Chelsea striker Demba Ba made an instant impact with two goals on his debut as the FA Cup holders romped to an emphatic 5-1 victory at Southampton in the third round on Saturday.
The Senegal international, signed from Newcastle United on Friday, scored the London side’s equaliser and their fourth before Frank Lampard’s late penalty took the midfielder to joint second on Chelsea’s all-time scoring list with 193 goals.
While Ba began in style, the doom and gloom continued at his old club Newcastle who lost 2-0 at Championship (second tier) Brighton & Hove Albion - one of several upsets on the day when England’s lower-ranked clubs take aim at the big boys.
Goals from Andrea Orlandi and Will Hoskins earned Brighton, runners-up to Manchester United 30 years ago, a repeat of their fourth round victory over Premier League Newcastle last season, condemning Alan Pardew’s side to an 11th defeat in 14 matches.
Cardiff City, runaway leaders atop the Championship, were the biggest victims, losing 2-1 at minor league Macclesfield Town while former FA Cup runners-up Luton Town, now outside the Football League, beat visiting Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-0.
Several clubs struggling in the Premier League flirted with defeats against lower league opposition before earning replays.