Video – Football’s 10 biggest English cup shocks

With Chelsea being knocked out of the Carling Cup by Championship side Burnley I thought, this week, we would have a look at the 10 biggest shocks in English cup football. If you would like to add any to my list, please feel free.

Season – 2005/6
Competition – League Cup

Tottenham included players like Paul Robinson, Ledley King, Jermaine Jenas, Michael Carrick, Robbie Keane and Jermain Defoe.

With those players on the pitch you wouldn’t expect Jean-Paul Kamudimba Kalala to be making the headlines, but it was his goal that caused the embarrassment for the Premier League side.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGH1snW-sZk

Season – 1972/73
Competition – FA Cup

Second Division Sunderland had already beaten two First Division sides on the way to the FA Cup final but current cup holders Leeds United were expected to win their Wembley final at a canter.

An Ian Porterfield goal and an unbelievable double save from keeper Jim Montgomery helped Sunderland to become the first side from outside the top league to win the Cup for forty years.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_c97GEb44I0

Season – 2007/8
Competition – FA Cup

Barnsley sent a much changed Liverpool out of the FA Cup and increased the pressure on Rafa Benitez, who’s rotation policy was finding few friends on Merseyside or in America.

Goals from Stephen Foster and Brian Howard overturned a Dirk Kuyt strike for the Premier League side.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6o5RBc4W8A0

Season – 2007/8
Competition – FA Cup

Apparently lightening does strike twice. After beating Liverpool in the previous round, Barnsley only went and did it again by knocking Chelsea out on a memorable night in south Yorkshire. The only goal of the game was scored Kayode Odejayi.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NABRDxhs3Gg

Season – 1995/96
Competition – League Cup

York were in the third tier of English football when they travelled to Old Trafford. Unsurprisingly many of the star players for United were rested but they still had Paul Parker, Denis Irwin, Gary Pallister, Brian McClair, Lee Sharpe and Ryan Giggs in their line-up as well as a young David Beckham and Phil Neville.

Goals from Paul Barnes (2) and Tony Barras earned a convincing win for the minnows who will never forget that night.

Season – 1968/69
Competition – League Cup

Third Division Swindon Town had no chance at Wembley in the final against Arsenal, did they?

Arsenal’s side had been struggling with the flu and the conditions were terrible, so the odds were slightly evened up. Even so it was a surprise when Roger Smart opened the scoring for the Swindon. Bobby Gould grabbed a late equaliser for Arsenal, but Swindon’s Don Rogers scored twice in extra-time to seal a famous victory.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQ-rJx13s9g

Season – 1991/92
Competition – FA Cup

This match was between the team second in the then First Division and the team twenty-fourth in the Third Division.

Arsenal took the lead just before half time through Alan Smith and were just ten minutes from earning a hard-fought win until Mickey Thomas unleashed an unstoppable free kick past David Seaman.

There was no stopping Wrexham now and two minutes later Steve Watkin struck home the winner.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpeCtojBomI

Season 1988/89
Competition – FA Cup

Non-league Sutton United caused one of the biggest upsets in FA Cup history when they beat first division Coventry at their Gander Green Lane ground.

Goals from Tony Rains and Matthew Hanlan gave them a famous 2-1 win.

Just two years earlier, Coventry had won the trophy.

Season – 1983/84
Competition – FA Cup

Ron Atkinson took the current FA Cup holders to Dean Court to face Third Division side Bournemouth.

United came unstuck as Bournemouth outplayed them and ran out worthy winners with Milton Graham and Ian Thompson scoring the goals.

You might have heard of Bournemouth’s manager at the time. Some bloke called Harry Redknapp?

Season 1971/72
Competition – FA Cup

Hereford United produced probably the greatest Cup upset ever when they beat First Division Newcastle 2-1 in this third-round replay.

Newcastle looked as though they were safely through when England striker Malcolm McDonald scored with time running out.

However, Ronnie Radford then popped up to score possibly the most famous goal in cup history to take the game into extra time. Substitute Ricky George scored the winner as Hereford became the first non-league club to defeat a First Division side since 1949.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-ze42I6NEo

Over to you