Sunday’s briefing: Macclesfield enter FA Cup folklore with Crystal Palace win

It was a momentous day in the FA Cup as Macclesfield pulled off one of the greatest shocks in the competition’s 154-year history.

Macclesfield, of the sixth tier, knocked out cup holders Crystal Palace, Wembley winners in May.

Elsewhere, Tottenham boss Thomas Frank came under pressure with another home defeat and Manchester City put 10 past shell-shocked Exeter at the Etihad Stadium.

Silky Macclesfield stun Palace in famous FA Cup upset

Non-league Macclesfield pulled off one of the greatest ever FA Cup shocks by eliminating holders Crystal Palace.

The Silkmen, reformed in 2020 after Macclesfield Town were wound up, claimed a famous 2-1 third-round victory against opponents 117 places above them in the pyramid.

Captain Paul Dawson headed Macclesfield in front two minutes before half-time, and Isaac Buckley-Ricketts doubled the lead on the hour from close range.

Yeremy Pino’s 90th-minute free-kick set up a nervy finish but Macclesfield, managed by Wayne Rooney’s brother John, ensured it was the first time the holders had lost to non-league opposition since Palace themselves beat Wolves back in 1909 while in the Southern League.

More jeers for Thomas Frank as Villa defeat leaves Tottenham job in jeopardy

Tottenham boss Thomas Frank felt the heat again as Spurs bowed out of the FA Cup with a 2-1 home defeat to Aston Villa.

Frank had endured a nightmare week after he inadvertently used a coffee cup with the logo of Spurs’ rivals Arsenal on before a 3-2 loss at Bournemouth on Wednesday.

A successful cup run had bought Frank’s predecessor, Ange Postecoglou, time last season, but first-half goals by Villa duo Emiliano Buendia and Morgan Rogers were enough to inflict a fourth defeat from Tottenham’s last seven matches.

Wilson Odobert reduced the deficit in the 55th minute and Spurs created further second-half chances, but they ultimately lost again to spark more boos for Frank and leave his tenure hanging by a thread.

Comfortable success for new Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior

Liam Rosenior’s Chelsea’s reign began with a five-star FA Cup show at Charlton.

Chelsea eased into the fourth round of the FA Cup with a 5-1 win at The Valley, with Jorrel Hato, Tosin Adarabioyo, Marc Guiu, Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernandez, from the penalty spot, on target.

Miles Leaburn’s strike to make it 2-1 briefly hinted at a Charlton comeback, but Chelsea had too much pace and power for their Championship opponents.

“The lads have been really receptive to us and I thank them for that, if we keep working in this way I’m excited for the future,” former Strasbourg boss Rosenior told TNT Sports, reflecting on his few days at Chelsea.

Debut goal for Antoine Semenyo as Manchester City reach double figures

Manchester City hit double figures in a 10-1 thrashing of Exeter as Antoine Semenyo marked his debut with a goal.

Pep Guardiola’s side demolished the League One outfit at the Etihad Stadium, equalling City’s biggest-ever win as Exeter conceded 10 goals in a competitive game for the first time.

Ghana winger Semenyo was one of nine different scorers for City, two of them being Exeter players putting through their own net.

Semenyo’s first City goal came little more than 24 hours after his £62.5million move from Bournemouth.

What’s on today?

Darren Fletcher will walk out at Old Trafford as Manchester United manager for their FA Cup third-round meeting against Brighton.

Fletcher’s previous game since succeeding Ruben Amorim was a 2-2 Premier League draw at Burnley.

There are seven other ties on Sunday with Premier League leaders Arsenal at Portsmouth, Leeds travelling to Derby and an all-London affair between West Ham and QPR.

William Hill Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts visit Dundee and Manchester City and Chelsea, the top two in the Women’s Super League, host Everton and West Ham respectively.