What are the biggest FA Cup 5th round upsets? Here at SportsLens, we take a look back at eight of the biggest shocks from the 5th round of the competition.
FA Cup 5th Round 2023/24
Whether you believe the FA Cup has lost it’s ‘magic’ or not – there is always a surprise or giant killing season after season.
The world’s most famous and oldest cup competition typically generates the major shocks in the earlier rounds. However, there are some memorable upsets in the latter rounds as well.
The FA Cup 5th round for the 2023/24 season had plenty of potential banana skin ties. Coventry City passed their test with flying colours against Maidstone United on Monday (February 26).
The Sky Blues put five past the National League South side without reply. Ellis Simms helped himself to a first-half hat-trick before Fabio Tavares hit a late brace.
EFL Championship leaders Leicester City were the only side who caused a minor shock this season. The Foxes secured a 1-0 extra-time victory away to Premier League Bournemouth on Tuesday (February 27).
Blackburn Rovers took Newcastle United all the way to penalties before bowing out to Eddie Howe’s team. Other than that, Chelsea, Liverpool and both Manchester clubs all progressed to the quarter-finals.
FA Cup 5th Round Upsets: The Biggest FA Cup 5th Round Shocks
1. Tranmere Rovers 4-3 Southampton (2001)
Tranmere Rovers 4-3 FA Cup 5th round win against Southampton in 2001 isn’t just one of the biggest upsets at this stage of the competition.
It is arguably the greatest ever come back in the FA Cup‘s entire history. The Division One strugglers were trailing 3-0 against their Premier League opponents at half-time.
Goals from Hassan Kachloul, Jo Tessem and Dean Richards put the Saints in complete control at Prenton Park. Then, it was time for Paul Rideout to take the game by the scruff of the neck.
Rideout, who scored the winner in the 1995 FA Cup final, fired in a superb second-half hat-trick to help John Aldridge’s side to a famous victory.
The winner was scored by Stuart Barlow which naturally, sent the Tranmere supporters into a frenzy. Saints boss Glenn Hoddle couldn’t believe what he was seeing.
2. Burnley 0-1 Lincoln City (2017)
When National League side Lincoln City travelled to Turf Moor to take on Premier League newbies Burnley in 2017, not many people gave them a chance.
Although the Clarets were struggling in England’s elite, the 5th round tie against the Imps was expected to be a walk in the park.
However, the FA Cup is never that straight forward. Sean Raggett scored the game’s only goal with just a minute left on the clock.
Lincoln’s famous upset was notable for two different reasons. They became the first non-league side in four years to beat top flight opposition.
It also meant that Danny Cowley’s side were the first non-leaguers to reach the quarter-finals of the FA Cup since Queens Park Rangers did so in 1914.
3. Colchester United 3-2 Leeds United (1971)
Leeds United were one of the most feared teams in the land when they visited Colchester United in the FA Cup 5th round in 1971.
Don Revie was the Whites manager at the time and the likes of Norman Hunter and Jack Charlton featured for the side who succumbed to one of the all-time shocks.
Colchester were a fourth tier side and their starting XI was packed full of veterans. The U’s were not to be undone by the great Leeds side, though.
A Ray Crawford double and a goal from Dave Simmons gave them a comfortable 3-0 lead at half-time. Leeds were unable to deal with Colchester’s direct style of play.
However, Revie’s side did put the pressure on in the second period. Two goals in a 12 minute spell set up a frantic finish but they couldn’t find a leveller.
4. Liverpool 1-2 Barnsley (2008)
Luke Steele cemented his place in Barnsley folklore after his stunning display helped the Tykes to a huge FA Cup 5th round shock at Anfield in 2008.
The goalkeeper was drafted in on an emergency loan just days before the Liverpool cup tie and he proved to be the bane of the Reds all afternoon.
Dirk Kuyt did get the better of Steele when he gave the Premier League giants the lead after 32 minutes. This was as good as it got for Rafa Benitez’s side.
