From ‘Hughes Out’ to a years’ supply of pizza: 10 FA Cup stories so far you might have missed from-hughes-out-to-a-years-supply-of-pizza-10-fa-cup-stories-so-far-you-might-have-missed
As the new year kicks in, the FA Cup is back with the addition of the Premier League and Championship teams.
The third round is usually the place for giant killings with then-non league Lincoln City beating Championship Ipswich Town as part of their historic run to the quarter-finals last year.
However, with no non-league side in the third round this year, neutrals hoping for upsets would have to rely on the lower league sides – and they were not disappointed.
While eyes may have been focusing on certain games, here are 10 things you might have missed from the FA Cup third round so far.
- Fleetwood Town goalkeeper’s clean sheet reward
In keeping a clean sheet against Premier League side Leicester City, Fleetwood Town goalkeeper Chris Neal has won a year’s supply of pizza.
Before the game, Fleetwood’s shirt sponsors Papa Johns promised Neal free pizza for a year should he stop Leicester’s attackers from scoring.
The goalkeeper can now look forward to his well-earned treat – should his manager let him!
- Stephen Ireland’s first game in 20 months
As Stoke City took on League Two side Coventry City, there was a name in the starting line up which has not been seen since May 2016.
Stephen Ireland was playing for the first time since breaking his leg in Stoke’s 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace at the end of the 2015/16 season.
Unfortunately for the midfielder it was not a happy return as his side fell to Coventry in what is the shock of the round so far.
- Jordan Willis scored his first goal for Coventry for almost a year
Putting Coventry in the lead against Premier League side Stoke, defender Jordan Willis scored his first goal since 24th January 2017.
Struggling in defence, Stoke failed to deal with a Coventry corner, as the ball was headed across the goal for Willis to tap in at the far post past Jack Butland.
The last team to concede to Willis was Peterborough United in League One, the opener in a 1-1 draw as Coventry were eventually relegated at the end of the season.
- Hughes Out banners on display at the Ricoh Arena
Things aren’t going well for Mark Hughes at Stoke City.
Struggling in the league, Hughes might have seen a game against League Two Coventry as a welcome distraction and a platform on which to build a run of form.
However, Coventry had other things in mind and with the home side 1-0 up going into half-time, Stoke fans decided enough was enough, brandishing a ‘Hughes Out’ banner.
- Will Grigg’s on fire
Upon putting League One Wigan Athletic up against Premier League side Bournemouth, Will Grigg scored his 100th club career goal.
Rising to wider-football knowledge during the 2015/16 season on account of that song, which can still be heard in nightclubs and darts halls to this day, Grigg got onto the end of Gavin Massey’s header, striking low past Artur Boruc.
- Bournemouth’s unlucky charm
Emerson Hyndman has started two games in his Bournemouth career so far – both of which took place against League One sides, and both of which have ended in poor results.
In last season’s FA Cup third round, Bournemouth took on League One side Millwall, with Hyndman starting in midfield. But the American was taken off after 55 minutes as the Cherries fell 3-0 at the Den.
This season, Hyndman started again in the third round, against Wigan, and helped the Latics to their second goal as Nick Powell’s freekick deflected off the midfielder into the back of the net for 2-0.
The Cherries did save Hyndman’s blushes to some extent, with a late goal earning Eddie Howe’s men a draw.
- David Silva honoured by Man City fans
David Silva shared some upsetting news in the week leading up to the FA Cup third round, as he issued a statement explaining his son’s premature birth in Spain over the Christmas period.
Manager Pep Guardiola was unsure on the Spaniard’s availability for the game, but the midfielder led City out against fellow Premier League side Burnley.
And on the 21st minute, Silva’s shirt number, the 31-year-old was honoured by City fans who held a minute’s applause to show their support.
- Jesse Lingard’s impressive season continues
In scoring Manchester United’s opener in their 2-0 win over Derby County on Friday night, Jesse Lingard notched his 11th goal of the season.
The midfielder has been in fine form for United, which has shown in him dragging the side to wins against stubborn opponents.
But his run was highlighted by the fact that Lingard’s goal against Derby meant he has now scored the same amount of goals for United this season as he managed during the rest of his United career.
- Liverpool’s unbeaten run vs Everton
A Merseyside derby and a dream debut on Friday night saw Liverpool beat Everton 2-1 in the FA Cup third round.
While headlines were understandably focused on Virgil van Dijk scoring the winner in his first game for Liverpool, the Reds’ win brought a new club record.
Liverpool have now gone 16 games without losing to Everton, a run which started in January 2011 – the last time the Toffees beat their rivals was in October 2010 as Tim Cahill and Mikel Arteta scored for a 2-0 win at Goodison Park.
The previous record for Liverpool was a 15-game run, set between 1972 and 1978.
- West Brom finally win
Given a relatively straightforward tie against League Two side Exeter City, West Bromwich Albion won just their fourth game of the season.
Since beating Accrington Stanley 3-1 in the second-round of the Carabao Cup on August 28, 2017, West Brom have gone 21 games without a win in all competitions.
The run saw Tony Pulis replaced with Alan Pardew in November, but the former Crystal Palace manager could not turn around the club’s fortunes until Salomon Rondon and Jay Rodriguez scored in a 2-0 win at St James Park.