LONDON: Not even an FA Cup match against fourth-tier opposition could provide any respite for Mark Hughes.

The beleaguered Stoke City manager was condemned to one last humiliation, a 2-1 loss to Coventry City in the third round of the world’s oldest knockout competition, before getting fired on Saturday.

Stoke dropped into the Premier League’s relegation zone this week after a run of just two wins in their last 12 matches. It was surprising that Hughes made it to the Coventry match, given the significance of a home loss at Newcastle United in the league on Monday.

“I’m not naive,” Hughes said after the loss at the Ricoh Arena, “and I realize people will talk about my position.” Three hours later, he was out.

Elsewhere, the 25 ties offered only crumbs for the romantics seeking Cup magic although second tier Norwich City did hold champions Chelsea to a 0-0 draw.

Top-flight Bournemouth needed a late Steve Cook goal to draw 2-2 at home to League One leaders and 2013 Cup winners Wigan Athletic and Leicester City drew 0-0 at third-tier Fleetwood Town who struck the post in stoppage-time.

Runaway Premier League leaders Manchester City maintained their pursuit of an unprecedented four trophies, Sergio Aguero scoring twice as they came from a goal down to beat Burnley 4-1.

Several clubs in the thick of the Premier League relegation battle survived potential banana skins.

Alan Pardew enjoyed his first win as West Bromwich Albion manager as his team beat fourth-tier Exeter City 2-0, Southampton overcame Championship Fulham 1-0 and bottom club Swansea City held on for a worthy 0-0 draw at free-scoring Championship leaders Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Newcastle United scored three times in nine minutes — Ayoze Perez with two — to see off League Two leaders Luton Town, Huddersfield Town beat Bolton Wanderers 2-1 while fellow top-flight side Watford made light of a poor recent run to beat second-tier high-fliers Bristol City.

Seven-times Cup winners Aston Villa, fifth in the Championship, lost 3-1 at home to third-tier Peterborough United while Brentford, also from the second tier, were humbled by fourth-tier Notts County with Jon Stead scoring the winner.

In a north-east derby, Middlesbrough deepened Sunderland’s gloom with a 2-0 victory at the Riverside Stadium.

Coventry have fallen on hard times since winning the FA Cup in a classic 1987 final against Tottenham Hotspur and now reside in League Two — their first time at that level since the 1950s — after a spell having to play their home matches in Northampton due to a stadium row.

Jordan Willis put the underdogs ahead in the 24th minute with his first goal in a year.

Willis conceded a 52nd minute penalty with a foul on Ramadan Sobhi and Charlie Adam stepped up to equalise.

But Coventry right-back Jack Grimmer weaved his way through Stoke’s defence and side-footed past Jack Butland in the 67th minute.

Manager Mark Robins said he would love to draw his old club Manchester United in round four.

“For us it’s brilliant, we’re in the fourth-round draw. Hopefully, we’ll get a big club away from home — United away would be perfect,” he said.

Published in Dawn, January 8th, 2018