Credit: Simon Davies/Brentford FC Official Photography via SmartFrame
Brentford will travel to non-league Macclesfield in the FA Cup fourth round after the Silkmen stunned holders Crystal Palace.
Macclesfield, who play in the National League North – the sixth tier of English football – beat Palace 2-1 at the Leasing.com Stadium, despite being ranked 117 places below their Premier League opponents. The result is being hailed as the greatest shock in FA Cup history.
The victory sets up another glamour tie for John Rooney’s side, who will prepare his team to face top-flight opposition next month for a second consecutive round. The fourth-round ties are scheduled to be played across the weekend of 14-15 February.
Brentford booked their place in the draw with a 2-0 win over Championship side Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough. The Bees currently sit fifth in the Premier League, while Macclesfield are 14th in the National League North, leaving 125 places between the two clubs in the English football pyramid.
Scenes of jubilation followed Macclesfield’s win over Palace, as several of the 5,348 supporters in attendance spilled onto the pitch at full-time, including club owner Rob Smethurst. Hopes of another famous night will now build in Cheshire as the Silkmen prepare to host one of the Premier League’s in-form sides.
Fixture dates and ticket details for the tie will be confirmed in due course.