Stephen Foster equalised for the Championship strugglers before the hour mark. Brian Howard – the club captain – fired in late on to give Simon Davey’s side a famous win.
Barnsley would go on to record another scalp in the quarter-final when they beat Chelsea 1-0 at Oakwell. Their glorious FA Cup run came to an end against Cardiff in the semi-final.
5. Arsenal 0-1 Blackburn Rovers (2013)
Arsenal were going through a transitional period when they welcomed Blackburn Rovers to the Emirates for their 5th round clash in 2013.
Nonetheless, Arsene Wenger’s side was expected to make light work of their EFL Championship opponents. Rovers’ Colin Kazim-Richards had other ideas.
The striker scored the only goal of the game to give the six-time winners a memorable victory on a chilly afternoon in north London.
Gervinho, Theo Walcott and current Gunners boss Mikel Arteta all missed great chances for the hosts on what proved to be a very bad day at the office.
Earlier in the 2012/13 season, Arsenal were defeated in the League Cup to lowly Bradford City. It was a campaign to forget in the domestic cups for Wenger’s side.
6. Leyton Orient 3-2 Chelsea (1972)
Leyton Orient pulled off their FA Cup 5th round upset against a star-studded Chelsea side in the 1971/72 season. The Blues were the victims of one of the biggest shocks in the competition’s history.
The likes of Peter Bonetti, Peter Osgood and Ron Harris were no match for the then Division Two strugglers. Even though the west Londoners took a 2-0 lead.
Brisbane Road was about to witness an FA Cup miracle as Orient scored three times without reply to secure one of their most famous wins in the club’s history.
In the quarter-final, Orient faced Arsenal where their journey came to an end. However, the win against Chelsea is still talked about amongst the fans even to this very day.
7. Barnsley 3-2 Manchester United (1998)
Ten years before Barnsley beat Liverpool at Anfield, they provided a memorable FA Cup 5th round scalp against Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United.
The Tykes were struggling in their first-ever Premier League season but the 3-2 win over the Red Devils gave the Oakwell faithful something to cheer.
Earlier in the season, Danny Wilson’s side was on the wrong end of a 7-0 thumping at Old Trafford. Nonetheless, John Hendrie’s equaliser in their first FA Cup 5th round clash saw the game go to a replay.
Another goal from Hendrie and an effort from Scott Jones gave the Tykes a surprising 2-0 lead against the English champions.
Teddy Sheringham gave United hope but the game was put to bed when Jones netted his second of the game. Andy Cole netted late on for the visitors.
8. Portsmouth 1-0 Liverpool (2004)
20 years ago, Portsmouth enjoyed a famous FA Cup 5th round victory against then six-time winners Liverpool at Fratton Park.
Pompey were struggling in the Premier League but Richard Hughes’ strike was enough to register a 1-0 victory against Gerard Houllier’s side.
Goalkeeper Shaka Hislop even saved a dubious Michael Owen penalty to further deny the Merseysiders on a famous afternoon on the south coast.
Hislop was arguably the real hero in this famous FA Cup 5th round upset with a series of fine saves to thwart the Reds attempts of an equaliser.
It was the second time in the 2003/04 season that Portsmouth beat Liverpool 1-0 on home soil. Patrick Berger scored the only goal of the game in the Premier League fixture in October 2003.
2024 FA Cup 5th Round Results
Monday 26th February
- Coventry City 5-0 Maidstone Utd
Tuesday 27th February
- Bournemouth 0-1 Leicester City
- Blackburn Rovers 1-1 (p) Newcastle Utd
- Luton Town 2-6 Man City
Wednesday 28th February
- Chelsea 3-2 Leeds Utd
- Nottingham Forest 0-1 Man Utd
- Wolves 1-0 Brighton
- Liverpool 3-0 Southampton
2024 FA Cup Quarter-Final Fixtures
- Man City vs Newcastle
- Chelsea vs Leicester
- Wolves vs Coventry
- Man Utd vs Liverpool
* Ties to be played March 16
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