The FA Cup Thread 2024

[Trollheart]

Teams: Blackburn Rovers v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Play in: Championship v Premier League
Match played at: Ewood Park

Was it offside? It was close, but Blackburn's goal was ruled out and with no VAR the decision stood. Just after the half-hour this dubious decision took on extra significance for the home side as Wolves scored, the ball just squirming in under Rovers' keeper. Two minutes later the Premier League side, struggling with relegation, were two up, but Wolves have been known to lose 2-0 leads in the Premiership: could they hold on here? Yes they could, and they make it through to the fifth round.

Result: Blackburn Rovers 0 - 2 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Scorer(s): Gomes, Cunha (WOL)
Giant killing? No



Teams: Wigan Athletic v Fulham
Play in: League 1 v Premier League
Match played at: Brick Community Stadium

Fulham opened the scoring halfway through the first half and remained ahead at the break, but Wigan fought back to level the match, but only for five minutes as the Cottagers scored again just before the hour, to confirm their progress to the fifth round.


Result: Wigan Athletic 1 - 2 Fulham
Scorer(s): Amith (WIG); Muniz (2) (FUL)
Giant killing? No


Teams: Plymouth Argyle v Liverpool
Play in: Championship v Premier League
Match played at: Home Park

Penalty to Plymouth just after the restart gave the home side the lead, Jota nearly pulling Liverpool level but for a great save, Nunez unable to do it either, his shot being clawed over the bar, the keeper literally keeping the Championship side in it as Plymouth Argyle pulled off one of what must surely be the biggest giant-killings of the Cup this year, knocking out the Premier League leaders and booking their place in the fifth round. Who saw that coming?

Result: Plymouth Argyle 1 - 0 Liverpool
Scorer(s): Hardie (p) (PLY)
Giant killing? Yes



Teams: Everton v Bournemouth
Play in: Premier League v Premier League
Match played at: Goodison Park

Penalty on 20 minutes for Bournemouth, who went ahead at Goodison, then two minutes from the end of the half Everton gave it away and the Cherries were not slow to capitalise on the error. A comfortable lead then for the visitors as we went into the break, that lead coming close to being extended on the hour, Pickford able to keep the ball out of the net. Everton surged forwards but were unable to make anything out of the break, a free almost pulling one back for them but just wide, then a corner for the home side resulted in some pinball play but no goal.

Result: Everton 0 - 2 Bournemouth
Scorer(s): Semenyo (p), Jebbison (BOU)
Giant killing? N/A



Teams: Aston Villa v Tottenham Hotspur
Play in: Premier League v Premier League
Match played at: Villa Park

Another goal scored in the very first minute of the match, and Villa were ahead at home, keeper definitely at fault, should have stopped the shot. Villa had the best of the chances in the first twenty minutes, and really should have been at least two more up, but 1-0 it remained before Son almost drew Spurs level with a rare attack forward. Again Villa could have been two ahead on the half-hour, two bites of the cherry, but unable to convert. Spurs living on their nerves a little now, but even at this early stage 1-0 was too thin a lead to be preserving; Villa needed some of those chances to go in.

Comfortable at the break then, but not comfortable enough to just sit back on a one-nil lead, Villa needed to add to that score and not give any silly goals away either. Tottenham began to play in the second half, Villa finding it harder to contain them, but finally the home side struck again to double their lead just after the hour mark. Villa seemed to run into trouble in extra time when Tel scored to pull one back for Spurs, but in the end it wasn't enough and they go out while Villa go through to the next round.


Result: Aston Villa 2 - 1 Tottenham Hotspur
Scorer(s): Ramsey, Rogers (AST); Tel (TOT)
Giant killing? N/A

[Trollheart]

Teams: Southampton v Burnley
Play in: Premier League v Championship
Match played at: St. Marys

One Premier League bottom team had already showed they can do it against lower opposition; could the Saints go marching in to the fifth round too? The Championship team were the first to go on the attack, but no goal and Southampton came back strongly, also unable to break through. On the half-hour the visitors tried again, but straight at the keeper, scoreless at the break. Southampton began to turn the screw in the second half, but with 13 minutes to go it was Burnley who took the lead, and the game. Southampton out; more misery in their season as they exit in the fourth round.
Result: Southampton 0 - 1 Burnley
Scorer(s): Edwards (BUR)
Giant killing? Yes



