Macclesfield knock out Palace in greatest FA Cup upset, Man City score 10

MACCLESFIELD, England, Jan 10 : Minor-league Macclesfield delivered ‌the biggest upset in FA Cup history on Saturday by stunning holders Crystal Palace 2–1 in a third‑round thriller, knocking Oliver Glasner's team out of the competition and sending the Moss Rose crowd into raptures.

Manchester City humbled Exeter City 10-1, Aston Villa beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 and Liam Rosenior's reign as Chelsea manager began with a 5-1 win at second-tier Charlton Athletic.

The day, however,  belonged to sixth-tier Macclesfield who became the first minor league club to beat the FA Cup holders for more than 100 years.

Captain Paul Dawson and Isaac Buckley-Ricketts struck in each half as Macclesfield, coached by Wayne Rooney's younger brother John, bridged a gap of 117 places in England's football pyramid, an FA Cup record.

"I can't believe it, we never thought we would be in this position," John Rooney told the BBC. "We were incredible from the first minute. I thought we were deserved winners. I couldn't be any prouder of the lads."

Palace never ‌looked comfortable on the plastic pitch and Dawson rose to head home a curled free kick from Luke Duffy in the 43rd minute. ‌Buckley-Ricketts doubled Macclesfield's lead in the 60th minute when he twisted his body to wrong-foot Palace goalkeeper Walter Benitez.

Palace's Yeremy Pino scored with a stunning free kick in the 90th minute to make for nervy added-time minutes but Macclesfield hung on.

"I was surprised (with the win), the gaffer gave us a game plan and we all stuck to it," said Dawson, who played most of the match with a bandaged head to cover a gash.

"Macclesfield means the world to me. It's an immense achievement. I am proud of the boys and proud of the fans. It's a really big community