Aguero fires City’s FA Cup bid
Hughes under pressure as Stoke crash
LONDON: Sergio Aguero fired Manchester City to a 4-1 win over Burnley in the FA Cup third round, while Stoke boss Mark Hughes is fighting to save his job after the Premier League strugglers suffered an embarrassing 2-1 defeat at minnows Coventry yesterday.
City boss Pep Guardiola named a strong team including Aguero, Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling at Eastlands, but the runaway Premier League leaders fell behind in the 25th minute. Ashley Barnes blasted into the top corner after City defender John Stones sliced his attempted clearance.
However, Burnley hadn’t won at City since 1973 and Argentina striker Aguero ensured that run continued. City, who last tasted defeat in domestic competition in their FA Cup semi-final against Arsenal in April, were level in the 56th minute when Aguero fired home from Ilkay Gundogan’s pass. Aguero then finished off a superb backheeled pass from Gundogan in the 58th minute. Sane prodded home to put the result beyond doubt in the 71st minute and Bernardo Silva made it four in the 82nd minute. At the Ricoh Arena, Hughes could face the sack after fourth tier Coventry rolled back the years with a memorable cup result. With Stoke in the relegation zone, it was reported this week that the club’s hierarchy had considered dismissing Hughes and whether he can survive any longer must now be in doubt. Coventry have fallen on hard times since winning the FA Cup in a classic 1987 final against Tottenham and now reside in League Two-their first time at that level since the 1950s-after a spell having to play their home matches in Northampton due to a stadium row. Jordan Willis put the underdogs ahead in the 24th minute with his first goal in a year.
Grigg gave Wigan a fourth minute lead
BOURNEMOUTH ESCAPE Willis conceded a 52nd minute penalty with a foul on Ramadan Sobhi and Charlie Adam stepped up to equalise. But Coventry right-back Jack Grimmer weaved his way through Stoke’s defence and side-footed past Jack Butland in the 67th minute. At Dean Court, Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe made eight changes as he prioritised Premier League survival and it needed a second half revival from his understudies to rescue a 2-2 draw against Wigan.
Northern Ireland forward Will Grigg gave Wigan a fourth minute lead from close-range and there was worse to come for Howe in the 29th minute when Emerson Hyndman’s own goal doubled the visitors’ lead. Yet Lys Mousset reduced the deficit for Bournemouth in the 55th minute and League One leaders Wigan, who won the FA Cup in 2013, were denied a surprise win by Steve Cook’s goal two minutes into stoppage-time. Newcastle had been tipped as potential upset victims, but they swept away fourth tier leaders Luton with a 3-1 win at St James’ Park. Rafael Benitez’s side ran riot in the first half as Ayoze Perez netted in the 30th and 36th minutes before Jonjo Shelvey struck after 39 minutes. West Bromwich Albion won for the first time in 21 games in all competitions, a 2-0 win at fourth tier Exeter giving boss Alan Pardew his first victory since replacing the sacked Tony Pulis. Salomon Rondon’s long-range drive put Albion ahead in the second minute and Jay Rodriguez added the second goal in the 25th minute. Watford avoided more cup misery against giant-killers Bristol City with a 3-0 win at Vicarage Road.
Second tier Bristol face Manchester City in the League Cup semi-finals next week after stunning Manchester United in the last eight. City had also won at Vicarage Road in the League Cup this season, but Watford avoided another embarrassing loss thanks to goals from Andre Carrillo, Troy Deeney and Etienne Capoue. Southampton won 1-0 at Fulham, Huddersfield beat Bolton 2-1, Swansea drew 0-0 at Wolves and Leicester were held to a 0-0 draw at third tier Fleetwood. — AFP