FA Cup Third Round Sees Major Upsets for Premier League Teams

The FA Cup third round, known for its unpredictability, witnessed remarkable upsets this weekend as several Premier League teams faced elimination at the hands of lower-league opponents.

Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace were the first top-flight clubs to exit the competition, suffering defeats to Wrexham and Macclesfield, respectively.

In a stunning turn of events, Macclesfield, currently ranked 14th in the National League North, managed to eliminate the defending champions, Crystal Palace, who are positioned 117 places higher in the football hierarchy. The match concluded with a 2-1 victory for Macclesfield, thanks to goals from Paul Dawson and Isaac Buckley-Richards. Despite a late free-kick from Yeremy Pino that briefly raised hopes for Palace, Macclesfield held firm to secure one of the FA Cup’s biggest surprises. Notably, Wayne Rooney attended the match to support his brother John, who managed the victorious side.

Ryan Lowe expressed his delight following Wigan’s unexpected 1-0 triumph over his former club, Preston, who currently sit fourth in the Championship. Wigan’s victory was marked by a deflected strike from Harrison Bettoni in the 75th minute, although Callum Wright missed a penalty shortly after. Lowe praised his team’s performance, stating, “I’m pleased for our fans and our lads; the game plan worked perfectly. We limited them to very few chances against a fantastic team, and we should have scored more.”

In a spirited post-match moment, Lowe took the opportunity to return some banter to the Preston fans.

Preston’s manager, Paul Heckingbottom, lamented the playing conditions, describing the pitch as “disgusting,” and emphasized the need to adapt to such challenges.

Wrexham’s manager, Phil Parkinson, praised his team’s performance after a thrilling encounter against Nottingham Forest, which ended in a penalty shootout following a 3-3 draw over 120 minutes. This victory, witnessed by Hollywood co-owner Ryan Reynolds, marked a significant milestone for Wrexham, advancing them in their quest to compete with Premier League teams on an equal footing. Parkinson noted, “This was another test against Premier League opposition, highlighting the next stage of our development. We will analyze and learn from this experience.”

This weekend’s matches serve as a reminder of the FA Cup’s rich tradition of surprises and the potential for lower-league teams to shine on the national stage.