A B C of Cup Success for Minnows
Premier League Teams Embarrassed in FA Cup by Smaller Clubs
This season the lower League teams have shown up many of the Premier League sides in the F A Cup through the commitment and hard work their more gifted opponents lacked.
Ambition, belief, commitment, determination and endeavour - qualities that the players from the lower leagues have shown in this season's FA Cup competition. While the Premier League players have been dreaming of overseas games, Champions League football and European competitions, the teams from the Championship and Divisions 1 and 2 have embarrassed their internationally renowned colleagues.
Only three Premier League clubs are through to the quarter finals of the competition - Manchester United, Portsmouth and Chelsea. Only one other team, Middlesbrough, remains in the Cup but they have to overcome Sheffield United in a replay at the Riverside. The Blades have already defeated Sven Eriksson's Manchester City and Bolton Wanderers in the previous rounds.
3rd Round Knockout
From the earliest Rounds the lower league clubs have shown greater commitment to the competition and knocked out Premier League teams.
In the 3rd Round Blackburn Rovers suffered a humiliating defeat at home to Coventry City and Everton also lost at home to Oldham Athletic.
Bristol Rovers from Division 1 who now play West Bromwich Albion have already defeated Fulham and Southampton.
Liverpool Defeated
Liverpool having struggled in the previous Round to defeat non-League side Havant and Waterlooville at Anfield, probably suffered the most embarrassing of defeats when a last minute goal put Barnsley through to the quarter-finals where they will meet the Cup holders, Chelsea. Rafa Benitez's disappointing season continues.
Portsmouth who meet Manchester United beat Preston North End in the last minute through a last minute own goal and also needed goalkeeper, David James, to save a second half penalty kick. Preston had beaten Derby County in the last round.
For the first time in many years one of the non-top four sides might make an appearance in the FA Cup Final at Wembley in May.
