Saturday 24 January 2015

Chelsea, Man City stunned at home by lower-league teams on day of shocks in FA Cup



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Middlesbrough's Patrick Bamford, lower second right, celebrates with teammates after scoring during the English FA Cup fourth round soccer match between Manchester City and Middlesbrough at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2015. (AP Photo/Jon Super)Middlesbrough's Patrick Bamford, lower second right, celebrates with teammates after scoring during the English FA Cup fourth round soccer match between Manchester City and Middlesbrough at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2015. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
The FA Cup lived up to its so-called "giant-killing" reputation on Saturday when Chelsea and Manchester City were eliminated at home by lower-league opposition on a day of fourth-round shocks in the world's oldest knockout competition.
The Saints were beaten 3-2 at St Mary's by Crystal Palace and eight-time winners Tottenham also missed out on a place in Monday's fifth-round draw as they conceded twice in the closing seven minutes to lose at home to Leicester City.
'A disgrace'
But no side spanned a gulf in class quite like Bradford City, who became the first team to ever put four goals past a Mourinho side in a home game despite being 49 places below Chelsea in England's football pyramid.
"I repeat a word I used before this match - It's a disgrace for a big team to lose to a small team from a lower team," said
Mourinho, who won the FA Cup during his first spell at Chelsea in 2007.
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A stoppage-time volley by Jeffrey Schlupp gave Leicester a thrilling FA Cup victory at Tottenham
Tottenham 1-2 Leicester City
"Frustration is not the right word, embarrassed would be more appropriate."
'Absolutely bouncing'

The Bantams upset Premier League opponents en route to a League Cup final appearance in 2013 and became the first third-tier team to score four against the Blues in 57 years.
Manager Phil Parkinson told BBC Radio 5 live: "The lads are absolutely bouncing in that dressing room and what they've done today will be remembered for a very long time - not just in Bradford but all around the country.
"When we got to Wembley by getting the result at Villa Park, it was a day we'll never forget, and we've had some terrific ones, but playing the league leaders and one of the best teams in Europe and scoring four goals... That's going to take some beating."
'Worst squad we've ever seen'
A jubilant Bradford City co-chairman Mark Lawn told BBC Radio 5 live Parkinson inherited the "worst squad we have ever seen" when appointed in 2011 and that this fixture allowed the club to break even from a million pound overspend this season.
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FA Cup: Blackburn 3-1 Swansea highlights
FA Cup: Blackburn 3-1 Swansea highlights
"We've just beaten a team that is as good as Barcelona," said Lawn. "It just goes to show Match of the Day should have us on telly all the time, because we score you goals."
Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini refuted any suggestion his side's recent trip to Abu Dhabi to play an exhibition game had any impact on their exit.
City had 65% of possession and 24 shots at Etihad Stadium but fell behind to a goal from Chelsea loanee Patrick Bamford before Kike's second.
"We were nervous," said Pellegrini, whose team returned from the Gulf state late on Friday. "They are a team who work well, that's why they are second in the Championship. They had opportunities to score more goals and deserved to go through."

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