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Top five FA Cup upsets

Sports Mole looks at five of the best FA Cup upsets with the first round taking place on Saturday.

Saturday sees the FA Cup begin again with the first round proper a key day in the year's football calendar. With teams such as Daventry Town and Biggleswade Town in the draw, it could be the biggest day in a lot of clubs' history.

To mark this day, Sports Mole has considered five of the best upsets in FA Cup history.

1. Wrexham 2-1 Arsenal, 1992

Division One champions Arsenal would surely be too strong for lowly Wrexham? Remember, this is the FA Cup, and nothing is certain. Usually an outsider needs to score first if they are to have a chance of an upset, but Wrexham did it the hard way in 1992.

After a strong start from Wrexham, the Gunners went ahead just before the break through Alan Smith, but there was fight in the Welsh side. Mickey Thomas thrashed in a free kick with 10 minutes to go before Steve Watkin scored a scrappy winner late on.

2. Liverpool 0-1 Wimbledon, 1988 final

Upsets are not limited to the early rounds of the FA Cup. In 1988, the 'crazy gang' were hugely unfancied finalists against the mighty Liverpool. The Dons had attracted criticism for their long-ball style of play but they proved on this day that it could be successful.

The goal, of course, came from a set piece, with Dennis Wise crossing from the left for Lawrie Sanchez to glance a header in. There was even time for the first ever missed penalty in an FA Cup final - with John Aldridge taking the dubious honour.

3. Sutton United 2-1 Coventry City, 1989

This remains one of the biggest FA Cup upsets in history as non-league Sutton United knocked out the 1987 champions Coventry City. Most of the Coventry team was still together, which made this upset all the more remarkable at Gander Green Lane.

Coventry were also third in the top flight at the time. After Tony Rains's header for Sutton was cancelled out by David Phillips, there was surely only one winner. Instead, Matthew Hanlon headed in following a Steve Ogrizovic mistake and the shock was complete.

4. Shrewsbury Town 2-1 Everton, 2003

This third-round tie, when it was drawn, was dubbed as a potential giant-killing. A team 80 places below Premier League opposition at home - managed by their former captain Kevin Ratcliffe - winning is what the FA Cup is all about, and Shrewsbury Town did not disappoint by beating Everton at Gay Meadow.

The home side's chance looked to have gone after Nigel Jemson's opener was levelled by Niclas Alexandersson. However, cue late drama as Jemson popped up with just two minutes to spare to sent the home crowd into raptures.

5. Liverpool 1-2 Barnsley, 2008

Coming from behind to win at Anfield is the sort of result even most Premier League teams can only dream of. So when struggling Championship side Barnsley went behind to Dirk Kuyt opener, the floodgates should have opened.

However, this being the FA Cup, Stephen Foster headed an equaliser which sent Liverpool flooding forward for the winner. It did come, but to Barnsley following Harry Kewell's shot against the bar. Barnsley went up the other end and Brian Howard stole the win.

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Matt Domm
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Dean Cox of Orient celebrates his goal during the FA Cup Third Round Replay match between Leyton Orient and Hull City at the Matchroom Stadium on January 15, 2013
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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
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3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest28156745331251
4Chelsea28147753361749
5Manchester CityMan City28145953381547
6Newcastle UnitedNewcastle2814594738947
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8Aston Villa2912984145-445
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13Tottenham HotspurSpurs281041455411434
14Manchester UnitedMan Utd2897123440-634
15Everton2871293135-433
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17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2865173857-1923
18Ipswich TownIpswich2838172658-3217
19Leicester CityLeicester2845192562-3717
20Southampton2823232068-489


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