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Sunderland suffered an embarrassing FA Cup fifth-round exit against third-tier strugglers Port Vale, while Championship side Southampton upset Fulham on Sunday.

Sunderland have enjoyed an impressive first season back in the Premier League, but this was a dismal defeat for Regis Le Bris’s side.

Ben Waine, a boyhood fan of Sunderland’s arch rivals Newcastle, capitalised on poor marking to head the 28th-minute winner, sending Port Vale into the FA Cup quarter-finals for the first time since 1954.

Jon Brady’s side appear destined for relegation, but they beat second-tier Bristol City in the fourth round and produced an even more remarkable performance to make a mockery of the 56-place gap between them and Sunderland.

The giant-killing will delight their most famous fan, pop star Robbie Williams, who grew up near their Vale Park stadium in Burslem and is now the club’s president.

It was also a memorable moment for Brady, a 50-year-old Australian who replaced the sacked Darren Moore in January and has spent his managerial career in the shadows with Brackley and Northampton.

“I’m trying to let it sink in at the moment. It was tremendous from the boys; we had to suffer at times,” Brady said.

“I couldn’t believe we were in the last 16, I told my kids we were in the last 32 by mistake.

“It’s nice to create history, isn’t it!”

Le Bris said: “I don’t think we were complacent. We went strong with the ambition to win, with the knowledge that it was a tough challenge. Full credit to them.”

‘You see how much it means’

At Craven Cottage, Ross Stewart’s ice-cool penalty in stoppage-time sealed Southampton’s 1-0 upset win.

It was a bitter loss for Fulham manager Marco Silva, who paid the price for a selection gamble that backfired.

Silva made nine changes following a disappointing 1-0 defeat against West Ham in the Premier League earlier this week, but his switches failed to produce the desired result.

Southampton won it in the first minute of stoppage-time when Finn Azaz was fouled by Fulham defender Joachim Andersen and Stewart drilled his spot-kick past Benjamin Lecomte.

Relegated from the Premier League last season, they are through to the FA Cup quarter-finals for the first time since 2022.

Southampton’s success served as a fitting tribute to the greatest day in the club’s history.

Their players wore a yellow commemorative kit to mark 50 years since they wore the same shirts when Bobby Stokes sealed second-tier Southampton’s shock 1976 FA Cup final win against Manchester United at Wembley.

Southampton’s current crop still have a way to go to emulate the achievement of Lawrie McMenemy’s men.

But Tonda Eckert’s side are unbeaten in 10 games in all competitions as they chase FA Cup glory and a place in the Championship play-offs.

“You see how much it means to the club,” Eckert said. “You can definitely say we feel the importance of it.”

Premier League strugglers Leeds beat second-tier Norwich 3-0 to reach their first FA Cup quarter-final since 2003.

Leeds boss Daniel Farke twice led Norwich to promotion to the Premier League before being sacked in 2021.

Prioritising his fight to avoid relegation, Farke’s decision to make nine changes paid off against his former club.

Chasing a first appearance in the final since 1973, Leeds went in front in the 32nd minute at Elland Road.

Sean Longstaff scored for the first time since September with a clinical finish from inside the area.

Gabriel Gudmundsson slotted home in the 43rd minute and Joel Piroe bagged Leeds’s third in the 85th minute.

Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool booked their quarter-final places on Friday and Saturday.

AFP

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Chelsea twice came from behind to deny Hollywood-owned Wrexham a fairytale FA Cup triumph on Saturday, edging past the second-tier side 4-2 in a captivating contest to reach the quarter-finals.

Wrexham, watched at the Racecourse Ground by actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, took the lead through Sam Smith, but the visitors were level courtesy of an own goal shortly before half-time.

In a breathless second period, Callum Doyle put the Welsh team back ahead again in the 78th minute, only for Josh Acheampong to equalise four minutes later.

The game changed complexion when George Dobson was sent off in stoppage time, and Alejandro Garnacho volleyed home in the first period of extra time before Joao Pedro’s late strike added gloss to the scoreline.

Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior, juggling Premier League and Champions League commitments, made nine changes to his starting team against the Championship club.

In-form Wrexham, who put out Premier League club Nottingham Forest earlier in the competition, went ahead in the 18th minute when Doyle found Smith with a raking long pass.

