Macclesfield manager John Rooney was left searching for words after his non-League side produced the biggest shock in FA Cup history by knocking out holders Crystal Palace with a stunning 2-1 third-round victory.
“I can’t believe it or get my head around it. I’m lost for words at the minute,” Rooney told the BBC after watching his team outfight and outthink Premier League opposition ranked 117 places above them in the pyramid.
“I thought we were incredible from the first minute. I didn’t see it coming, but I thought we deserved the win.
“We nullified them to one chance in the first half. We were incredible to a man. You can see the joy in them out there.
“I didn’t think it was possible, but there is that little bit of hope that anything can happen on the day.”
Holders dumped out
Reformed in 2020 after Macclesfield Town were wound up, the Silkmen wrote a remarkable new chapter in the club’s rebirth by eliminating the reigning FA Cup holders.
Captain Paul Dawson headed the hosts in front two minutes before half-time, before Isaac Buckley-Ricketts doubled the lead on the hour as Palace struggled to impose themselves.
Yeremy Pino’s 90th-minute free-kick gave the visitors hope and set up a nervy six minutes of added time, but Macclesfield held firm to seal a famous win and spark jubilant pitch invasions at full-time.
It was the first time the FA Cup holders had been beaten by non-League opposition since 1909 — when Palace themselves achieved the feat against Wolves while playing in the Southern League.
Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner did not hide his frustration after the defeat.
“Congratulations to Macclesfield. We lacked any kind of quality today,” he said.
“We lost and we deserved to lose. I have no explanation for what I’ve seen today. We lacked everything.”
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Man City hit 10 elsewhere
Elsewhere in the third round, Manchester City showed no mercy as they thrashed League One Exeter 10-1 at the Etihad Stadium.
Antoine Semenyo marked his City debut with a goal, while Rodri scored for the first time in 20 months and Rico Lewis netted twice in a dominant display from Pep Guardiola’s side.
Teenager Max Alleyne opened the scoring with his first senior goal, while there were also strikes from Tijjani Reijnders, Nico O’Reilly and 17-year-old Ryan McAidoo, along with two own goals from the visitors.
It was City’s biggest win since beating Huddersfield 10-1 in 1987.
Exeter boss Gary Caldwell said: “It’s a lesson that when one of the best managers of all time needs to win a game, he picks a team to win it.
“It was a really humbling experience, but our season will be defined by our remaining league games.”
Selected FA Cup results
Wrexham 3-3 (4-3 pens) Nottingham Forest
Everton 1-1 (0-3 pens) Sunderland
Newcastle United 3-3 (7-6 pens) Bournemouth
Tottenham 1-2 Aston Villa
Charlton 1-5 Chelsea
Derby County 1-3 Leeds United
Portsmouth 1-4 Arsenal
Manchester United 1-2 Brighton
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