English Premier League giants ousted from FA Cup by lower-league opponents on a night of upsets
Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech looks stunned after being beaten by a shot from Bradford Cityu00c3u00a2u00c2u0080u00c2u0099s Jonathan Stead at Stamford Bridge on Saturday
London: Premier League title challengers Chelsea and Manchester City both crashed out of the FA Cup after being sensationally beaten by lower-league opponents in the fourth round on Saturday.
Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech looks stunned after being beaten by a shot from Bradford City’s Jonathan Stead at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. Pic/Getty Images
A weakened Chelsea team threw away a 2-0 lead to lose 2-4 at home to third-tier Bradford City in one of the biggest upsets in the competition's recent history, while City lost 0-2 to Championship high-fliers Middlesbrough at the Etihad Stadium. With Southampton beaten 2-3 by Crystal Palace, it means that none of the Premier League's top three teams will feature in tomorrow's fifth-round draw, blowing the competition wide open.
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Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho had warned prior to kick-off at Stamford Bridge that it would be a "disgrace" if his side were beaten by Bradford. But his words came back to haunt him as the League One team pulled off an upset that brought to mind their stunning run to the League Cup final in 2013.
Changes prove costly
Chelsea made nine changes to the team that had drawn 1-1 with Liverpool in Tuesday's League Cup semi-final first leg and took a 21st-minute lead when Gary Cahill flicked in Oscar's corner. Ramires made it 2-0 in the 38th minute, but Jon Stead replied for Bradford three minutes later and former Chelsea youth player Filipe Morais equalised 15 minutes from time.
Aleksandar Kolarov (left), Vincent Kompany (centre) and Pablo Zabaleta of Manchester City show their dejection after conceding a goal against Middlesbrough at Etihad Stadium on Saturday. Pic/Getty Images
A money-spinning replay beckoned for the team who are currently seventh in the third tier, 51 places below Chelsea, but they went ahead in the 82nd minute when Andy Halliday found the top corner from 18 yards.
Mourinho introduced Willian, Cesc Fabregas and Eden Hazard from the bench, but it was Bradford who had the final say as substitute Mark Yeates calmly slotted home to claim his own piece of FA Cup folklore.
City manager Manuel Pellegrini was left to face questions about his side's midweek trip to Abu Dhabi for a warm-weather training camp after they were eliminated by Middlesbrough. Currently second in the Championship, Middlesbrough weathered heavy pressure in the first half before capitalising on some farcical defending to take a 53rd-minute lead through on-loan Chelsea striker Patrick Bamford.
Fernando's back-pass sold Willy Caballero short and after the City goalkeeper collided with Albert Adomah, Fernando slid in to clear, only to play the ball against Bamford, whose touch took the ball in.
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