Teams: Leyton Orient v Manchester City
Play in: League 1 v Premier League
Match played at: Brisbane Road

This would be one of the giant killings of the Cup, if Orient could dump out Pep's Manchester City, and the hosts have done well to get this far, but you would have to wonder, even with City's recent poor form, if this might be a bridge too far for Orient. Two smart attacks almost proved me wrong in the first ten minutes, then on 16 minutes they did it! What an amazing long shot lob and hopped off the City keeper to give Leyton Orient the lead! The visitors, stung to action, began to play in the last ten minutes or so of the game, but unable to get past the Orient keeper as we broke for half-time. He kept them in it during the second until just before the hour when City drew level, finally. Would they now go on to win it, or could Leyton Orient take the lead again? A free a few minutes later nearly had them in for their second but the City keeper alive to it, then with ten minutes to go the Premier League team seemed to have won it as De Bruyne scored their second. A free in the final minute saw the Orient keeper come up, but blasted over the bar as City took the game, a lucky escape really.


Result: Leyton Orient 1 - 2 Manchester City
Scorer(s): Ortega (og) (LEY); Khusanov, De Bruyne (MNC)
Giant killing? No



Teams: Doncaster Rovers v Crystal Palace
Play in: League 2 v Premier League
Match played at: Eco-Power Stadium

Could the lowest-ranked team remaining in the Cup make it past the Premier League team from London and go on to the fifth round? Well, no. It was a big ask and they could not answer it, as Palace scored just after the half-hour to open the scoring, Mateta making a nuisance of himself, though he didn't score either of Palace's two goals, his first rebounding off the post and being slotted in by Munoz, while the second goal came in the second half, as Devenny scored to put the Eagles comfortably through to the fifth round. Rovers had their chances but were unable to convert, and so exit the competition, but kudos for getting this far.


Result: Doncaster Rovers 0 - 2 Crystal Palace
Scorer(s): Munoz, Devenny (PAL)
Giant killing? No



Teams: Stoke City v Cardiff City
Play in: Championship v Championship
Match played at: bet365 Stadium

Seven minutes and Cardiff were ahead after a fine solo run, and 13 minutes later the Welsh team had their second. Stoke pulled one back and then drew level in the last five minutes of the first half. Worse was to come when the home side got a penalty just before the hour and Stoke turned the game around, until Cardiff got their third eleven minutes later to equalise again. That was how it stayed until the end of extra time, and penalties again beckoned. 2-1 to Cardiff, then Stoke missed their next penalty and in a repeat of the game between Preston North end and Wycombe Wanderers, Cardiff won 4-2 on penalties to go through.


Result: Stoke City 3 - 3 Cardiff City (Cardiff win 4-2 on penalties)
Scorer(s): Koumas (2), Baker (p) (STO); Colwill (2), Salech (CAR)
Giant killing? N/A

[jimmy jazz]

Shit all over Spurs. Knew it would be no problem. Shit team, shit manager. Shit fans. Weird club. Owner is a massive tit as well.

Cardiff at home next round, happy with that. Then should we get through it really begins to get juicy.

[Trollheart]

Think our Ange is long for the post? He certainly looks the epitome of the grumpy old man, doesn't he?




Have to say, I've a lot of respect for Amorim for that comment about their winning goal being offside. Which it was. He didn't have to say that, and was basically shrugging "We were lucky. VAR gets into that, we have a draw and extra time/penalties."

[jimmy jazz]

100%

I'm surprised he hasn't been sacked already. It must be the owner not wanting to pay his contract up. The league is over, they're not finishing in the top half. They're in diabolical form. They've won 2 games in 14.

He will be gone before the season is over because they aren't winning the Europa League.

[Saulaac]

I'm sure I saw a headline a couple of days ago that Liverpool lost to a lower division side. Did they not put out a strong team or was it a great performance by the opposition?

[Trollheart]

Lower division is right! Plymouth Argyle are a Championship side, so a full division below Liverpool. AND they're right at the bottom of the Championship, so due for relegation and really then it's almost two divisions between the two, seeing as Liverpool are top of the Premiership. A bad, bad loss. Doesn't look like Liverpool even tried, from what I saw.

