FA Cup: The Biggest Wins of the Third Round

The FA Cup’s magic was on full display during the recent third-round clashes, as football enthusiasts were treated to exhilarating matches and spectacular victories.

There weren’t any ‘giant killings’ as such, but there were plenty of dominant displays and standout performances across the weekend. 

That said, read on as we take a look at some of the biggest wins of the FA Cup third round…

Manchester City 5-0 Huddersfield 

The defending champions, Manchester City, hosted Championship side Huddersfield Town at the Etihad Stadium in a match that showcased their attacking prowess.

Pep Guardiola’s side made light work of their opponents, with Phil Foden stealing the limelight by netting twice.

Julian Alvarez and Jeremy Doku also found the back of the net, contributing to a comprehensive 5-0 victory.

Huddersfield’s misery was compounded by Ben Jackson’s own goal, emphasising City’s dominance and determination to defend their FA Cup title.

Chelsea 4-0 Preston North End

Chelsea faced a stubborn challenge from Championship outfit Preston North End at Stamford Bridge, as the first half ended goalless — leaving the Blues faithful somewhat frustrated with their side.

However, a second-half resurgence saw Chelsea break the deadlock just before the hour mark through Armando Broja.

Thiago Silva, Raheem Sterling, and Enzo Fernandez added to the scoreline — securing a convincing 4-0 win in West London and proving why they were the heavy favourites in the FA Cup bet markets.

Gillingham 0-4 Sheffield United

Struggling in the Premier League, Sheffield United found solace in the FA Cup as they convincingly defeated Gillingham 4-0.

This respite from league struggles was marked by braces from William Osula and James McAtee, both of whom are young talents at 20 and 21, respectively.

The Blades’ performance against their lower league opponents showcased their determination to make an impact in the cup, providing a glimmer of hope for fans amidst their league troubles.

Sheffield Wednesday 4-0 Cardiff City

Not to be overshadowed by their cross-city rivals’ win over Gillingham, Sheffield Wednesday dominated Cardiff City at Hillsborough Stadium with a resounding 4-0 victory.

Despite a significant gap of 13 places in the Championship table, cup magic prevailed.

Josh Windass, an own goal from Romaine Sawyers, and Liam Palmer secured a commanding 3-0 lead by halftime before Mallik Wilks added a fourth in the 91st minute. 

Coventry City 6-2 Oxford United

In the highest-scoring game of the round, Coventry City and Oxford United treated fans to an eight-goal thriller that had spectators on the edge of their seats.

The match kicked off with a bang as Joel Latibeaudiere’s early strike for Coventry was swiftly cancelled out by Mark Harris.

However, Coventry City quickly seized control, with Ben Sheaf and Kasey Palmer propelling them to a 3-1 lead within the opening 20 minutes.

The excitement continued in the second half as Callum O’Hare extended Coventry’s lead to 4-1 in the 50th minute.

Yet, Oxford United showed resilience, with Tyler Goodrham pulling one back before a sensational Matt Godden double inside 10 minutes sealed the 6-2 victory for Coventry City.

Blackburn Rovers 5-2 Cambridge United

Cambridge initially went 1-0 and then 2-1 up at Ewood Park, signalling their intent to cause an upset.

However, Blackburn’s Sammie Szmodics had other plans — scoring a remarkable hat-trick to guide Blackburn Rovers to a 3-2 lead at the break. 

The momentum continued in the second half as Arnór Sigurdsson and Harry Leonard added to the scoreline, securing a 5-2 victory for the hosts.