Following Newcastle’s win over Blackburn in the FA Cup on Tuesday, Eddie Howe claimed that his side’s victory could prove to be “a sliding doors moment”, one of those apparently inconsequential occurrences that nonetheless significantly alter the trajectory of future events. The very next night, the metaphorical doors in question appeared to slam violently shut in his face as his team were handed an away trip to Manchester City in the quarter-finals. While this truly brutal draw doesn’t entirely rule out Newcastle’s chances of making the semi-finals and getting a day out at Wembley, it significantly reduces the chances of geordies having a sliding doors moment of their own on the Metropolitan line in April.

On the same night Newcastle squeaked through at Ewood Park, Luton were subjected to the kind of mauling by City that invariably earns the vanquished side one of those condescending tributes Pep Guardiola invariably pays to teams who have offered little in the way of resistance. “I think the Luton central defenders defended really well,” he honked, having just seen them prove what a difficult place Kenilworth Road can be for visitors to play, unless you’re a preposterously gifted Norwegian giant running on to inch-perfect passes from an almost supernaturally accurate Belgian. “Sometimes when you come up against that kind of opposition you get a bit of a doing,” reflected Luton’s almost supernaturally handsome manager Rob Edwards after the game, having previously conceded – with tongue firmly in cheek – that his opposite number’s side had been “quite good” in victory.

With Kasey Palmer and Ellis Simms doing a passable imitation of the Haaland-De Bruyne axis of pain 24 hours before it became fashionable, Coventry became the lowest-ranked side left in this year’s competition having knocked out the previous lowest, Maidstone United. This earned them a trip to Wolves, whose supporters were treated to the sight of Gary O’Neil giving it the Full Klopp in the post-match fist-pump stakes following a narrow win over Brighton. The quarter-final is already being talked up as a potential powder-keg derby, even if a West Brom-supporting fan of Football Daily’s acquaintance insists that none of the Baggies, Aston Villa, Birmingham City or Wolves have any feelings stronger than almost total indifference towards Coventry, which has to sting.

By all accounts, Leicester are the nearest thing Mark Robins’ side have to bitter rivals but their victory at Bournemouth has earned them a trip to Stamford Bridge, where the blue billionaire bottlers of Chelsea advanced to the quarter-finals by scraping past Leeds’ reserves. Meanwhile at Old Trafford, Manchester United will host Liverpool, whose Under-9s stayed up well past their bedtime to see off Southampton, while an increasingly deranged Erik ten Hag was left to deflect from his side’s latest laboured win by raging against some gag cracked at the expense of Bruno Fernandes by [Football Daily checks notes] … the famously controversial administrators of Fulham’s TikTok account. And to think some continue to maintain the FA Cup has lost its magic.

“I always say that the pitch is freedom for someone who doesn’t see. Those who know how to appreciate it can enjoy it to the fullest. Even if you lose, draw, and even when things don’t go well, it’s where you can be free” – Gracia Sosa, star of the Argentina women’s blind football team, talking to Júlia Belas Trindade in the latest edition of Moving the Goalposts.

“Re yesterday’s Football Daily on the interim appointment of John O’Shea as Ireland gaffer. Given you regularly treat your reader to a smorgasbord of managers being guided through the door marked ‘Do One’ in a variety of languages, is it too much too ask for Stephen Kenny’s big green ‘doras’ to have been marked ‘Bain As’, or even ‘Téigh ag feadáil’ (go whistling)?” – Harry Wall.

Regarding Neil Rose on whether to clap or not to clap opposition players (yesterday’s Football Daily letters). My father gets around this conundrum by not clapping anyone, unless they go off knacked (they get two claps). If it was the opposition, then it was due to them being better then us so they should be doing that or we had performed badly. If it was us, it was because the opposition had performed badly or they were ‘just doing what they’re paid to do’ (I don’t know if he extends this logic to other areas where it’s conventional to clap to show appreciation, like the theatre), although in all other respects his support seems quite normal, so maybe he just doesn’t like clapping” – Andy Gill.

