Progress of underdogs sets up thrilling FA Cup climax

The fifth round of the FA Cup saw the exit of heavy hitters, in Manchester United and Newcastle United, while Manchester City had to come from behind to overcome Plymouth Argyle. Here are three key talking points.

Unfancied sides add to buzz

Despite the dreary start to this season’s FA Cup, we are now set for what could be one of the most memorable editions yet.

After United’s

demise at the hands of Fulham,

City are the only team from the English Premier League’s Big Six left, with the earlier exits of Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur.

It will be interesting to see if the FA Cup final on May 17 could deliver another shock outcome since 2013 when Wigan Athletic defeated City 1-0 to claim the trophy for the first time in their history, and in the same season that they were relegated.

The other teams besides City are not considered big names, although Nottingham Forest, who faced Ipswich Town on March 3 to decide the last of the quarter-finalists, are currently third in the EPL standings. The result of that match was not available at press time.

Fulham, Bournemouth, Crystal Palace and Brighton and Hove Albion have never lifted the Cup while the rest have not won it in decades, including Preston North End, the only non-top-flight team in the fray.

Even if City can somehow salvage their dismal domestic campaign by winning an eighth FA Cup, that too would make for a worthy redemption tale given all the trials and tribulations that they have faced this season, both on and off the pitch.

Red mist could prove costly

With 15 goals in 29 matches, there is no doubt that Brazilian forward Matheus Cunha has been Wolverhampton Wanderers’ most important player this season.

And he underlined that with a sensational equaliser in the FA Cup clash against Bournemouth to take the tie into extra time. But a moment of madness saw Cunha sent off for violent conduct after he lashed out at Cherries defender Milos Kerkez as Wolves went on to lose 5-4 in the penalty shoot-out.

While the loss will sting, Cunha’s suspension could hurt even more as Wolves are embroiled in a relegation battle, sitting just five points off the bottom three.

Cunha will now miss Wolves’ next three matches – against Everton (16th), Southampton (20th) and West Ham United (15th) – which, on paper, look winnable.

Newcastle too would rue the absence of key player Anthony Gordon for the League Cup final against Liverpool on March 16.

The forward, who has started 25 of the team’s 27 Premier League matches this season and scored nine goals across all competitions, was sent off for violent conduct during their extra-time

defeat by Brighton.

Rip off the plaster, Amorim

Returning to Wembley to contest the final for the third time in as many years would have been a boost for United following a miserable league campaign.

However, they have lost that opportunity after their exit at the hands of Fulham and will now turn their attention to the Europa League, which represents their final chance at silverware.

So, with almost nothing much to play for domestically – United are 16 points clear of the relegation zone with 11 matches left – it is time for Ruben Amorim to rip off the Band-Aid and play the kids for the rest of the league campaign.

Simply put, what else is there to lose? After all, in the lead up to the FA Cup tie, he had already hinted at a summer clear-out when he said: “So I’m pretty honest with my players, and they already know that sometimes you have to move on after the season.”

Teenagers Ayden Heaven and Chido Obi both did enough in their cameos against Fulham to have given the manager food for thought.

It is a chance to have an early head start for next season’s rebuilding, and there should be no place for players who are deemed surplus to requirements.