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FA Cup: Five classic shocks

Sports Mole looks at five major upsets from FA Cup history.

The FA Cup reaches the third round this weekend and those Premier League clubs who are facing lower-league opposition will be keen to avoid any upsets.

The competition still has a knack of leaving fans open mouthed after all these years and this season is sure to be no different.

Here, Sports Mole picks out five memorable shocks in the tournament's history.

Hereford United 2-1 Newcastle United - Third-round replay, 1972

The quintessential Cup upset. Non-league Hereford grabbed a 2-2 draw on Tyneside before sending Newcastle packing with a 2-1 win at Edgar Street. Ronnie Radford got the hosts level with one of the most famous goals in the competition's history before Ricky George sealed the triumph.

Leicester City 1-2 Wycombe Wanderers - Quarter-final, 2001

Lowly Wycombe Wanderers stunned their Premier League opponents as they enjoyed a run to the semi-finals in 2001. With the scores level at 1-1, Roy Essandoh, who had answered an advertisement from the club for players on the internet, headed Wycombe into the last four with just minutes remaining. Cue plenty of fist pumping from manager Lawrie Sanchez, who had earlier been sent to the changing rooms by the referee.

Sutton United 2-1 Coventry City - Third round, 1989

Coventry City had won the FA Cup just two years earlier when they visited Gander Green Lane in 1989. Matt Hanlan etched his name into the history books with a winner to give minnows Sutton a famous triumph.

Wrexham 2-1 Arsenal - Third round, 1992

Holders Arsenal made the trip to the Racecourse Ground on a blustery night in 1992 hoping to come away with a place in the fourth round. Alan Smith's goal looked to have got them on their way before Mickey Thomas lashed in an unstoppable free kick to bring the Welsh side level. The scene was then set for Steve Watkin to grab a winner late on and create one of the major shocks of recent times.

Liverpool 0-1 Wimbledon - Final, 1988

It was glamour versus graft, top flight versus low end. When Liverpool took on Wimbledon in the 1988 final, the Merseysiders seemed guaranteed to lift the trophy for the second time in three years. However, Lawrie Sanchez and his teammates failed to read the script as they caused one of the greatest shocks ever witnessed at Wembley Stadium.

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Jack Prescott
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool15113131131836
2Chelsea16104237191834
3Arsenal1686229151430
4Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest168442119228
5Manchester CityMan City168352823527
6Aston Villa167452425-125
7Bournemouth157352320324
8Fulham166642422224
9Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton166642625124
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs1672736191723
11Brentford167273230223
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle166552321223
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd166462119222
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham155372028-818
15Crystal Palace163761721-416
16Everton153661421-715
17Leicester CityLeicester163582134-1314
18Ipswich TownIpswich162681628-1212
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1623112440-169
20Southampton1612131136-255


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