Yeah it looks to have been a weak team: no Salah, no Alexander-Arnold, no McAllister, no Allison and no Robertson. Nunez only on the bench. Reckon old Arne thought they'd breeze past Plymouth and didn't need a full-strength team. Possibly his first major miscalculation, unless he wanted to concentrate on Europe and the Premier League?

[Saulaac]

Jeez, but well played Plymouth Argyle. 

That reminds me when I lived in Sutton in South London, and Arsenal turned up for an FA Cup tie. I went to watch with the wife as the Sutton ground was just round the corner. Probably around 2012. Arsenal whopped Sutton, but irrc the Sutton coach started scoffing a pie at half time and it got in all the national newpapers.
Maybe I got the wrong year and the "pie incident" was more recent, but I do enjoy when the big teams come to little-town.

[jimmy jazz]

The players Liverpool put out were still quality.

Kelleher has been immense for them in goal when Allison was out and is a full internstional. Their front three was Chiesa, Díaz and Jota, all top players. Only really Nyoni and McConnell were inexperienced.

Teams like Liverpool have two teams worth of international players so when they field a changed team it's still a very strong team and good enough to beat 99% of other teams.

[Trollheart]

Perhaps, but they didn't. If Slot wanted to remain in the FA Cup I don't see why he didn't play Salah and Nunez, they've been the backbone of the team recently. Going out is one thing, going out to the bottom team in the Championship is quite another. I think he was overconfident and paid the price. Whatever team they fielded, the fact remains they didn't play well (though of course I only saw the highlights) and Argyle deserved their victory.

[jimmy jazz]

I was just making the point that a few rested players doesn't mean it was a weak team when Liverpool could play two separate teams both capable of wining the PL.

[Trollheart]

I know, and I bow to your superior footy knowledge, as usual.
But any way you slice it, that's an embarrassment for the league leaders/potential champions of both England and Europe. Argyle fans must be pissing themselves laughing, as must Everton fans.

[jimmy jazz]

Newcastle out.

Fucking hell we've got to give this a really good go.

Fuck.

We have a chance 😭

[jimmy jazz]

Man Utd out.

The fucking draw 😭

Fulham vs Palace
Preston vs Villa
Bournemouth vs 115
Brighton vs Ipswich or Forest

COME ON!

[Trollheart]

Teams: Bournemouth v Wolves
Play in: Premier League v Premier League
Match played at: Vitality Stadium

An all-PL clash, but between two teams at very much opposite ends of the league, with Wolves struggling to avoid falling into the relegation zone, and Bournemouth flying high in 7th place. The Cherries also had home advantage, so would this be a walkover? Well not quite: half an hour before the first goal was scored, and it was indeed the home team who took it. Five minutes later and things were looking black for the team from the Black Country as Bournemouth doubled their lead to give them a commanding position going into the break. Oh but wait, not so. After more than five minutes of checking, VAR cleared a possible handball but then ruled the goal offside. Apparently there's an army of cameras set up around the goals now to catch what they're calling "Automated Offside". Are they trying to suck all the joy out of the game? Well possibly, because in extra time at the end of the half, another goal ruled out for handball, though this one was clear and obvious by Bournemouth.

On the hour, a goal to light up any FA Cup tie as Cunha levelled for his team, nothing VAR could do to disallow that one! Bournemouth were pushing to retake the lead minutes later but unable to break through, then the Cherries could have had a man sent off for a straight red, which would have changed the complexion of the whole game, but yellow was the decision. 1-1 then after 90 minutes and into extra time we went, the home side almost getting the winner as time ticked down towards penalties, only two amazing saves by the Wolves keeper saving the visitors, then some handbags at fifty paces broke out in the final minute. Not a time you want to lose one of your best players just before the spot kicks, but that was exactly what happened to Cunha, sent off for a straight red and now not available for the penalties, which looked to be the inevitable outcome.

And so it was. But before we go into the result, a word about Matthias Cunha. With his team floundering just outside of the relegation zone in the Premier League, and he himself their main scorer, the man who has pulled it out of the bag for them time and time again, how stupid to lose it in the final minutes and end up getting sent off? Now it's at least a three-match ban (may be more, as there was scuffling in the dugout as he went off) which is the very last thing his team needs. Very unprofessional, and he may have condemned Wolves to the Championship after that hissy fit.

