Report, result, goals and video highlights from FA Cup fourth round 2025/26


Quick summary: Leeds reached the FA Cup fifth round by beating Birmingham on penalties at St Andrew’s, where Patrick Roberts replied to Lukas Nmecha’s opener and the Blues hit a post late in regular time

Lucas Perri saved Tommy Doyle’s penalty and Patrick Roberts curled a spot kick over the bar as Leeds United capitalised on Birmingham City faltering in a shootout to reach the fifth round of the FA Cup.

Winger Roberts’ spectacular long-range equaliser took a nick off James Justin’s head to deservedly draw Birmingham level in the 89th minute at St Andrew’s, where Leeds had gone ahead through Lukas Nmecha’s 49th-minute strike as part of a much-improved second-half display.

On-loan Brighton & Hove Albion wideman Ibrahim Osman struck a post for City with a low shot from inside the box during the seventh minute of regulation second-half added time, but the teams proved inseparable during extra time before Leeds scored all four of their penalties.

Analysis: Leeds scrape through at Birmingham

Birmingham took advantage of passive-looking opponents during the first half, almost scoring when Jay Stansfield’s drive from just inside the box was brilliantly tipped against the woodwork by Lucas Perri.

Leeds, who had recovered from 2-0 behind to draw 2-2 at Chelsea in the Premier League on Tuesday and won 3-1 at Championship club Derby County in the last round, looked short of the form that had taken Daniel Farke’s side on a preceding run of one defeat in six games.

Forward Nmecha provided relief, collecting Noah Okafor’s through-ball and fired a clinical finish past goalkeeper Ryan Allsop in the 49th minute for the German’s fifth direct goal involvement in his last four appearances.

Just when Birmingham fans feared their eight-match unbeaten run in all competitions was coming to an end within regular time, Roberts responded in scintillating style as part of a performance showing why the Blues are only two points from the play-off places in the second tier.

How the penalties went in Leeds vs Birmingham

Here’s the sequence of the shootout, with both teams converting their first two penalties before the decisive drama unfolded.

Penalty taker Outcome
Jay Stansfield (Birmingham) Scored
Joel Piroe (Leeds) Scored
Marvin Ducksch (Birmingham) Scored
Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Leeds) Scored
Tommy Doyle (Birmingham) Saved
Brenden Aaronson (Leeds) Scored
Patrick Roberts (Birmingham) Missed
Sean Longstaff (Leeds) Scored

Birmingham City starting team vs Leeds United

Birmingham made six changes, with midfielder Paik Seung-ho missing out through a shoulder injury. “It’s concerning because he’s a massive player,” said manager Chris Davies.

Centre-back Jonathan Panzo and forward August Priske made their first starts. Goalkeeper Ryan Allsop, midfielder Tommy Doyle and wingers Carlos Vicente and Demarai Gray also came in.

James Beadle, Phil Neumann, Patrick Roberts, Ibrahim Osman and Marvin Ducksch dropped to the bench.

Midfielder Tomoki Iwata was injured and four defenders were unavailable: Jack Robinson and Ethan Laird have hamstring injuries, Alex Cochrane has an ankle issue and Lee Buchanan has a long-term knee injury.

Birmingham City starting XI: Ryan Allsop, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Jonathan Panzo, Christoph Klarer, Kai Wagner, Carlos Vicente, Jhon Solis, Jay Stansfield, Tommy Doyle, Demarai Gray, August Priske

Birmingham substitutes: James Beadle, Phil Neumann, Patrick Roberts, Ibrahim Osman, Kanya Fujimoto, Marvin Ducksch, Zaid Betteka, William Burrell, Bradley Mayo

Leeds United full line up vs Birmingham City

Leeds also made six changes and did not risk centre-back Pascal Struijk and midfielder Anton Stach, with both players approaching returns from injuries.

On-loan Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Facundo Buonanotte made his first start in place of Ilia Gruev, with Lucas Perri replacing Karl Darlow in goal.

Midfielders Sean Longstaff, Noah Okafor and Ao Tanaka and winger Wilfried Gnonto also came in at the expense of Joe Rodon, Ethan Ampadu, Jayden Bogle and Brenden Aaronson.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin returned from illness on the bench. The striker scored his 10th goal of the season in Leeds’ 3-1 home win over Nottingham Forest on February 6 but missed the draw at Chelsea.

Leeds United starting XI: Lucas Perri, Sebastiaan Bornauw, Jaka Bijol, Gabriel Gudmundsson, Wilfried Gnonto, Sean Longstaff, Ao Tanaka, James Justin, Facundo Buonanotte, Lukas Nmecha, Noah Okafor

Leeds substitutes: Karl Darlow, Jayden Bogle, Ethan Ampadu, Joe Rodon, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Joel Piroe, Brenden Aaronson, Sam Byram, Ilia Gruev

Leeds United Football Club manager Daniel Farke

Birmingham City vs Leeds United stats

  • Birmingham had lost one of their previous 11 games in all competitions
  • They had won three of their most recent four home matches against Leeds, all in the Championship and all without conceding
  • The other match in that sequence was a 5-4 away win for Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds in December 2019
  • City had been eliminated in six of their most recent seven ties at this stage
  • Leeds have progressed from five of their six FA Cup ties against Birmingham, previously knocking them out in 1971/72, 1976/77, 1997/98 and 2012/13
  • The Blues beat Leeds 3-0 at home in the third round in 2004/05
  • The Whites were knocked out 2-0 at home at this stage by Millwall last season
  • They haven’t gone out in the fourth round in consecutive seasons since 1992/93 (vs Arsenal) and 1993/94 (vs Oxford United)
  • Since January 2000, Leeds have been drawn away from home in 37 of their 47 FA Cup ties, including 16 of their last 19 (including this tie)
  • Among teams to play more than 10 ties since 2000, Leeds have comfortably been drawn away in the highest percentage (79%)




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