The magic of the FA Cup is said to be in the shocks that can occur but did any actually happen this weekend according to the odds?
Dwindling attendances, wholesale changes and Premier League teams dominating the televised matches. Is the romance of the FA Cup dead? Well another key ingredient was missing over the weekend, the Cup shock.
In total, only four teams beat a side from a league above. Championship sides Derby (9/2) and Wolves (6/1) both beat Premier League opposition in the shape of West Brom and Stoke respectively. Whilst Milwall (10/3) were responsible for the biggest giant killing, knocking out a much-changed Bournemouth side at the New Den. Rounding off the four upsets were League One Oxford (15/8) who knocked out Championship basement boys Rotherham.
Elsewhere there were creditable draws for Norwich (3/1) at home to Southampton and Fleetwood Town (5/2) away to Bristol City, whilst National League Sutton United (13/5), League One Bolton (3/1) and League Two Blackpool (31/10) all held teams two leagues above them to goalless draws to earn replays.
Perhaps the biggest shock however was League Two side Plymouth (8/1) holding five-time European Champions Liverpool to a nil-nil draw at Anfield.
9,000 Plymouth fans at Full time at Anfield today. Great support pic.twitter.com/d4aGfqZQFW
— Away Days Videos (@AwayDaysVideos) 8 January 2017