Smith’s first touch was superb, and he raced away from Tosin Adarabioyo before finishing coolly past Robert Sanchez.

Chelsea enjoyed the bulk of possession but created little against Phil Parkinson’s organised side, who are targeting a fourth-consecutive promotion — this time to the Premier League.

But Wrexham suffered heartbreak five minutes before half-time when the ball squirmed into the net off the back of goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo for an own goal.

Wrexham started the second half on the front foot again, putting Chelsea’s defence under huge pressure, roared on by a passionate home crowd.

Rosenior brought on forward Marc Guiu for defender Mamadou Sarr just before the hour mark, throwing on Marc Cucurella and Dario Essugo a few minutes later.

Wrexham continued to make life uncomfortable for the Club World Cup champions and retook the lead with a brilliant, instinctive flick from Doyle, who turned home Josh Windass’s shot in the 78th minute.

But just minutes later, Chelsea were all-square again, with Acheampong firing into the roof of the net.

Windass had a glorious chance to put Wrexham in front for a third time, but headed wide with Sanchez stranded and Pedro Neto rattling the bar at the other end.

Red Card

The dynamic of the match shifted when Dobson was sent off in stoppage time by referee Peter Bankes following a VAR review.

That gave Wrexham a mountain to climb, and their task was even harder when Essugo’s cross was finished crisply by Garnacho in the sixth minute of extra time.

Astonishingly, Wrexham had the ball in the net again after Kieffer Moore’s header was turned home by Lewis Brunt, but the goal was ruled out for offside by VAR.

Lewis O’Brien flashed just wide as Parkinson’s side finally ran out of chances with substitute Pedro grabbing a fourth for Chelsea.

Chelsea now turn their attentions to a Champions League last-16 date with Paris Saint-Germain in midweek, while Wrexham will continue their push to reach the Premier League.

AFP

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Mikel Arteta has slammed Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler’s claim that Arsenal “make their own rules” after the Premier League leaders moved a step closer to the title with a 1-0 win at the Amex Stadium on Wednesday.

Bukayo Saka’s deflected strike early in the first half sealed Arsenal’s third successive victory.

The Gunners are seven points clear of second-placed Manchester City, who were held to a surprise 2-2 draw by lowly Nottingham Forest.
Arteta have complete control of the title race as they chase a first English crown since 2004 after three consecutive runners-up finishes.
But if Arsenal do go on to claim the title, it is highly unlikely they will be held in the same regard as Arsene Wenger’s squad 22 years ago.

In contrast to the eye-catching style of the ‘Invincibles’, there is little to love about Arteta’s prosaic team, who have thrived thanks to their set-piece excellence and a supremely well-drilled defence.
Criticism of Arsenal’s ‘ugly’ tactics is growing, and Hurzeler was the latest to join the chorus as he accused the Gunners of time-wasting and faking injuries.
Hurzeler was frustrated by Arsenal’s habit of delaying the restart of the game at free-kicks.

Gunners’ keeper David Raya also went down injured on three separate occasions and required treatment, sparking suggestions he was faking to allow time for tactical discussions between Arteta and his players.

“I think there was only one team that tried to play football today. Did you see in a Premier League game a goalkeeper going down that many times? No?” Hurzeler said.
“They (Arsenal) make their own rules. At the moment, I have the feeling they are doing their own rules.
“I will never be the kind of manager who tries to win in that way.

“If I ask everyone in the room, did he really enjoy this game? I’m sure maybe one raises his arm because he’s a big Arsenal fan.

“Where will this go in the future? Is this what the supporters are paying for?”
Yet Arteta was unrepentant about Arsenal’s game plan, insisting his players deserved praise for grinding out another vital victory.

“What a surprise,” he said when informed of Hurzeler’s claims. “If you go back through previous games, you will find a lot of comments like this, always.

“I love my players. That’s the highlight. I love my players, and I love the way we compete.
“When you’re in the position we are in, obviously, the opposition want to take that away from you. That’s normal; that is sport.”

Arsenal aren’t earning many style points, but Arteta doesn’t care as they remain in contention for the quadruple.
As well as leading the Premier League, the Gunners face Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League last 16, meet Manchester City in the League Cup final, and visit Mansfield in the FA Cup fifth round.
Asked whether he cared what other managers thought of him, Arteta replied: “No comment.”