This weekend’s FA Cup third round produced several shocking upsets, a period known for lower-league teams challenging the giants of the sport.
Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace became the first two Premier League clubs to be eliminated, falling to Wrexham and Macclesfield, respectively.
More unexpected results followed, with several lower-tier teams triumphing over their higher-ranked rivals…
Macclesfield Stuns Crystal Palace in Historic Upset
Macclesfield, currently 14th in the National League North, achieved a stunning victory against the reigning champions Crystal Palace, who are 117 places above them in the league hierarchy.
The match ended 2-1 in favor of Macclesfield, featuring goals from Paul Dawson and Isaac Buckley-Richards. Although Yeremy Pino scored a late free-kick to revive hopes for Palace, Macclesfield held on to secure one of the biggest upsets in FA Cup history.
Notably, Wayne Rooney was present at the match, supporting his brother John, who managed the underdog side.
Wigan Shocks Preston, Sparking Controversy
Ryan Lowe expressed his delight as Wigan, a League One team, defeated his former club Preston, currently sitting fourth in the Championship, with a narrow 1-0 win in the FA Cup third round at Deepdale.
A deflected shot by Harrison Bettoni in the 75th minute proved decisive, while Callum Wright also squandered a late penalty for Wigan.
Lowe praised his team for executing a solid game plan, limiting Preston to few chances and celebrating the victory with nearly 4,000 traveling fans who lifted the atmosphere.
In a cheeky post-match comment directed at Preston supporters, Lowe stated, “It was a special moment and if they’re going to give stick, you’ve got to be able to take it back.”
The Preston manager, Paul Heckingbottom, lamented the state of the pitch, calling it “a cow field” and “disgusting.”
Wrexham Advances Past Nottingham Forest in Penalty Shootout
Wrexham’s manager, Phil Parkinson, believes that their elimination of Nottingham Forest will bolster their aspirations to compete against Premier League teams on an equal footing.
Wrexham triumphed in a thrilling match, winning 4-3 on penalties after a 3-3 draw over 120 minutes, with Hollywood co-owner Ryan Reynolds watching from the stands.
This encounter marked Wrexham’s first meeting with a top-flight team since Reynolds and fellow owner Rob McElhenney took over nearly five years ago, marking the next step in their ambitious journey from the National League to the Championship.
Parkinson remarked, “This was another test against Premier League opposition, and the next step in our development is playing against these teams.” He acknowledged the need to learn from the match, stating that “if you give them an inch, you’ll be punished.”
PA Media contributed to this report.