Newcastle and Sunderland suffer FA Cup shocks
Saturday, January 8, 2011
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Newcastle United FC fell to Stevenage FC of the fourth tier on a day of FA Cup third-round action which also brought defeats by lower-league opposition for three other Premier League clubs.
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The north-east's two Premier League clubs, Newcastle United FC and Sunderland AFC, were among four top-flight sides to fall to lower-league opposition in Saturday's FA Cup third round matches.
Stevenage FC of the fourth tier were the star performers, defeating ten-man Newcastle 3-1 in the late game, while Sunderland (beaten 2-1 at home by Notts County FC) and Blackpool FC (2-0 at Southampton FC) both fell to clubs from the third division. The only second-tier side to claim a Premier League scalp were Reading FC as they held off West Bromwich Albion FC 1-0.
Arsenal FC needed Cesc Fàbregas's 90th-minute penalty to earn a 1-1 draw at home to second division Leeds United AFC, who had led through a spot kick from Robert Snodgrass. Stoke City FC and Wolverhampton Wanderers FC will also face replays after drawing against Cardiff City FC and Doncaster Rovers FC respectively.
Other Premier League sides found the going easier with Fulham FC the most emphatic victors as they overcame Peterborough United FC 6-2. Everton FC were 5-1 winners at Scunthorpe United FC and Birmingham City FC cruised to a 4-1 success at Millwall FC.