Goals, shocks and fan power on a record-breaking FA Cup weekend

Getty Images
  • 1 Comments

If anyone required any convincing that the FA Cup still matters, this season’s record-breaking third round provided all the necessary evidence.

The FA Cup’s rich 155-year history has been defined by magical moments, giant killings and edge-of-your-seat drama.

It is a competition famous for producing stories worthy of retelling on stadium concourses around the country, and across generations.

Most third-round goals for 69 years

Only three times have more goals been scored in the third round of the FA Cup since that stage of the competition first featured 32 ties in 1925-26 (excluding 1945-46, when two-legged ties were played).

In total, 124 goals were scored across Friday, Saturday and Sunday’s 30 fixtures – an average of 4.1 goals per game – with two more ties still to be played, between Premier League champions Liverpool and League One Barnsley on Monday, and League Two Salford City and Swindon Town on Tuesday.

Just four of those goals were scored in extra time.

To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.

Manchester City contributed more than their fair share to that tally by thrashing League One Exeter City 10-1 at Etihad Stadium.

Premier League strugglers Wolves hit six past League Two Shrewsbury Town, while Chelsea, Burnley, Bristol City, Burton Albion and Norwich City all scored five goals.

League One Mansfield Town edged a seven-goal thriller at Championship side Sheffield United, while Wrexham and Newcastle United both won penalty shootouts following entertaining 3-3 draws.

Macclesfield record biggest ever shock

Undoubtedly the story of the round was non-league Macclesfield’s stunning FA Cup upset of holders Crystal Palace on Saturday.

Despite being ranked five divisions and 117 places below their Premier League opponents, Macclesfield were fully deserving of their remarkable 2-1 victory.

To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.

Macclesfield are the first non-league team to eliminate the FA Cup holders since Crystal Palace knocked out Wolves in the 1908-09 first round.

It was also only the ninth occasion in the past 100 years that a non-league side has beaten a top-flight opponent.

Away fans show up for the cup

The packed away ends witnessed across the country also suggested the FA Cup has not lost its appeal.

FA Cup rules allow for an away allocation of up to 15% of the home stadium – a much larger share than is usual at league matches.

Aston Villa supporters during the FA Cup third round match at Tottenham Getty Images

While there was never a hint of an upset at Manchester City, third-tier Exeter were backed by a near 8,000-strong away support.

Sunderland were able to celebrate their penalty shootout win at Everton with 7,732 travelling fans, while Leeds United had more than 5,000 supporters in the away end as they won at Derby County on Sunday.

No VAR, no problem?

The video assistant referee system (VAR) and semi-automated offside technology will not be introduced until the fifth round of this season’s FA Cup, as was the case in the previous campaign.

According to the Football Association, that is to ensure a consistent refereeing approach for all clubs in the third and fourth rounds, given the technology and infrastructure that it requires at stadiums.

Despite the increasing use of technology at the top level of the game, many decisions remain controversial, while lengthy waits for reviews to take place are another source of frustration for fans.

The third round passed without any controversial incidents stealing headlines and overshadowing results.

Wrexham among winners with loss of replays

When FA Cup replays were scrapped from the first round onwards last season, many clubs from the EFL and lower down the football pyramid criticised the decision for taking away a traditional revenue stream.

The decision was made to help ease the demands of a congested fixture calendar on Premier League clubs, with nine top-flight clubs qualifying to play European football this season.

To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.

The average number of changes among Championship and League Two clubs in third-round action was also up from last season, with only League One bucking the trend.

But so far this season, no lower-league team has been knocked out by Premier League opposition on penalties when they would have had a replay in the old days.

League Two MK Dons were the only club denied a replay against opposition from a higher division, losing out to Championship Oxford United on penalties.

Related topics

  • FA Cup
  • Football

More on this story

    • 17 October 2025
    A graphic of Premier League players from every team in the division in 2025-26 season, with the Premier League trophy in front of them.
    • 16 August 2025
    BBC Sport microphone and phone

After Maduro: Is the US driving global instability?

America First foreign policy means that the United States is becoming a country that opposes the rule of law, free trade and collective security, argues Ian Bremmer, president of the risk analysis firm Eurasia Group.

