Championship side Middlesbrough have made it to the Carabao Cup semi-final, beating League One’s Port Vale in the quarters who themselves overachieved significantly to reach the latter stages of the competition.
But their respective cup runs are just two of the many impressive in recent history. Here are five of the very best…
Wigan win the FA Cup
Embed from Getty ImagesWigan Athletic beating Man City in the FA Cup final of 2013 to lift the trophy was one of the most unlikely cup successes ever. The Latics were heavy underdogs going into the contest but triumphed thanks to Ben Watson’s stoppage-time winner to defeat the Premier League champions, having also beaten AFC Bournemouth, Macclesfield Town, Huddersfield Town, Everton and Millwall on the way to Wembley. Wigan may have been relegated from the top flight that season but their FA Cup honours rank as the biggest achievement in the club’s history.
Bradford City reaching the League Cup final
Embed from Getty ImagesEarlier in 2013, League Two Bradford City shocked everybody when they made the final of the League Cup to face then Premier League side Swansea City. The Bantams may have lost 5-0 but the achievement of reaching the final in the first place was incredible, knocking out three Premier League sides on their way to Wembley in Wigan, Arsenal and Aston Villa. The run ultimately ended in disappointment but Phil Parkinson’s side go down in history as one of the biggest underdogs to reach a cup final.
Non-league Lincoln City in the last eight
Embed from Getty ImagesThere have been a few memorable cup runs from teams outside of England’s top four divisions but Lincoln City’s probably ranks as the most impressive of recent history. Danny Cowley’s National League side made it all the way to the quarter-finals, knocking out Championship sides Ipswich Town and Brighton & Hove Albion before beating Premier League Burnley 1-0 away in the fifth round to set up a quarter-final tie with big boys Arsenal. It wasn’t to be for them, who were beaten 5-0 by the Gunners at the Emirates Stadium but that should not detract from what was a fantastic achievement for non-league Lincoln.
Chasetown make the FA Cup third round
You would be forgiven for having never heard of Chasetown FC, but in 2008 the side then playing in the eighth tier of English football hit the headlines when they unbelievably made the third round of the FA Cup. The Southern League Division One Midlands side won seven games on their way to the third round including a win over Football League side Port Vale in the second round, setting up a third round tie with eventual finalists Cardiff City, which they lost 3-1 despite taking the lead.
