Kompany's Clarets want to play Premier League football next season - but they showed they're ready for it today
Reading Time: 3min | Sat. 07.01.23. | 19:58
Burnley and Blackpool cause FA Cup upsets by eliminating top-tier clubs as world champion Alexis Mac Allister makes his mark at Middlesbrough
Former Belgian international and Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany is one of those players who always looked like he was a step ahead of everyone else. Today, that trait is making him one of the best young coaches in the game. Even though he is not that experienced in the role, he suggests every week that he has some big things in his future.
On Saturday, Kompany's Burnley caused an FA Cup upset by beating Premier League side Bournemouth 4-2 away from home and made their way into the fourth round of the competition.
GOAL! AFC Bournemouth 1-3 Burnley
— TheFootballHub (@TheFootballHubs) January 7, 2023
(Anass Zaroury)
pic.twitter.com/ShS91Dssfj
The Belgian legend brought in "his people" to Turf Moor in the last transfer window, with Belgian players making up a new core of the side. Two of those, wingers Benson Manuel and Anass Zaroury scored two goals each as the Clarets steamrolled the Cherries at the Vitality Stadium, announcing Burnley as a team to beat. They are currently top of the pack in the EFL Championship and are in a good position to return to the Premier League at the first attempt. Their decision to hire Kompany is proving like an inspired one.
Towards the end of the match, the away fans chanted "You're going down, we're going up", winding up the home crowd. Based on the results this season, the song might prove visionary.
Despite being in a relegation battle in the Championship, Blackpool have managed to knock out Premier League side Nottingham Forest with a convincing 4-1 win! 👏 pic.twitter.com/yRDbkjvc0P
— 90min (@90min_Football) January 7, 2023
Elsewhere in the FA Cup, Blackpool served up another upset as they trashed Nottingham Forest 3-0 to book their slot in the fourth round. Steve Cooper's Forest are involved in a relegation fight so cup competitions are probably not high on their list of priorities. Still, the manner of their defeat today should be a big worry to their supporters. Marvin Ekpiteta, Ian Poveda, CJ Hamilton and Jerry Yates scored to give the Tangerines a fantastic 4-1, easily the biggest result since their sole Premier League season a decade ago. Despite struggling themselves to avoid relegation from the second tier, the boys in orange shirts revived the famed magic of the Cup.
Alexis Mac Allister only returned to training with Brighton on Monday following the post-Qatar celebrations in his homeland. The next day, Mac Allister played 28 minutes against Everton. But he really returned on Saturday in his team's 5-1 FA Cup win at Middlesbrough. The Argentine scored a couple of goals and really looked like the world champion that he is.
FA CUP
Third round
Friday
Manchester United – Everton 3-1 (1-1)
/Antony 4, Coady 52 og, Rashford 90+7 pen - Coady 14/
Saturday
Crystal Palace - Southampton 1-2 (1-1)
/Edouard 14 - Ward-Prowse 37, Armstrong 68/
Gillingham - Leicester 0-1 (0-0)
/Iheanacho 56/
Preston - Huddersfield 3-1 (0-0)
/Lees 60 og, Diaby 73, Browne 85 - Kamberi 57/
Reading - Watford 2-0 (1-0)
/Abrefa 45+3, Long 90+3/
Tottenham - Portsmouth 1-0 (0-0)
/Kane 50/
Blackpool - Nottingham Forest 4-1 (1-0)
/Ekpiteta 17, Poveda 64, Hamilton 71, J Yates 87 - R Yates 90+2/
Boreham Wood - Accrington 1-1 (0-1)
/Ndlovu 78 - Astley 6/
Bournemouth - Burnley 2-4 (1-3)
/Christie 12, Solanke 48 - Benson 6, 57, Zaroury 39, 43/
Chesterfield - West Brom 3-3 (3-2)
/Williams 7, Dobra 36, 41 - Thomas-Asante 2, Grant 17, Asante 90+4/
Fleetwood - QPR 2-1 (1-1)
/Nsiala 40, Omochere 67 - Field 37/
Hull - Fulham 0-2 (0-1)
/Kurzawa 37, James 90+4/
Ipswich - Rotherham 4-1 (1-0)
/Humphreys 43, Chaplin 74 pen, Ladapo 79, Burns 87 pen - Washington 47 pen/
Middlesbrough - Brighton 1-5 (1-2)
/Akpom 13 - Gross 8, Lallana 29, Mac Allister 58, 80, Undav 88/
Millwall - Sheffield United 0-2 (0-2)
/Jebbison 23, Bogle 36/
Shrewsbury - Sunderland 1-2 (0-0)
/Pennington 80 - Stewart 90+1, O'Nien 90+4/
20:30 Brentford - West Ham United
20:30 Coventry City - Wrexham A.F.C.
20:30 Grimsby Town - Burton Albion
20:30 Luton Town - Wigan Athletic
21:00 Sheffield Wednesday - Newcastle United
23:00 Liverpool - Wolverhampton
Sunday
15:30 Bristol City - Swansea City
17:00 Cardiff City - Leeds United
17:00 Hartlepool United - Stoke City
17:00 Norwich City - Blackburn Rovers
17:00 Stockport County – Walsall
19:30 Manchester City - Chelsea
Monday
***odds are subject to change***