Bremmer tells host Steve Clemons that the international system built by the US over decades “was going to reach a geopolitical bust” regardless of the advent of President Donald Trump.

Brooklyn Beckham reveals the heartbreaking reason why he blocked David and Victoria

The legal letter sent by Brooklyn Beckham to his parents banning contact came after his mental health was affected following their online posts, it’s claimed

Brooklyn Beckham’s decision to send a legal letter to his parents asking them to stop contacting him was to protect his mental health. The 26-year-old has told friends how online posts from David and Victoria in which he was tagged or mentioned had impacted him. Brooklyn wanted any attempts to reconcile to be carried out “privately” rather in the glare of the public on social media.

A legal letter sent last summer urged David and Victoria to only communicate with his lawyers instead, and to cease direct contact. A source familiar with the row claims the situation arose only after his “requests to stop” had gone ignored. “It had been leading to issues with his mental health….it was to protect himself,” says the source.

However the situation continued to worsen in Brooklyn’s eyes after the letter was sent with Victoria liking one of his pictures, as well as dad David posting a black and white picture of him as a child at Xmas. He has since blocked his parents online. One of the main issues at play is that Brooklyn believes his parents still see him as a child and not as an adult. A pal said: “Even the Xmas post by his dad was of Brooklyn as a child.”

READ MORE: Brooklyn Beckham hits back at ‘misogynistic’ claim his wife Nicola Peltz controls him

Brooklyn is also said to be deeply hurt by “misogynistic” claims that wife Nicola Peltz is somehow calling the shots, and behind the estrangement. “This narrative is so sexist and misogynistic, and he does not stand for his wife being vilified in this way. It’s a story as old as time: blame the woman for the man’s actions. It’s just deeply insulting,” says a source.

David and Victoria were left devastated when they received a legal request to block all direct contact with him. They are “desperately sad” about the situation and friends say every post or contact has been done out of a desire for reconciliation. “They are only doing what every parent would do in this situation….they love Brooklyn deeply and will always be there for him,” says a source.

David, 50, and Victoria, 51, only tried to contact the couple to try and resolve things, pals claim. The aggressive legal approach is said to have blindsided them. Nicola’s father has previously hired £800-an-hour lawyer Marty Singer, who represented Prince Andrew and Bill Cosby, to sue wedding planners for Nicola and Brooklyn’s big day in 2022. The case was eventually settled.

Article continues below

The feud blew up after Brooklyn and Nicola did not attend David’s 50th birthday celebrations in London. The Mirror revealed last week how Brooklyn was still in touch with both sets of grandparents. A source said: “While things between him and his parents are over… Brooklyn is still very fond of his grandparents. There is a lot of love for them, and that has never faltered.” A particular low point came when they failed to invite the Beckhams to see them renew their wedding vows, three years on from tying the knot. Speaking about the ceremony last August, Brooklyn said: “We just wanted a really beautiful experience.

Love Island’s Jess Harding’s very brutal dig at Sammy Root ahead of All Stars

Love Island former winner Jess Harding is hoping to find romance once again on the upcoming series of All Stars – however, she couldn’t help but take a pop at her ex Sammy Root

Love Island winner Jess Harding has brutally critiqued her ex Sammy Root’s time on All Stars ahead of her own stint on the ITV2 show. The 25-year-old was due to enter the South African villa this week ahead of Monday’s first episode; however, ITV announced yesterday that filming would be postponed due to local wildfires.

While ITV has not yet confirmed when All Stars will be officially back on our screens, Jess will be one of the stars taking part along with the likes of Whitney Adebayo, Millie Court, Ciaran Davies and Shaq Muhammad. She’ll be following in the footsteps of her ex, Sammy, with whom she won Love Island in 2023 before splitting up just months later.

Sammy took part in All Stars’ second series, coming in fifth place with Elma Pazar. After finding love on the show, they broke up just four months later – with the scenes airing on TOWIE.

Speaking out about Sammy’s time on All Stars, Jess told The Sun: “I think he was very much stuck to Elma that whole time. Do you know what I mean?”

She continued: “He didn’t really go and explore those options like he did when he was with me. So, I think he realised that’s how – you know – to go and chat to girls, not in the right way but being transparent.”

Jess added that the last time she was in Love Island, she didn’t feel as though others were “transparent” with her and that Sammy played it a lot “cooler” when he went on All Stars.

