Weekend Review: Reid it and weep — Stevenage stun Villa while magic Mahrez pummels Potter

The FA Cup third round lived up to the billing at the weekend as a swathe of giant killings put the bookies ahead thanks to the exploits of Stevenage and Sheffield Wednesday.

League Two Stevenage (12/1) travelled to Aston Villa (1/4) on Sunday and likely feared the worst after going 1-0 down in the 33rd minute thanks to a Morgan Sanson strike.

However, the Boro were resolute and steely, digging in for the rest of the first half and much of the second, before being gifted a penalty in the 88th minute which saw Leander Dendoncker sent off and Jamie Reid level the game.

Delirium struck moments later after a short corner was played to Dean Campbell, who duly drove home at the keeper’s near post to dump Premier League Villa out of the competition in an almighty upset.

Elsewhere, League One Sheffield Wednesday (4/1) secured a memorable 2-1 win over high-flying Newcastle (11/20) at Hillsborough thanks to a brace from Josh Windass in the Steel City.

Betway’s Chad Yeomans said: “The first weekend in January is synonymous for hosting the third round of the FA Cup, and as ever, there were a few upsets and surprises which were very much in our favour and those included Stevenage beating Aston Villa and Sheffield Wednesday beating Newcastle.”

I swear you'll never see anything like this ever again!

This moment, forever. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/E61zaeGYsG

— Stevenage FC 🔴⚪ (@StevenageFC) January 9, 2023

Bet365’s Steve Freeth couldn’t resist a poke at Villa fans in his comments following the upset.

He said: “The shock of the round was undoubtedly at Villa Park where Stevenage went from 1-0 down to 2-1 up in a blink of an eye, much to the joy of punters who had backed Steve Evans’ side from 20/1 into 12/1 before kick-off.

“Karen Bardsley and Emile Heskey had barely finished saying Stoke City will play Aston Villa or Stevenage when my phone started to ping from Villa fans asking for tickets at the bet365 for the fourth round tie – they’re more than welcome to join me at the end of January!”

There was also some joy in the outrights for Freeth following the shocks. He continued: “With serial trophy winner Unai Emery at the helm, Villa had been one of the best backed sides in the FA Cup outright, as had been Eddie Howe’s in-form Newcastle (16/1 into 12/1). Both clubs hadn’t tasted FA Cup success since the ‘50s and expectations were understandably high.”

Elsewhere, in the all-Premier League ties, a stuttering Liverpool (1/5) side survived a VAR scare to force a reply after a 2-2 draw with Wolves (11/1) at Anfield in another win for the layers.

Manchester City (9/20), without the demonic presence of Erling Haaland up top, put Graham Potter and Chelsea (5/1) to the sword with a 4-0 demolition job in east Manchester, with a double from Riyad Mahrez and goals from Phil Foden and Julian Alvarez heaping pressure on Potter.

In the hat! 🎩

🔵 4-0 🦁 #ManCity pic.twitter.com/X1cKF5OMCH

— Manchester City (@ManCity) January 8, 2023

A 1-0 win for Spurs (1/10) over Portsmouth spared Antonio Conte’s side’s blushes while Brighton (4/5) ripped through Middlesbrough.

Kindred Group’s Ali Gill said: “The FA Cup third round took centre stage at the weekend, and it wasn’t without its customary shocks. Liverpool’s 2-2 draw with Wolves was our best FA Cup result in the book, with Newcastle’s shock exit to Sheffield Wednesday not far behind, and Spurs only managing one past Portsmouth was another that that left us well in the black.

City’s demolition of a very poor Chelsea was one that went the punters way, and the goal fest continued as Brighton knocked out Middlesbrough in another that didn’t go our way,” he added.

Yeomans lifted the lid on City’s chances for the cup after Guardiola’s men blitzed Chelsea.

The Betway head said : “Plenty felt that Chelsea could get something from their tie with City, the second clash between these two sides this week, however, City were in rampant form and their demolition of Graham Potter’s side saw them shorten to 5/2 favourites to win lift the trophy in June, despite potentially facing Arsenal in the next round.”

There were also wins for National League Wrexham over Championship Coventry, with the Welsh side winning a tumultuous game 4-3.

Second-tier Blackpool (16/5) ripped through relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest (4/5) 4-1, while League One Fleetwood overcame QPR.

Betfred’s Alan Firkins commented: “The magic of the FA Cup is, and always will be, a thing. The third round is arguably where it’s felt the keenest, when the big boys come out to play.

“The weekend certainly didn’t disappoint, and heroics from the likes of Wrexham, Blackpool, Fleetwood Town and Sheffield Wednesday kept that magic firmly alive, and the footy traders pretty happy. However, one customer was loving the Cup – a £1 seven-fold accumulator on the Goals Galore Extra coupon netted a fantastic £214,000.”

Elsewhere, in horseracing, it was a tale of two halves at Sandown as the layers and punters did battle at the track.

What it means to the connections of WISHING AND HOPING 😭 pic.twitter.com/rxMkesK3EN

— Sandown Park (@Sandownpark) January 7, 2023

The second favourite for the Tolworth Novices’ Hurdle, Tahmuras, ran out victorious in Surrey to give trainer Paul Nicholls a fifth victory in the race.

Tahmuras ended up winning by two-and-a-half lengths as the pre-race favourite Authorised Speed struggled on the soft ground.

Kindred Group’s Gill said: “At Sandown on Saturday, the Tolworth went the way of Tahmuras at 5/2. The Nicholls horse was well supported throughout the day and that result saw the punters ahead, despite favourite Authorised Speed ultimately disappointing when it mattered and coming home a well beaten fifth.”

In the Unibet Veterans’ Handicap Chase, 50/1 outside Wishing and Hoping lived up to its name after a stunning victory for trainer Mel Rowley.

Gill added: “A huge shock in the ever-popular Unibet Veteran’s Chase as Wishing and Hoping won impressively at 50/1. Some well-fancied horses finished behind in the places, including joint favourite Ramses De Teillee at 6/1, but ultimately it was a result the traders were happy with.”