And so we say farewell to the round of 16 in the FA Cup, traditionally a viscerally thrilling process that embodies what we romantics like to think of as the glory of the Cup. With eight matches over four days, there was a lot of dross that all felt much worse for being spread so thinly. It began with Watford grinding out a dreary and just-deserved win at QPR on the Friday and ended with a thumping for Chelsea from the new, all-smiling United outfit. In between, only the mighty efforts of Newport County, at home to Manchester City at a terrible Rodney Parade pitch, held the interest.
And the fans seemed to agree: there were 14,010 at Doncaster, and only 11,261 at Swansea — to see Daniel James score one of the goals of the season. And even if there had been any draws, there wasn’t the prospect of dramatic replays to look forward to. Those were the days — never to be replayed. The days when FA Cup ties would be slogged out to the death, no matter how many replays it took. But replays are going the way of most things that made the FA Cup so special, such as only the final being played at Wembley. In true retro fashion, I like the look of Wolverhampton Wanderers, a great old name, and have let my money do the talking with Messrs Ladbroke.
Of all the sporting milestones that fire the imagination, few come close to an epic Test match run chase. How often do you look at the target and think, ‘Well it’s tough but do-able’, and then it all ends tamely. Well it didn’t in Durban. A barely believable Sri Lankan chase ended in a one-wicket defeat for South Africa and an exhausted Kusal Perera crowned atop the record books.
Comments
Join the debate for just £1 a month
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for £3.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just £1 a monthAlready a subscriber? Log in