She also clarified that she “wouldn’t mind” if Sammy entered the villa again, as she has “no bad blood” with any of the 2023 cast.

While All Stars was meant to kick off tomorrow night, with Maya Jama returning to show, ITV were forced to postpone its launch due to wildfires in South Africa.

A source told The Mirror: “Crew are understandably worried but the welfare team are making sure there’s support available. They’ve been told to stay in their hotels.”

ITV later released a statement, revealing that All Stars would be delayed. “Further to a production evacuation owing to ongoing wildfires in the area, our assessment of the location site has concluded that filming will need to be postponed,” a spokesperson said.

Article continues below

“Health and safety is our greatest priority and will always come first, and therefore the transmission of Love Island: All Stars will be delayed until a date to be confirmed.”

Love Island: All Stars will air later this year on ITV2 and ITVX.

Brighton Knock Troubled Man United Out Of FA Cup

Manchester United’s problems mounted as the managerless Red Devils crashed out of the FA Cup after a 2-1 defeat against Brighton on Sunday.

Brajan Gruda put Brighton ahead in the first half at Old Trafford, and former United striker Danny Welbeck netted after the break.

Benjamin Sesko’s reply came too late to save his side from a third-round exit as United teenager Shea Lacey was sent off in the final moments.

English referee Simon Hooper shows a red card to Manchester United’s English midfielder #61 Shea Lacey during the English FA Cup third round football match between Manchester United and Brighton and Hove Albion at Old Trafford Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on January 11, 2026. (Photo by PETER POWELL / AFP)

United were barraged by jeers from furious fans following the latest miserable result in another troubled season.

Caretaker boss Darren Fletcher has failed to stop the rot following Ruben Amorim’s shock sacking on Monday, with United looking to appoint an interim manager until the end of the season

Former United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Michael Carrick, a decorated ex-United midfielder, have both been linked with the temporary role.

But regardless of United’s past pedigree, the chaos enveloping Old Trafford hardly makes it an appealing job for any manager of stature these days.

Manchester United’s Slovenian striker #30 Benjamin Sesko reacts during the English FA Cup third round football match between Manchester United and Brighton and Hove Albion at Old Trafford Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on January 11, 2026. (Photo by PETER POWELL / AFP)

Welbeck, 35, was at United when they won their most recent Premier League title in 2013 under Alex Ferguson, who watched the Brighton debacle from the directors’ box as the current generation showed how far they have fallen from the Scot’s golden era.

United, currently a disappointing seventh in the Premier League, are without a win in four games and have managed only one victory in their last seven matches.

That wretched form is unlikely to improve anytime soon with United hosting Manchester City next weekend before travelling to Premier League leaders Arsenal on January 25.

After a humiliating League Cup loss at fourth-tier Grimsby in August, United have exited both domestic cups at the first hurdle for the first time since 1981-82.

Avenging their 2023 FA Cup semi-final loss to United, Brighton have now won on four of their last five visits to Old Trafford.

READ ALSO: Martinelli’s Hat-Trick Fires Arsenal Past Portsmouth In FA Cup

 United in disarray 

Manchester United’s Slovenian striker #30 Benjamin Sesko reacts during the English FA Cup third round football match between Manchester United and Brighton and Hove Albion at Old Trafford Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on January 11, 2026. (Photo by PETER POWELL / AFP)

United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo started for only the second time this season as Fletcher left Casemiro on the bench in one of three changes from the midweek 2-2 draw at lowly Burnley.

Albion keeper Jason Steele made fine saves to deny Diogo Dalot and Bruno Fernandes in the early stages.

But Brighton made the most of those escapes to take the lead in the 12th minute.

Welbeck was the catalyst with an incisive run and cross to Georginio Rutter, whose header was cleared off the line by Lisandro Martinez before Gruda slammed past Senne Lammens from close-range.

United were in disarray, and chants against co-owners Jim Ratcliffe and the Glazer family rang around Old Trafford.

Fernandes sent a free-kick wide, and Matheus Cunha was narrowly off-target as United trudged off with boos ringing in their ears at half-time.

Mainoo was hauled off in the second half after a lacklustre display that did little to rebuke Amorim’s decision to ignore him for much of this season.