But back to the match, and to the penalties. First up were Wolves, scored, then Kluivert for Bournemouth was never going to miss. Second Wolves one went in too, and a contemptuous kick from Outtara made it 2-2. Both Wolves and Bournemouth scored their third, all square, then Bournemouth's fourth was saved, advantage the visitors, who missed their next, a terrible penalty, back to honour even. But Bournemouth needed to score their fifth, which they did, to take it now to sudden death at 4-4. Wolves then missed the next one, meaning if Bournemouth could score they were through. And so they did.


Result: Bournemouth 1 - 1 Wolves (Bournemouth win 5-4 on penalties)
Scorer(s): Evanilson (BOU); Cunha (WOL)
Giant killing? N/A



Teams: Crystal Palace v Millwall
Play in: Premier League v Championship
Match played at: Selhurst Park

Six minutes in and there was a decision for the ref, as Mateta was the recipient of a very high kick - the kind Eric Cantona would be proud of - by the Millwall keeper. VAR said yes, and the keeper was walking, Mateta stretchered off. Never a dull moment with Millwall, eh? Palace came close to opening the scoring, but the replacement keeper able to keep the various attempts out. The visitors had not yet had a shot on target. Until they scored in their own net, to give Palace the lead they had in fairness deserved, and looked likely to take. 5 minutes from the end of the first half the home side looked to have doubled their lead, but ruled offside, till VAR checked and decided the goal was good. In extra time at the end of the half Millwall finally came into it, halving the deficit.

Determined to give Palace a game in the second half, the Lions came close to drawing level, but nine minutes from time Palace made it certain with their third to progress into the quarter-finals, though they will probably do so without their top scorer, who was rushed to hospital. We wish him well. Even if he is a Palace player.


Result: Crystal Palace 3 - 1 Millwall
Scorer(s): Tanganga (og), Munoz, Nketiah (PAL); Harding (MIL)
Giant killing? No


Teams: Manchester City v Plymouth Argyle
Play in: Premier League v Championship
Match played at: The Etihad

Having already shocked the footballing world and pulled off a real FA Cup giant killing upset by knocking Premier League champions-elect Liverpool out of the competition, could lowly Plymouth Argyle add another high-value Premiership scalp to their collection by also dismissing Pep Guardiola's somewhat struggling Manchester City at home? Surely a bridge too far for the team hanging on at the bottom rung of football's second tier? Well, it took City half an hour to have a shot on goal, and it rapped back off the post, then Argyle had their own attack, and from a corner the underdogs were ahead! It couldn't last of course, and at the very end of the half City pulled one back. You'd have to imagine they would go on and take control now, and in the second half that was just what they did, hemming Plymouth in and not allowing them anywhere near their goal while they bombarded the Argyle net.

And yet, it took them till the 76th minute before they could take the lead, through the same player, suspicions of offside but the goal stood. Plymouth tried, but when the third one went in thanks to DeBruyne, that was the end of Plymouth Argyle's incredible journey in the FA Cup.


Result: Manchester City 3 - 1 Plymouth Argyle
Scorer(s): Talovierov (PLY); O'Reilly (2), DeBruyne (MNC)
Giant killing? No



Teams: Preston North End v Burnley
Play in: Championship v Championship
Match played at: Deepdale

Not only a meeting of two Championship sides, but a derby of sorts too, as both are from Lancashire. It was in fact an Irishman who opened the scoring just after the half-hour, Robbie Brady netting for his team with a fine free kick. With four minutes of the half to go Burnley had a chance to draw level but shot wide of the post, three minutes later Preston were down their side and doubled their lead, and again the visitors squandered a chance to pull one back in extra time.

Preston missed a gilt-edged opportunity to make it three though just before the hour, Burnley continuing to apply pressure but getting no reward for their efforts as the home side took their third, and booked their place in the quarter-finals 14 minutes from time.


