Football: The Hereford factor: Four great giant-killing acts

1933: Walsall 2 Arsenal 0

WALSALL were tenth in the Third Division (North). Their total outlay in the transfer market had been pounds 69. They had not won for a month. Arsenal were the "Bank of England" team and leading the First Division on their way to another title. But Herbert Chapman made the biggest mistake of his remarkable career, dropping Hulme and resting John, Lambert and Coleman because of a bout of 'flu. Hapgood was already injured. There were still seven internationals in the team and complacency was in the air before the third-round tie. Walsall took advantage as only Bastin played true to form. After an hour Lee crossed and Alsop headed in. Five minutes later Alsop was pulled down by Black and Sheppard scored from the penalty spot. Chapman sold Black within the week.

1949: Yeovil 2 Sunderland 1

YEOVIL represent the spirit of the underdog. Their notorious slope was actually a gentle incline - for many a visiting League club the uphill battle was mainly in the mind. Yeovil were sixth from bottom of the Southern League when First Division Sunderland arrived in the fourth round. Yeovil first had to find a goalkeeper, their regular one being injured. Dyke, with only one previous appearance, was called up. The player- manager Alec Stock scored after 28 minutes. Dyke defied Sunderland's fightback but let a long pass cross the goalmouth for Robinson to score easily. In extra time "Clown Prince" Shackleton controlled the ball on the half-way line. His overhead kick, which should have gone towards Yeovil's goal, instead went straight to Wright. One pass to Bryant and... goal!

1971: Colchester 3 Leeds 2

REVIE'S successful and cynical Leeds were on their way to win everything, or so they thought when drawn to play in the fifth round at Layer Road. They were top of the First Division. Colchester, in the fourth, were mostly veterans, gathered together by Dick Graham, a fitness fanatic. Only Crawford, twice England's centre-forward, was confident: "I always play well against Jack Charlton." Sure enough, he tortured Charlton. After 18 minutes he headed past Sprake and then prodded in his second. Ten minutes after half-time, Lewis lobbed the ball ahead and Simmons headed in. Three down and Giles was told by Gilchrist, "Irish caps are given away in corn- flake packets". He was not the only Leeds player to lose self-control. Hunter and Giles gave Leeds hope but Colchester clung on.

1989: Sutton 2 Coventry 1

SEVEN of the Coventry side that had won the Cup two years before remained to visit Gander Green Lane. Sutton, of the Vauxhall Conference, were managed by Barrie Williams, who quoted Shakespeare more often than Shankly, but he was an astute coach. Having noted Coventry's weakness in dead-ball situations, on the morning of the third-round match he had Sutton practise corners. None satisfied him but in the afternoon they did. Three minutes before half-time, Stephens sent one across. Rains, the captain, headed in. Phillips equalised but another corner from Stephens found its way to Hanlan to put the winner past Ogrizovic. Afterwards, Rains said: "Coventry weren't much different to the teams we play in the Conference, except that they weren't so physical."