Pretty much how I saw it as well.Disappointed to be out of the FA Cup. It remains a trophy that I really want us to win despite its ever diminishing status.
That said, it happens, and on another day we would have won that game. It certainly wasn't as if we were pummelled by a better team.
What has struck me though is that certain players are either playing too often, Dier is unquestionably one of those. Whilst one or two, injuries aside, haven't been able to deputise with the same intensity as those they replace. Bentaleb is the obvious player to stand out here, and whilst I'm unsure if his contract behaviour and seemingly openly courting of Italian clubs has meant that even when fit he is still not getting selected but I'd have much preferred that he had some more time on the pitch prior to yesterdays game, if only to keep him sharper for competitive fixtures.
All that said, I can't be critical of this team, or at least not overly. If this defeat goes some way to us remaining title challengers then so be it.
I didn't have high hopes when Dier was put back in the defence .I am sure Poch had his reasons,but if it isn't broken don't fix it. And after looking for a good DM for ages, we now have one.
I know I tend to view games through lily white spectacles, but I still say we were the better side. Their keeper played well, and on another day the ping pong effort in the first half would have gone in.And I saw two decent shouts for a penalty(you win some, you lose some)
Gutted to be out, as I love the trophy. But we still have a lot to look forward to in this campaign