United’s problems are far wider than just Mainoo, and Brighton punished their shambolic defending to double the lead in the 64th minute.

Manchester United’s Dutch forward #11 Joshua Zirkzee (L) comes on for Manchester United’s English midfielder #37 Kobbie Mainoo (R) during the English FA Cup third round football match between Manchester United and Brighton and Hove Albion at Old Trafford Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on January 11, 2026. (Photo by PETER POWELL / AFP)

Gruda was given time and space to pick out Welbeck inside the area, and he lashed an exquisite strike past Lammens as the atmosphere turned even more toxic.

Sesko set up a frenetic finale after heading home from Fernandes’ 85th-minute corner.

But United couldn’t muster a late escape as Lacey, already on a booking, brought a fitting end to a painful defeat when he was sent off for throwing the ball away in frustration.

Wuthering Heights fans make same complaint over Margot Robbie ‘latex’ dress

With the upcoming Wuthering Heights adaptation drawing comparisons to director Emerald Fennel’s Saltburn, fans have been critical of the remake and its “hideous” costumes

Wuthering Heights costume designer Jacqueline Durran has defended herself after fans laid into her “hideous” costume choices for Margot Robbie’s portrayal of Cathy in the upcoming adaptation.

It’s safe to say the controversial new movie, set for release on February 13, is challenging fans of the genre to be more open-minded with its reimagining. But some are simply not having any of it, with early critical reviews of Emerald Fennell’s adaptation reflecting the mixed opinions on the production.

Aside from the similarity with Fennel’s Saltburn and its “hypersexualised” narrative, the costume choices seem to have really riled up lovers of Emily Brontë’s timeless story, including a red latex dress. Taking to social media, users have been sharing their views on the upcoming release, which is soundtracked by Queen of BRAT Charli XCX.

READ MORE: New Wuthering Heights trailer promises a darker twist but fans are dividedREAD MORE: Wuthering Heights movie’s most disturbing moments as audience slams sexually explicit scenes

One fan wrote: “Images or styles that look good, and they chose a fugly plastic arts and crafts looking ahh dress with a bow.” Another complained: “A lot of costumes in period movies are not historically accurate, but at least they make sense… This just looks random.”

A third disgruntled X user wrote: “They are AWFUL and im not even mentioning if they are historically accurate or not. Hideous.” Another fumed: “Are we deada**???!!! You’re trying to tell me this is the 1800s and not a Met Gala dress?”

Someone else was keen to point out that although Margot, as always, looks great, the costumes are an insult to her. They raged: “Margot can wear a trash bag and still look like a goddess, but why did they actually make her wear a trash bag?”

However, the costume designer and two-time Oscar winner has defended the choices she made for the movie. As reported by Vogue, she explained: “It’s actually not latex – it’s just an ultra shiny, synthetic, plasticised contemporary fabric. Red is a key colour for Cathy throughout the film, and she wears a few high-shine pieces.

“That idea of shiny surfaces is key to Cathy’s character and costumes. We used this look in this scene because it was about combining the dress and the set in a really artificial and highly stylised way, because it has this rubberised, high-shine red floor.”

The costume designer went on to add that the “dates are all confused”, admitting the team weren’t trying to be historically accurate. She admitted they picked clothes “we like for each character”.

So there! But it’s not just the costumes that are raising eyebrows; the actual content is causing a stir with fans and critics, after it was reported that the opening scene consists of a man ejaculating upon execution (which those who have read the book will know definitely isn’t canon).

The film has had mixed reactions on social media, with some pointing out that the movie strays too far from its literary roots. One X user wrote: “This isn’t gothic romance, it’s Instagram aesthetics playing dress-up”. Meanwhile, a viral tweet summed it up as “The matcha Dubai chocolate labubu of film”.

Earlier this year, the film received similar backlash in the aftermath of its first screening in Dallas, Texas, where, as reported by World of the Reel, audience reactions were “largely mixed” – with some “visible restlessness” thrown in. Fans were largely in agreement, adding that they thought these scenes sounded “cheap” and were only added for shock value.

One commenter wrote: “Wuthering Heights is not an erotic book at all. Cathy and Heathcliffe’s love is minimally sexual at best; she is doing this purely for shock factor…”

Article continues below