Aguero lifts City in FA Cup, Hughes' Stoke crash

Sergio Aguero fired Manchester City to a 4-1 win over Burnley in the FA Cup, while Mark Hughes is fighting to remain Stoke boss after a 2-1 loss at minnows Coventry on Saturday.

While City strolled into the fourth round, Chelsea face an unwanted replay after being held to a 0-0 draw at Championship side Norwich.                                                          

City boss Pep Guardiola named a strong team including Aguero, Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling at Eastlands, but the runaway Premier League leaders fell behind in the 25th minute.

Ashley Barnes blasted into the top corner after City defender John Stones sliced his attempted clearance.

However, Burnley hadn't won at City since 1973 and Argentina striker Aguero ensured that run continued.

City, who last tasted defeat in domestic competition in their FA Cup semi-final against Arsenal in April, were level in the 56th minute when Aguero fired home from Ilkay Gundogan's pass.

Aguero then finished off a superb backheeled pass from Gundogan in the 58th minute.

Sane prodded home to put the result beyond doubt in the 71st minute and Bernardo Silva made it four in the 82nd minute.

Hughes could face the sack after fourth tier Coventry rolled back the years with a memorable cup result at their Ricoh Arena,.

With Stoke in the relegation zone, it was reported this week that the club's hierarchy had considered dismissing Hughes and whether he can survive any longer must now be in doubt.

Coventry have fallen on hard times since winning the FA Cup in a classic 1987 final against Tottenham and now reside in League Two -- their first time at that level since the 1950s -- after a spell having to play their home matches in Northampton due to a stadium row.

Jordan Willis put the underdogs ahead in the 24th minute with his first goal in a year.

Willis conceded a 52nd minute penalty with a foul on Ramadan Sobhi and Charlie Adam stepped up to equalise.

But Coventry right-back Jack Grimmer weaved his way through Stoke's defence and side-footed past Jack Butland in the 67th minute.

- Bournemouth escape -

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte made nine changes at Carrow Road, with Eden Hazard rested and Alvaro Morata only used as a substitute for last season's FA Cup runners-up.

The result was a disjointed display from the Blues, who now face an extra match that will add to Conte's frustration after his recent complaints about the draining effects of fixture congestion.

The only flash-point in a tame tie saw Chelsea's Antonio Rudiger square up to a fan after the supporter threw away the ball when the defender tried to retrieve it.

At the Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe made eight changes as he prioritised Premier League survival and it needed a second half revival from his understudies to rescue a 2-2 draw against Wigan.

Northern Ireland forward Will Grigg gave Wigan a fourth minute lead from close-range and there was worse to come for Howe in the 29th minute when Emerson Hyndman's own goal doubled the visitors' lead.

Yet Lys Mousset reduced the deficit for Bournemouth in the 55th minute and League One leaders Wigan, who won the FA Cup in 2013, were denied a surprise win by Steve Cook's goal two minutes into stoppage-time.

Newcastle had been tipped as potential upset victims, but they swept away fourth tier leaders Luton with a 3-1 win at St James' Park.

West Bromwich Albion won for the first time in 21 games in all competitions, 2-0 at fourth tier Exeter giving boss Alan Pardew his first victory since replacing the sacked Tony Pulis.

Salomon Rondon's long-range drive put Albion ahead in the second minute and Jay Rodriguez added the second goal in the 25th minute.

Watford avoided more cup misery against giant-killers Bristol City with a 3-0 win at Vicarage Road.

City had also won at Vicarage Road in the League Cup this season, but Watford avoided another embarrassing loss thanks to goals from Andre Carrillo, Troy Deeney and Etienne Capoue.

Southampton won 1-0 at Fulham, Huddersfield beat Bolton 2-1, Swansea drew 0-0 at Wolves and Leicester were held to a 0-0 draw at third tier Fleetwood.

Source: AFP