The FA Cup third round starts on 7 January so to get you in the mood Joe Dyer picks the five greatest shocks in Betfair history with details of what happened on the pitch and in the betting…
“One shrewd punter backed Oldham at 200/1 before they scored the equaliser against Fulham in the 76th minute.”
Get the story of some of the 21st-century’s greatest FA Cup third round shocks.
Traore trouble delights Clarets
Burnley v Liverpool – 18th January 2005
Burnley are used to playing big clubs nowadays but, back in 2005, the Clarets were in the second tier and hadn’t played in the top flight for nearly 30 years, so a home tie against Liverpool was a mouthwatering prospect.
Burnley were as big as 9/1 before kick-off, while Liverpool were backed at 2/5.
On 51 minutes, Reds defedner Djimi Traore got himself in a terrible pickle and managed to walk the ball into his own net, much to the chagrin of Jerzy Dudek.
Rafael Benitez’s men couldn’t muster an equaliser and, at the final whistle, there was jubilation for the East Lanacashire club. Liverpool, meanwhile, would go on to win the Champions League five months later.
Beckford fires Leeds to famous victory at Old Trafford
Man United v Leeds – 3rd January 2010
In 1990s and early-2000s, Leeds and Manchester United played ferocious Transpenine derbies and competed for the Premier League title. By 2010, however, Leeds had been out of the top flight for six years and were playing in League One.
A cup tie against their fierce rivals, who were then the Premier League champions, was both a daunting prospect and a unique opportunity for the once mighty Whites to pull off a famous victory.
Before kick off, Manchester Untied were 2/5 to win at Old Trafford. Leeds were backed in-play at 17/1 before Jermaine Beckford’s goal in the 19th minute proved decisive for Simon Grayson’s men.
Newport punish Puell’s Foxes
Newport v Leicester – 6th January 2019
The teams went into this third round tie 74 places apart in the league. And yet, the ingredients for an upset were there: a Premier League side struggling under an uninspiring manager, BBC television cameras, rain and a raucous crowd.
Newport started the game at a price of 10/1 but, after 10 minutes, Jamille Matt haeaded the hosts in front. Leicester scored in the 82nd minute and shortened into 11/4.
Newport drifted to 19/1 before winning a penalty with five minutes remaining. Padraig Amond kept his cool to score and settle the tie.
At the final whistle, Leicester manager Claude Puel was jeered by his own fans for fielding a weakened team. He was sacked the following month.
[embedded content]Oldham backed at 200/1 before stunning comeback
Fulham v Oldham Athletic – 6th January 2019
League Two Oldham started as 11/1 outsiders when they took on top flight Fulham at Craven Cottage.
Eleven minutes in, the hosts went 1-0 up and the Latics drifted to 79/1.
One shrewd punter backed them at 200/1 before they scored the equaliser in the 76th minute.
Fulham were still heavy favourties at 8/5 and they got a penalty in the 86th minute. But Daniel Iversen saved from Aleksandar Mitrovic and, two minutes later, Oldham took the lead through Callum Lang. That’s how it finished.
Crawley floor Bielsa’s boys
Crawley v Leeds – 10th January 2021
Leeds feature again but this time for the wrong reasons. Last season, back in the big time, the Whites were fancied to ease past fourth tier Crawley who sat 62 league places below the Premier League club.
The League Two team started the game at 15/1 and, when it was 0-0 at half-time, they were still as long as 10/1 with Marcelo Bielsa’s team odds-on.
But two goals in two-and-a-half minutes after the break, includung a fine solo effort from Nick Tsaroulla and Ashley Nadesan’s drive, meant the upset was on. Crawley added a third and condemned Leeds to their four third round exit in as many seasons.
Source: Betfair FA cup
