Hughes sacked after Stoke’s cup exit
Stoke City fired manager Mark Hughes after the relegationthreatened Premier League team was beaten 2-1 by fourth-tier Coventry City in the FA Cup third round yesterday.
In a statement, the club said: ‘‘We would like to thank Mark for all he has achieved for the club over the last four and a half years, notably in guiding us to three successive ninth places finishes in the Premier League, and we wish him every success for the future.’'
Hughes took over as manager in May 2013, replacing fellow Welshman Tony Pulis. The Potters are 18th in the Premier League with 20 points from 22 games.
Hughes, a former Manchester United striker, had exactly 200 games in charge of Stoke, following spells in charge of QPR, Fulham, Manchester City, Blackburn and Wales.
Bournemouth avoided becoming another Premier League team to be eliminated by lower-league opposition, scoring an equaliser in the second minute of injury time to draw 2-2 at home to third-tier Wigan.
High-flying Chelsea were taken to a replay after drawing 0-0 at Norwich City, while the same fate awaits Leicester City after drawing 0-0 at third-tier Fleetwood.
Chelsea’s draw is the last thing coach Antonio Conte wanted after a hectic schedule over the festive period and with a two-legged League Cup semifinal against Arsenal coming up.
Conte fielded largely a reserve team which included David Luiz on his return from injury. Chelsea struggled in the first half but improved after the break, with Willian and Davide Zappacosta going close.
Fleetwood boss Uwe Rosler was proud of his young players against Leicester and insists his side will build on their performance.
‘‘Leicester are eighth in the Premier League, they’re a strong team, but we thoroughly deserved the draw and I think we could have won it,’’ he said.
‘‘Our young players, and we have a lot of them, they showed a lot of ability today but also game management.
‘‘We took them right to the wire and unfortunately we didn’t win it.’’
Premier League leaders Manchester City produced a stirring second-half fightback to beat Burnley 4-1, after going into halftime a goal down. Sergio Aguero launched the recovery
with two goals in a two-minute span.
City are still on corse for a quadruple of trophies this season. They lead the Premier League by 15 points, are into the semifinals of the League Cup and have progressed to the last 16 of the Champions League.
Other Premier League teams to advance yesterday were Watford, Southampton, Huddersfield and West Bromwich Albion.
Millwall thrashed Championship rivals Barnsley 4-1, while
Middlesbrough continued Sunderland’s miserable year with a 2-0 win over their northeast rivals.
Sunderland ended a decadelong stay in the Premier League this season and are anchored to the bottom of the Championship with just four wins from 26 matches.
On Saturday, Liverpool edged Everton 2-1 in a Merseyside derby where record signing Virgil van Dijk grabbed a late winner, while Manchester United also left it late to beat Derby County 2-0.