The magic of
the FA Cup was well and truly on show this weekend as the top three of the
Premier League were all knocked out in their fourth round ties leaving the FA
Cup wide open this season.
Premier
League leaders Chelsea were sensationally knocked out after throwing away a two
goal lead at home to Bradford to lose 4-2 to the 2013 Capital One cup
finalists. Mourinho said he was both “embarrassed” and “ashamed” by the manner
of the defeat as he saw his sides chances of a quadruple this season come to an
end.
Manuel
Pellegrini’s side were also thrown out as Middlesbrough walked away from the Etihad
with a momentous 2-0 victory. Third placed Southampton were another of the
Premier League sides to lose out, losing at home to Alan Pardew’s Crystal
Palace side.
These were
not the only shocks of the weekend however, Spurs and Swansea saw their FA Cup
dreams come to an end at the hands of Leicester and Blackburn respectively
while Liverpool and Manchester United were both forced to replays in their
fourth round ties.
The absence
of some of these big sides from the fifth round draw is sure to encourage a lot
of teams who will now have realistic ambitions of challenging for the FA Cup
and hopefully ending the season with a trophy.
Defending
champions Arsenal were not to be the victims of another upset as they overcame
Brighton by 3 goals to 2. Having won the trophy last season and with both City
and Chelsea out it looks as if they will be favourites to regain their crown
come May.
Should
Manchester United and Liverpool make it through their replays they will also
see this FA Cup as a big possibility of getting their hands on a trophy,
especially for United who will see this as their only chance of glory this
season with no European football and with Van Gaal’s side being well off the
pace in the Premier League.
Sam
Allardyce’s West Ham squad will be particularly happy with how this weekend has
gone as they progressed to the next round after a hard fought win away to
League one side Bristol City. The Hammers have been having a great season so
far and will be optimistic of their chances of getting to the latter stages of
the FA Cup.
Other
Premier League sides such as West Brom and Aston Villa are still standing in
the cup and should the weekend’s results be anything to go by every side will
be full of confidence in the forthcoming rounds.
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