Result: Preston North End 3 - 0 Burnley
Scorer(s): Brady, Osmajic, Keane (PNE)
Giant killing? N/A



Teams: Aston Villa v Cardiff City
Play in: Premier League v Championship
Match played at: Villa Park

After our woeful display against Palace during the week, this was our chance to get through to the quarter-finals against a Championship team feeling the strain. Beautiful shot from Bailey on the half-hour but the Cardiff keeper able to tip it over, then one minute later Rashford could have been in, but wide of the post. Cardiff tried for a penalty but there was minimal contact, no deal, then Villa swarmed upfield again and this time it was Watkins' turn to try, and miss. Scoreless at the break then, multiple efforts by Villa but nothing troubling the keeper.

Cardiff had a shot on goal just after the hour, but Martinez able to smother it, then finally Asensio did what no other Villa player had been able to do, found a way past the keeper with 20 minutes to go. Ten minutes later and the Spaniard had his and Villa's second, the game finally won, though not as easily as perhaps it should have been.


Result: Aston Villa 2 - 0 Cardiff City
Scorer(s): Asensio (2) (AST)
Giant killing? No



Teams: Newcastle United v Brighton & Hove Albion
Play in: Premier League v Premier League
Match played at: St. James Park

Penalty for Newcastle gave the returning Isak the chance to take the lead for his team, not wasted, but then a minute before the end of the half Brighton levelled, so all square at the break. After a deliberate push on a Brighton player in the second half Gordon was dismissed, leaving the advantage now surely with the Seagulls. That advantage did not last long though; in a fairly bad-tempered match, a Brighton player also saw red, parity restored. Scharr then went on to win it for the Magpies, or did he? VAR, annoyed at being excluded from the first four rounds it would seem, got involved and ruled the goal offside. To add insult to injury then, Brighton took it in the second half of extra time to knock the Toon out.
Result: Newcastle 1 - 2 Brighton & Hove Albion
Scorer(s): Isak (p) (NEW); Minteh, Welbeck (BHA)
Giant killing? N/A


Teams: Manchester United v Fulham
Play in: Premier League v Premier League
Match played at: Old Trafford

The walls of Old Trafford, so dependable in decades gone by, have begun to crack and show signs of falling. Worrying at those cracks today were Fulham, who used to be something of a joke team (anyone remember Citizen Smith?) but who have scaled the heights of the Premiership and currently stand 9th, while United are looking up enviously from 14th, with a 9-point gap between the teams. Nevertheless, theoretically, Man United should have home advantage, but that would all depend on how well they responded to their recent failures and how much they want to keep their history in the FA Cup alive.

Lots of chances for both sides, more of them for the home team really, but still scoreless halfway through the opening period. Great chance for Fulham with 8 minutes of the half to go, but just over the top, then five minutes from the half-time whistle United had a decent shot at opening the scoring, but Zirksee shot wide. The home side definitely piling on the pressure in the last few minutes though. Shearer noted that the teams were equally poor in the final third, and I'd agree: chances were wasted, possession lost cheaply, and neither team looked that likely to score, until the very last seconds of the half, when Fulham scored from their second corner.

Twenty minutes from the end it was once again the Man United captain who came up trumps to level the match, and possibly force extra time. Eight minutes of that had to elapse first though in the normal course of play, which surely gave either team the chance to go for the winner. United almost did it, breaking away from a pretty solid Fulham attack down their end, but the keeper was able to keep it out. And so to extra time, another thirty minutes to decide the tie, which, though it had come alive eventually, had been less than a classic for most of the game.

Nothing to separate the two teams after extra time either, and so it was another penalty shoot-out, so would it be a repeat of when United met Arsenal in the third round and kicked the Gunners out of the competition, or would this be revenge by proxy for the other London team? First up Man United, scored, then Fulham who also scored. 1-1. All square after two penalties each, and again after three, then United's fourth was stopped. If Fulham could score now they'd have a real advantage. And they did. 4-3 to the visitors. United simply had to score their next penalty or it was all over for them. And they missed! Well, credit where credit is due: the penalty wasn't missed but saved by the keeper. Either way, the result is still the same: United out!


Result: Manchester United 1 - 1 Fulham (Fulham win 4-3 on penalties)
Scorer(s): Bassey (FUL); Fernandes (MNU)
Giant killing? No, but the holders are kicked out.