Fourth-tier Coventry City piled on the misery for Stoke City manager Mark Hughes by pulling off the only genuine upset on a hectic day of FA Cup third round action on Saturday.
Former Cup winners Coventry, now plying their trade in the bottom division of the Football League, revived memories of happier times as Jordan Willis and Jack Grimmer scored the goals in a 2-1 victory at the Ricoh Arena.
Elsewhere, the 25 ties offered only crumbs for the romantics seeking Cup magic.
Top-flight Bournemouth needed a late Steve Cook goal to draw 2-2 at home to League One leaders and 2013 Cup winners Wigan Athletic having trailed 2-0.
Leicester City, Premier League champions two years ago, were held 0-0 at third-tier Fleetwood Town who struck the post in stoppage time on the Lancashire coast.
Runaway Premier League leaders Manchester City maintained their pursuit of an unprecedented four trophies, Sergio Aguero scoring twice as they came from a goal down to beat Burnley 4-1.
Goals by Leroy Sane and Bernardo Silva killed off Burnley who had led at halftime thanks to an Ashley Barnes effort.
Several clubs in the thick of the Premier League relegation battle survived potential banana skins.
Alan Pardew enjoyed his first win as West Bromwich Albion manager as his team beat fourth-tier Exeter City 2-0, Southampton overcame Championship Fulham 1-0 and bottom club Swansea City held on for a worthy 0-0 draw at free-scoring Championship leaders Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Seven-times Cup winners Aston Villa, fifth in the Championship, lost 3-1 at home to third-tier Peterborough United.
Stoke manager Hughes would have hoped for respite after his side’s tumble into the Premier League’s relegation zone, but there was none coming in the Midlands clash as they suffered a sixth defeat in the last eight matches.
Willis headed Coventry in front but Charlie Adam levelled for Stoke from the penalty spot. Grimmer fired home Coventry’s winner in the 68th minute.
Newcastle United scored three times in nine minutes – Ayoze Perez with two – to see off League Two leaders Luton Town while fellow top-flight side Watford made light of a poor recent run to beat second-tier high-fliers Bristol City who are in League Cup semi-final action against Manchester City next week.
Chelsea visit Norwich City later on Saturday while FA Cup holders Arsenal face Nottingham Forest on Sunday.
FA Cup results on Saturday:
Fleetwood Town (0) 0 Leicester City (0) 0
Middlesbrough (2) 2 Sunderland (0) 0
Blackburn Rovers (0) 0 Hull City (0) 1
Cardiff City (0) 0 Mansfield Town (0) 0
Manchester City (0) 4 Burnley (1) 1
Wolverhampton Wanderers (0) 0 Swansea City (0) 0
Stevenage (0) 0 Reading (0) 0
Newcastle United (3) 3 Luton Town (0) 1
Millwall (1) 4 Barnsley (1) 1
Fulham (0) 0 Southampton (1) 1
Wycombe Wanderers (1) 1 Preston North End (2) 5
Carlisle United (0) 0 Sheffield Wednesday (0) 0
Ipswich Town (0) 0 Sheffield United (1) 1
Watford (1) 3 Bristol City (0) 0
Birmingham City (0) 1 Burton Albion (0) 0
Aston Villa (1) 1 Peterborough United (0) 3
AFC Bournemouth (0) 2 Wigan Athletic (2) 2
Coventry City (1) 2 Stoke City (0) 1
Bolton Wanderers (0) 1 Huddersfield Town (0) 2
Yeovil Town (0) 2 Bradford City (0) 0
Brentford (0) 0 Notts County (0) 1
Queens Park Rangers (0) 0 Milton Keynes Dons (0) 1
Exeter City (0) 0 West Bromwich Albion (2) 2
Doncaster Rovers (0) 0 Rochdale (1) 1
Sunday, January 7 fixtures (GMT)
Newport County v Leeds United (1200)
Shrewsbury Town v West Ham United (1400)
Tottenham Hotspur v AFC Wimbledon (1500)
Nottingham Forest v Arsenal (1600)
Monday, January 8 fixtures (GMT)
Brighton & Hove Albion v Crystal Palace (1945)