win 4-3, Andy Griffin scoring the winner six minutes into injury time.
They were joined in the 4th round by nine other clubs. Arsenal had to wait 68 minutes for the breakthrough but eventually saw off West Brom 2-0 at the Emirates. The other member of the 'Big 4' to play, Liverpool, took on Leeds in front of the Sky TV cameras and needed a late goal by David N'gog to get through, after being set up by Mascherano, moments after the Argentinian had lashed out at a Leeds defender.
There were two all Premier League ties as Sunderland overcame Birmingham 2-0 and Bolton came from behind to beat West Ham in extra time. One other tie went to extra time and it saw the exit of Port Vale, the lowest ranked side in the 3rd round, who were eventually beaten 2-0 by Scunthorpe.
Blackburn and Portsmouth were given tough trips to Nottingham Forest and Carlisle respectively but both came through, Rovers defeating Forest by a single goal with Pompey coming from behind to defeat the Cumbrians 3-1 and give the small travelling army a happy, if long, trip home.
Two more Championship sides joined Scunthorpe in the next round as Peterborough defeated highly fancied Newcastle United by two first half goals to nil and Barnsley produced the shock of the night, knocking out last seasons semi finalists Burnley by three goals to two.
4th round teams
Arsenal
Aston Villa/Cardiff
Barnsley
Bolton
Portsmouth
Chelsea/QPR
Hull/Everton
Liverpool
Man City/Fulham
Man Utd/Wolves
Blackburn
Peterborough
Preston/Tottenham
Scunthorpe
Stoke
Sunderland