To Neil, I’m inclined to agree, a rare show of appreciation for the opposition after an outstanding display is more than acceptable. I was fortunate (?) enough to witness and be a part of the standing ovation the Stretford End gave to Proper Ronaldo, after his imperious hat-trick bundled us through the Big Cup exit door 20 years ago. Sometimes you just have to stand there and applaud greatness. Neil obviously doesn’t have a fantasy team, however. If he had, I would imagine witnessing Erling Haaland spanking in five just days after half the planet had triple-captained him for a double-game week – in which he scored a solitary one – would have provoked an entirely different reaction” – Mark Read.

Style, panache, thrilling heroics, and getting a stomp on a game is always worthy of applause, no matter the team. Neil is correct” – Bill Preston.

As a man of a certain age originally from the north of England, I had to laugh at Rochdale fan John Leach’s description of his father and grandfather as ‘essentially functional mutes of the northern type of the day’ (yesterday’s full email edition). But then I started musing on the verbiage vomited from pundits and broadcasters and social media disgraces about any and all subjects, and I became rather wistful for simpler times” – Colin Reed.

Send letters to [email protected]. Today’s winner of our letter o’ the day is … Andy Gill, who lands a copy of Pat Nevin: football and how to survive it, published by Octopus Books.

There was some tasty action in the Edinburgh derby on Wednesday, after Hearts’ Lawrence Shankland had equalised from the penalty spot. Shankland spotted a pie being hurled in his direction from the Hibernian fans, caught it one-handed, took a bite and chucked it back. Objects were repeatedly thrown at players during the game. “It’s just idiots that are going to spoil the party for everybody. It’s just not good enough, end of,” tooted Hearts boss Steven Naismith after the 1-1 draw.

Paul Pogba says he is “shocked and heartbroken” after being banned for four years over a doping offence. The France and Juventus midfielder will appeal to the court of arbitration for sport over the ban, which could spell the end of his playing career.

Spain are proud owners of the inaugural Women’s Nations League title after beating France 2-0 in Seville, with Aitana Bonmatí and Mariona Caldentey on target for La Roja.

Liverpool are owners of a pre-tax loss of £9m in 2022-23, according to the club’s latest accounts. The Premier League leaders’ wage bill increased to £373m and turnover remained static at £594m, although commercial revenue hit a record £272m.

Premier League clubs are meeting to discuss binning off current profit and sustainability rules and adopting a Uefa-style framework of financial regulations.

Rochdale are in talks with a US investor over a takeover that would save them from liquidation. The National League side need a £2m injection of cash to stay afloat.

Good Bhoys: Celtic are back on track in the Scottish Premiership after a 7-1 shellacking of Dundee, but Rangers remain top after coming from behind to win at Kilmarnock. As for Neil Warnock’s Aberdeen, they were beaten 2-0 at home by St Johnstone to extend his winless start.

Bad boys: Sassuolo are stuck in Serie A’s bottom three after a 6-1 home gubbing by Napoli.

Decent news for Arsenal.

Cristiano Ronaldo has been banned by the Saudi FA for one match after making an offensive gesture towards opposition fans. Ronaldo claimed he was “expressing strength and victory” with his pelvic thrust after Al-Nassr had beaten Al-Shabab. “It is not shameful. We are used to it in Europe,” he parped.

And Chelsea fan Paul Archer has been reunited with Prince Tandukar, the St John Ambulance youth volunteer who saved his life with CPR after he went into cardiac arrest at November’s game against Manchester City. Doctors said it was “a miracle” Archer survived as he was clinically dead for 20 minutes. “Prince – what an apt name,” said the 66-year-old. “I am so grateful to be able to thank this impressive and humble individual. You may have broken all my ribs – but I love you for it.”

Set pieces have gone from ugly duckling to game changer, writes Karen Carney.

Lionel Messi’s trip to face LA Galaxy with Inter Miami demonstrated that the Florida franchise are MLS’s glamour club now, reports Joseph D’Hippolito.

And from Stuart Pearce to Jude Bellingham, the art of “whooping up” a football crowd is a complex one, writes Douglas Carter.

Leap Day will always be extra-special for Middlesbrough fans; it was on 29 February 2004 – 20 years ago – that the club won the Milk Cup, beating Bolton 2-1 in the final in Cardiff. Here’s Gareth Southgate, team captain that day, proving that he does know how to get his hands on silverware.