5 Of The Biggest FA Cup Shocks

5 Of The Biggest FA Cup Shocks
09:20, 01 Dec 2017

AFC Fylde host Wigan Athletic tonight with the non-league club just one game away from potentially coming face-to-face with a Premier League side.

Although the Coasters have ambitions to be a Football League side like their opponents

Wigan a victory for the Mill Farm club would still be a major upset.

With that in mind we looked back at five of the biggest FA Cup shocks:

Hereford United 2-1 Newcastle United (February 1972)

There might have been four divisions between Newcastle and Hereford in 1972 but there looked to be no difference whatsoever between the two sides as the Bulls drew 2-2 at St James’ Park to earn a replay.

Despite a series of postponements due to the bad weather the second meeting eventually got underway with the Magpies looking like they were progressing to the fourth round courtesy of Malcolm McDonald’s late header.

However, a thunderous piledriver from Hereford’s Ronnie Radford before an extra-time winner from Ricky George resulted in the Southern Football League securing their most famous victory.

Sutton United 2-1 Coventry City (January 1989)

Just 19 months after being the giant killers themselves, beating strong favourites Tottenham Hotspur in the 1987 FA Cup Final, it was roles reversed when the Sky Blues turned up to Gander Green Lane.

English teacher Barrie Williams guided the non-league club to a memorable win, as goals from Tony Rains and Matthew Hanlan sent City, who played in the old First Division, crashing out in the third round.

This crazy result proved to be the only one of it’s kind in recent history until Luton Town’s victory over Norwich City in 2013.

Wrexham 2-1 Arsenal (January 1992)

Arsenal arrived in Wales as the current league champions and were tipped as overwhelming favourites against Wrexham, who were bottom of the old fourth division.

When Alan Smith put the Gunners ahead in the 80th minute it looked like that was the end of the Dragons’ FA Cup adventure but Micky Thomas had other ideas, his 25-yard free-kick levelling the scores.

The London club were soon left perplexed as to what had just happened during the past few minutes as Steve Watkin made himself a Wrexham hero, supplying the winning goal shortly after Thomas’ equalizer.

Burnley 0-1 Lincoln City (February 2017)

Over 3,000 Lincoln fans travelled to Turf Moor probably just looking forward to a day out but they got much more than that thanks to Sean Raggett’s 89th minute winner.

81 places separated the two clubs but Danny Cowley’s side put in a spirited performance and frustrated their Premier League opponents.

The Imps became the first non-league team in 103 years to reach the quarter-finals after their victory at Turf Moor – City had enjoyed a fine run throughout the earlier stages of the FA Cup becoming just the third club ever to knock out four league clubs in a single season.

Chelsea 2-4 Bradford City (January 2015)

First-half goals from Gary Cahill and Ramires looked to have put Chelsea in cruise control of their fourth-round encounter against League One’s Bradford City.

The Bantams’ response in the second half is one of the best examples as to why the FA Cup is regarded as one of the best competitions in world football.

Four goals from the visitors, who were 49 places below the Stamford Bridge club, helped the Bantams book their place in the fifth round for the first time in 18 years.

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