Premier League and FA Cup in review

Welcome to our weekly review of some of the leading stats and facts which this week includes the four games in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup as well as four games in the Premier League and recognition for a rare feat in League One.

Sadly but almost inevitably, Lincoln City’s remarkable run in the FA Cup came to an end with their first visit to Arsenal since October 1914. The National League leaders were the first non-league side to reach the last eight of the FA Cup since Queens Park Rangers in 1913-14, but the Gunners retained their record of not having been knocked out by a non-league team since 4 February 1911 when – as Woolwich Arsenal – they lost in the 2nd round at Swindon Town then of the Southern League.

Earlier, Manchester City breezed past Middlesbrough in a tie that broke new FA Cup ground. Under the new rulings, it was the first FA Cup quarter-final that could have been decided on the day of the game so, if needs be, would have gone to extra-time and penalties, and not go to a replay. It was also the first quarter-final that could have seen a fourth substitute introduced during the extra-time period.

Tottenham Hotspur’s 6-0 drubbing of Millwall was their biggest FA Cup win since a 6-0 victory at Margate on 13 January 1973 when Martin Chivers (2), Cyril Knowles, Martin Peters, John Pratt and Jimmy Pearce scored the goals. With his hat-trick, only Adam Morgan (then of Curzon Ashton, now at FC Halifax Town) has scored as many goals in the proper rounds of this season’s FA Cup as Son Heung-Min (six each).

Chelsea overcame Manchester United to knock the holders out of the FA Cup for the first time since 1966. It means that three London clubs will contest the semi-finals for the first time since 2000-01.

After all the fuss, none of the quarter-finals went to extra-time or would have required a replay. Only 11 quarter-finals have required a replay in the last 11 seasons so is it really worth it?

The most significant result of the quartet of Premier League games was Hull City’s third win of the season against Swansea City. The vital victory kept the Tigers’ survival hopes alive as they became the 35th club to reach 100 points from their home games in the Premier League with a fifth win in their last six games at KCOM Stadium in all competitions.

With a 3-0 win against West Bromwich Albion, Everton have won five consecutive home games in the Premier League for the first time since April 2014. Morgan Schneiderlin scored the vital second goal on the stroke of half-time with his first Premier League goal since scoring against Everton at Goodison Park for Manchester United on 17 October 2015.

The Vitality Stadium once again proved to be the place to be for goals and drama. AFC Bournemouth needed a Josh King hat-trick to secure their first win of 2017 but only after they became the first team to miss two penalties in the first-half of a Premier League game since Aston Villa against Wimbledon on 12 September 1998. In turn, it was the first time that an opponent had failed to convert two penalties in a Premier League game against West Ham United.

Burnley’s woes on the road continued as they failed in their attempt to complete a league double against Liverpool for the first time since the 1929-30 season in League Division One. The Clarets got off to an encouraging start though as Ashley Barnes became the first visiting player to score inside the first ten minutes of a Premier League game at Anfield since Manuel Lanzini scored after three minutes for West Ham United on 29 August 2015.

And finally this week, a nod to a very rare achievement in League One. Gillingham came from two-down to win 3-2 against Scunthorpe United with a nine-minute hat-trick of penalties from former Iron midfielder Josh Wright.

It was the first time that three spot-kicks had been converted in a Football League (or Premier League) game since Ken Barnes for Manchester City against Everton in League Division One on 7 December 1957.

Premier League and FA Cup in review

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