If there is one competition in the world which is impossible to predict it must be the FA Cup with apparent no hopers Southend taking on the mighty Chelsea at their home ground for what many expected to be little more than a day away. While Chelsea took the lead and held this for much of the game Southend popped up in injury time to level the scores and take the premiership title hopefuls back to their home ground and what is sure to be a substantial payday.
Elsewhere Forest Green took an early lead against troubled Derby but in a game which had seven goals they finally left the cup after a four three home defeat. However it was a totally different affair for league side Hartlepool who took on premiership newcomers Stoke in what turned out to be one of the best days in the club's history, eventually running out two nil victors. There were many other potential upsets in the cup but few actually materialised in the end and the number of non-league teams has diminished.
As we have covered in some of our recent articles even though Manchester United and Chelsea are firm favourites for the cup there is great value in some of the less fancied premiership clubs and championship promotion contenders.
