Watford, Hull and Leeds suffer Cup upsets
Premier League clubs Watford and Hull City, and Championship side Leeds United paid the penalty for fielding weakened teams when they were all knocked out of the FA Cup in the fourth round on Sunday – but holders Manchester United won comfortably.
Like Liverpool, beaten at home by Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday, the three beaten sides miscalculated in resting so many players ahead of league games in midweek and could have no complaints at going out of the competition.
Yet United went through, winning 4-0 despite making nine changes at home to Wigan Athletic, which is in the bottom three of the Championship.
Watford lost 1-0 to League One (third tier) side Millwall and Hull, FA Cup finalists three years ago, was humbled 4-1 by Championship (second tier) side Fulham after missing two late penalties.
Leeds, fourth in the Championship and giving greater priority to returning to the Premier League after a 13-year absence, lost 1-0 to Sutton United, who joined fellow fifth-tier National League club Lincoln City in the last 16.
It is the first time two non-League clubs have progressed that far since the competition was reorganized more than 90 years ago.
At Old Trafford, Marouane Felliani broke Wigan’s dogged resistance in the 43rd minute by heading in a cross from former German international Bastian Schweinsteiger, making a rare appearance.
Anthony Martial, criticized by manager Jose Mourinho last week, then set up goals for Chris Smalling and Henrikh Mkhitaryan before Schweinsteiger added United’s fourth.
“The first half was not very, very good but we managed to be 1-0 in front,” Mourinho said. “The second half was much better and the job was done.”
Millwall, which beat another understrength Premier League team, Bournemouth, in the previous round, fully deserved the win earned for it with a goal by Steve Morison in the 85th minute.
Watford’s manager Walter Mazzarri had made seven changes, leaving experienced players like captain Troy Deeney and midfielders Etienne Capoue and Tom Cleverley among the substitutes.
They also lost goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon to injury just before halftime.
Manager Neil Harris felt his mid-table League One team fully deserved its victory over a side 40 places above it.
“We could easily have been three or four up by halftime,” he said.
“This club and this team epitomise what the FA Cup is all about.”
(Reuters)