Roundup: Giant slayings, routes and heroic defeats mark FA Cup 3rd round

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LONDON, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- The magic of the third round of the FA Cup appeared over the weekend in England although Leicester City, Fulham, Cardiff City and Sheffield United might have a different story to tell after being knocked out by teams from leagues well below them.

Championship side Sheffield United lost 1-0 at home to Barnet of the National League (fifth category), meaning that Barnet and the side from the north of London will be the lowest ranked team in the hat for the fourth round draw on Monday.

Interestingly, Barnet coach Darren Currie is the nephew of former Sheffield United legend and now director, Tony Currie.

There were also big celebrations in South Wales as Newport County knocked Leicester City of the Cup.

Leicester coach Claud Puel rested a host of key players, such as striker Jamie Vardy and was surprised by a team who last season knocked Leeds United out of the competition.

"It's the first time I've beaten a Premier League club as a manager so it's one I'll never forget. I'll have a few drinks with my wife tonight," said Newport coach Michael Flynn after Sunday's game.

Oldham Athletic, who reached the semifinals of the Cup in the early 1990s but who have now slipped down to League 2 (fourth tier), claimed the scalp of Premier League strugglers Fulham with a stunning 2-1 win at Craven Cottage with Callum Lang heading home an 89th minute winner.

Elliot List was the hero for League 1 side Gillingham with the goal which sent Cardiff City crashing out of the Cup to a side 45 places below them in the football leagues, while Championship side Bristol City also claimed a Premier League scalp with a 1-0 win over bottom club Huddersfield.

Newcastle United were held at home by Blakcburn Rovers and were minutes from crashing out before Matt Ritchie's late penalty.

League 2's Grimsby suffered the heartbreak of going out 1-0 to Crystal Palace and were without doubt the round's heroic losers. Grimsby were reduced to 10 men in the second minute when Andrew Fox was sent off for a dangerous tackle, but defended bravely against one-way traffic until Jordan Ayew headed home the winning goal in the 87th minute.

It wasn't all doom and gloom for top-flight clubs however. Fernando Llorente scored a hat-trick for Tottenham Hotspurs as they won 7-0 away to Tranmere, who had kept the score level until the brink of halftime.

Manchester City were equally merciless with Rotherham and also scored 7, with teenger Phil Foden among the goal scorers. Rotherham's main consolation is that it was only a short trip home afterwards across the Pennines.

Manchester United were in cruise control as Ole Gunnar Solskjaar oversaw his fifth win in 5 games in charge with a 2-0 win at home to Reading, while there was an emotional farewell to Monaco bound Cesc Fabrigas as he was substituted towards the end of Chelsea's 2-0 win over Nottingham Forrest.

Alvaro Morata scored twice against the Championship club to ensure that Fabrigas' missed penalty in the first half didn't matter as he ended a 5-year-spell at the club on a winning note. Enditem

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