LONDON: Premier League clubs Watford and Hull City, and Championship club Leeds United, paid the penalty for fielding weakened teams when they were all knocked out of the FA Cup in the fourth round on Sunday.

Like Liverpool, beaten at home by Wolverhampton Wanderers the previous day, they miscalculated in resting so many players ahead of league games in midweek and could have no complaints at going out of the competition.

Watford lost 1-0 to League One (third tier) side Millwall and on the other side of London, Hull, FA Cup finalists three years ago, were humbled 4-1 by Championship (second tier) side Fulham after missing two late penalties.

Leeds, fourth in the Championship and giving greater priority to returning to the Premier League after a 13-year absence, lost 1-0 to Sutton United, who joined fellow fifth-tier National League club Lincoln City in the last 16.

Lincoln stunned Championship leaders Brighton 3-1 on Saturday.

Jamie Collins, who works as a builder in his full-time job, converted a penalty in the 53rd minute to send Sutton through 28 years after the team from southwest London eliminated top-tier Coventry in what is regarded as one of competition’s greatest upsets.

A goal by former Wales international Steve Morison proved the difference between Millwall and a poor Watford while Hull striker Abel Hernandez had two penalties saved in the space of a minute in the closing stages, a final embarrassment for the Premier League team at Craven Cottage.

On Saturday, Tottenham Hotspur managed to fight back against fourth-tier side Wycombe Wanderers. Son Heung-min pounced in the seventh minute of stoppage time to recover Tottenham’s 4-3 victory.

Premier League leaders Chelsea had no trouble advancing, routing second-tier west London neighbours Brentford 4-0 while an all Premier League-meeting saw Manchester City beat Crystal Palace 3-0.

Arsenal made light of a touchline ban for manager Arsene Wenger as Theo Walcott scored a hat-trick and Danny Welbeck struck twice in a 5-0 hammering of League Cup finalists Southampton at St Mary’s.

In other ties, Premier League Burnley and Middlesbrough triumphed following 2-0 and 1-0 wins over lower league Bristol City and Accrington respectively.

Meanwhile, third-tier Oxford upset second-tier Newcastle 3-0 as Blackburn defeated Blackpool 2-0 and Huddersfield thrashed Rochdale 4-0.

Published in Dawn January 30th, 2017