FA Cup Fourth Round results delivered the competition’s dual nature, where Premier League dominance met a genuine upset across a single weekend.
Mansfield Town eliminated Burnley 2-1 at Turf Moor through Louis Reed’s 80th-minute free-kick. Arsenal became the first top-flight side to score four goals inside 30 minutes of an FA Cup tie against Wigan Athletic.
Chelsea progressed comfortably with a 4-0 victory over Hull City. Liverpool dispatched Brighton 3-0, and Manchester City controlled 80% possession to beat Salford City 2-0.
The weekend’s statistics reveal stark contrasts in conversion efficiency. Arsenal generated 2.8 xG and scored four times, showing clinical finishing that Burnley could not match despite recording 3.8 xG against Mansfield.
The hosts managed 64% possession and 22 shots, yet fell to League One opposition who registered just three efforts on target.
This efficiency gap between divisions explains why most fourth-round ties followed predictable patterns, making Mansfield’s win statistically remarkable rather than merely surprising.
Tactically, the round showed how elite sides break down lower-league defensive structures through superior ball movement and positional rotation.
Arsenal’s pressure was so intense that Wigan could not even pass the ball out of their own box without giving it away. Chelsea maintained 76% of possession to pull Hull’s shape apart.
However, Mansfield proved that a compact 5-4-1 defensive organisation can neutralise technical superiority when transitions to the low block work properly.
These FA Cup Fourth Round results provide insight into the squad rotation challenges faced in February. Managers balanced progression against preserving key players for league commitments, with varying success.
Eberechi Eze’s two-assist performance for Arsenal showed how creative midfielders thrive when given freedom in half-spaces.
Table of Contents
FA Cup Fourth Round: Complete Results
Friday, 13 February 2026
Hull City 0–4 Chelsea: Pedro Neto hits a clinical hat-trick as the Blues cruise at The MKM Stadium
Wrexham 1–0 Ipswich Town: Josh Windass fires the Red Dragons into the fifth round for the first time since 1997
Saturday, 14 February 2026
Burnley 1–2 Mansfield Town: Louis Reed’s stunning late free-kick secures a massive League One upset at Turf Moor
Manchester City 2–0 Salford City: Marc Guéhi nets his first City goal to end the Ammies’ fairy-tale cup run
Liverpool 3–0 Brighton: Curtis Jones stars as the Reds comfortably dispatch the Seagulls at Anfield
Aston Villa 1–3 Newcastle United: Sandro Tonali’s second-half brace inspires a comeback after Villa’s Marco Bizot is sent off
Southampton 2–1 Leicester City (AET): James Bree’s extra-time header decides a gruelling all-Championship affair
Norwich City 3–1 West Brom: The Canaries strike twice in the final ten minutes to win at Carrow Road
Burton Albion 0–1 West Ham (AET): Crysencio Summerville spares Hammers’ blushes with a deflected extra-time winner
Sunday, 15 February 2026
Arsenal 4–0 Wigan Athletic: A devastating 27-minute first-half blitz sees the Gunners dismantle the Latics
Birmingham 1–1 Leeds United (2-4 pens): Lucas Perri’s shootout save from Tommy Doyle sends the Premier League side through
Stoke City 1–2 Fulham: Harrison Reed scores late as Marco Silva’s men recover from a goal down to edge past the Potters
Oxford United 0–1 Sunderland: A controversial Habib Diarra penalty is enough to send the Black Cats into the last 16
Grimsby Town 0–1 Wolves: Santiago Bueno’s second-half strike breaks the hearts of the League Two hosts
Outstanding Fixtures
Macclesfield vs Brentford: Non-league giant-killers look to stun the Bees in tonight’s final Fourth Round tie
Port Vale vs Bristol City: Rescheduled for 3 March following a weather-related postponement at Vale Park
Turf Moor Upset: Statistical Breakdown of Mansfield’s Win
Burnley’s elimination represents one of the most unlikely results in the FA Cup Fourth Round. The top-flight side controlled 64% possession and registered 3.8 xG from 22 shots. Yet, they fell to League One opposition who converted two of their three efforts on target.
Mansfield’s compact 3-4-2-1 defensive structure restricted Burnley to speculative efforts, with the visitors proving far more efficient in their limited ventures forward.
This narrow shape, which often shifted into a 5-4-1 off the ball, effectively choked the central lanes. This forced Scott Parker’s side into low-probability crosses.
Reed’s 80th-Minute Winner
Louis Reed’s free-kick arrived from 25 yards after Mansfield absorbed sustained second-half pressure. The skipper’s curling effort bypassed the defensive wall and flew into the top corner, giving goalkeeper Max Weiss no chance.
Reed completed 86% of his passes whilst covering 12.4 kilometres, the highest distance for any player during the match.
Defensive Discipline Overcomes Technical Superiority
Mansfield’s win proved their tactical approach worked: defend deep, maintain compact lines, and execute transitions with precision. Their three shots on target produced two goals, a 66% conversion rate that dwarfed Burnley’s efficiency.
When Burnley pushed for a late equaliser in the second-half, Mansfield’s defensive block held firm. They recorded 25 clearances and 8 blocks to preserve their historic victory.
Arsenal’s Record-Breaking Performance: Four Goals in 27 Minutes
Arsenal’s 4-0 victory over Wigan Athletic made FA Cup Fourth Round history, as they became the first Premier League side to score four goals inside the opening 30 minutes of a tie.
Noni Madueke opened the scoring in the 11th minute, Gabriel Martinelli doubled the lead seven minutes later. Jack Hunt’s own goal arrived in the 23rd minute, and Gabriel Jesus completed the scoring burst in the 27th minute following a Christian Nørgaard pass.
Eze’s Creative Display
Eberechi Eze controlled Arsenal’s attacking play from a free-roaming midfield role, registering two primary assists whilst completing 92% of his passes. Operating mainly in the left half-space, Eze created two big chances through intelligent positioning that consistently dragged Wigan defenders out of their assigned zones.
His heat map showed heavy concentration between the left channel and central areas, where he completed 89% of his passes in the opposition half to dictate Arsenal’s rhythm.
Chelsea and Liverpool Progress Easily
Chelsea dismantled Hull City 4-0 through a Pedro Neto hat-trick and a strike from Estêvão Willian. The Blues had 76% possession, systematically pulling Hull’s defensive structure apart.
Chelsea’s ball movement created numerical advantages in wide areas, with late-running midfielders exploiting the open spaces effectively.
Liverpool secured a 3-0 victory over Brighton through goals from Curtis Jones, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Mohamed Salah.
The Reds controlled possession whilst generating 1.82 xG, comfortably superior to Brighton’s 1.22 xG from limited opportunities. Manchester City showed similar control against Salford City on Saturday, needing an early own goal and a Marc Guéhi strike to prevail with 80% possession.
Conclusion: FA Cup Fourth Round Statistics Reveal Growing Gap
The FA Cup Fourth Round results confirmed that whilst Mansfield Town’s win keeps the competition’s appeal alive, the statistical gap between Premier League sides and lower-league opposition continues widening.
Arsenal’s clinical first half and Chelsea’s domination demonstrate the technical superiority elite clubs possess when performing at full capacity.
However, Mansfield’s 66% shot conversion rate versus Burnley’s wastefulness proves that knockout football still permits upsets when underdogs execute their tactical plans with consistent discipline.
The performance showed how a superior work rate can neutralise technical advantages if defensive organisation remains compact.
Also Read: Premier League Matchweek 26 Best Statistical Performers: Geeky NG Team of the Week
