This week saw the FA cup return for the fifth round ties, with Everton versus Tottenham being the tie of the round.
The game did not disappoint! Nine goals were scored in the game where despite taking the lead in the fourth minute, the London club ended up losing the match.
Here are my winners and losers from this midweek action…
Winners:
5. Sheffield United – Another win in the cup for the Blades, if only they could play lower opponents every week!
The winning feeling is good for confidence and Sheffield United have added three wins in the league in between their cup exploits since the start of the year.
Perhaps a cup run could help the group push on and try and achieve the impossible and survive.
Billy Sharp’s penalty in the 66th minute was enough to see off Championship side Bristol City.
4. Manchester United – It wasn’t the prettiest of games but United made a new club record with their victory over West Ham United.
Victory ensured Ole’s team made it seven consecutive appearances in round six.
Interestingly, the last time United failed to make it this far was in the 2013/14 season when they lost to Swansea City.
Scott McTominay came off the bench to score his seventh goal of the season smashing the ball into the bottom corner.
3. Manchester City – Another solid performance from Pep Guardiola’s side. The Citizens created a new record of 15 consecutive victories in all competitions.
Goals from Kyle Walker, Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus was enough to ease past the Championship opposition.
This is the third time in-a-row City have been past the fifth round and they look like the team to beat at the moment!
2. Everton – The Toffees have made the sixth round of the cup for the first time in five seasons after their entertaining tie against Spurs where the game ended 5-4.
Everton found themselves 1-0 down before scoring three goals in six minutes to take a commanding lead before Spurs hit back.
Bernard finished the tie in extra-time with a fine volley inside the box on the 97th minute. Can they end their 26-year drought without a trophy?
1. Bournemouth – The Championship side added momentum to their promotion push with a convincing 2-0 win against Premier League side Burnley.
The Cherries, who are currently without a manager, struck twice in the game, one in each half to give caretaker boss Jonathan Woodgate a surprise win on Tuesday night.
Bournemouth have only made it to the sixth round once before in their history in 1983 when Harry Redknapp was in charge.
Sam Surridge scored in the 21st minute and Junior Stanislas made it two from the spot in the 88th minute.
Bournemouth are the lowest ranked side left in the competition.
LOSERS:
5. Wolverhampton Wanderers – Is their season over now? They are currently 12 points from a European place and 12 points clear of the relegation zone.
A good chance to keep the season alive for Wolves was missed tonight after suffering a 2-0 defeat to Southampton.
They were second best for most of the game and the home side failed to pile more misery on Saints – who came into the game without a win in five matches.
Wolves have only made it to the sixth round once in 18 years and goals from Danny Ings and Stuart Armstrong meant they weren’t making it this year.
To make matters worse these were the only goals they have conceded in this years competition.
4. Burnley – Losing games will not help the confidence of Burnley going into the next set of fixtures as they are not mathematically safe yet.
The Clarets opted to rotate, making eight changes, from the side that drew with Brighton in the league. But, they failed to muster enough clear-cut chances.
Jay Rodriquez had the best chance but failed to hit the target from a few yards out with half the goal open.
Focus will turn to the league where Burnley sit 17th with 23 points – eight points clear of the relegation zone but with a lot of football still to be played!
3. Donny Van De Beek – with Paul Pogba sidelined for a few weeks, many thought this would be the ideal time for the Dutch international to stake his claim in United’s midfield.
Yet, another uneventful game did not help his cause as he was subbed off in the 73rd minute.
United signed Van de Beek from Ajax in the summer but he has been limited to minutes and games this season.
2. West Ham United – The Hammers haven’t made it into sixth round since the 2015/16 season. They are having a very good season but they aren’t nailed on to get a European place.
Perhaps David Moyes should’ve taken the cup a little more seriously – as winning the club would’ve been a route into Europe for them.
West Ham were on a good run of form before the tie but lacked a vocal point with Michail Antonio missing and they didn’t help themselves by not creating enough opportunities.
In this strange season, you never know what could’ve happened!
1. Spurs – The wait for an FA Cup will continue for London club – there was once a time when if the year ended with a ‘1’ then Spurs were going to win the cup!
But instead it has been 30 years and counting since the side last won the competition.
It is also a third consecutive exit before the sixth round for the club – not the ideal situation as they brought Jose Mourinho in to help win trophies and so far he has failed to deliver on that front.
A catalogue of individual errors cost Spurs with captain Hugo Lloris accountable on more than one occasion.
This is the first time a Mourinho side has let in five goals since his Chelsea side lost 5-3 to his current employers back in 2015.
