Not even an FA Cup match against fourth-tier opposition could provide any respite to beleaguered Stoke manager Mark Hughes.
Stoke lost 2-1 at Coventry on Saturday in the third round of the world’s oldest knockout competition, a fresh humiliation for Hughes at a time when his job is under so much scrutiny because of the team’s dire Premier League form.
Hughes survived a damaging home loss at Newcastle in the league on Monday with Stoke now in the relegation zone. He might not be given any more time.
Bournemouth avoided becoming another Premier League team to be eliminated by lower-league opposition, scoring an equalizer in the second minute of injury time to draw 2-2 at home to third-tier Wigan. Leicester was also taken to a replay after drawing 0-0 at third-tier Fleetwood.
Premier League leader Manchester City produced a stirring second-half fightback to beat Burnley 4-1, after going into halftime a goal down. Sergio Aguero launched the recovery with two goals in a two-minute span.
City is still on for a quadruple of trophies this season, as it leads the Premier League by 15 points, is into the semifinals of the League Cup, and progressed to the last 16 of the Champions League.
Coventry is a famous name in the FA Cup, after winning the trophy in 1987. The central England club was relegated from the Premier League in 2001 and suffered under mismanagement for the past decade after being bought out in 2007.
Coventry is currently playing in English soccer’s fourth tier for the first time in nearly 60 years
Other Premier League teams to advance Saturday were Watford, Southampton, Huddersfield, West Bromwich Albion and Newcastle. Chelsea visits second-tier Norwich in the late game.
Manchester United and Liverpool progressed on Friday.
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Steve Douglas is at www.twitter.com/sdouglas80