IT’S BAWL OVER
Dons shown three reds before penalty heartbreak
BOSS Russell Martin was sent off for his protests as MK Dons were floored by a last-minute equaliser and a heartbreaking shoot-out defeat.
Burnley left it late to progress to the fourth round for the fifth time in six years following a disputed stoppage- time leveller from substitute Matej Vydra.
Phil Bardsley slotted home the winning penalty after debutant keeper Will Norris saved from Lasse Sorensen and Ben Gladwin.
Martin was ordered to the stands for confronting referee Jon Moss over the time added on before the freekick leading to the Clarets’ dramatic equaliser in a ding-dong tie that saw Dons defender Richard Keogh escape dismissal despite twice seeing red.
The veteran had his first- half sending off for handball overturned by VAR, but then Moss brandished a red at the bemused Irishman a second time, followed by a ‘cancel’ gesture to confirm his let-off.
Martin said: “I’m disappointed for my players but immensely proud of them. We defended brilliantly, our keeper was equally brilliant and we posed a threat up front.
“To concede so late on was the frustration. I’ve not made a personal comment to the referee but he’s decided to send me to the stands.
“It wasn’t about the free-kick it was about the fact it was taken, because the fourth official said the game was over.”
Cameron Jerome’s 29thminute header plus heroics from second-choice keeper Lee Nicholls looked to have been enough for the Dons to sneak through against wasteful hosts.
But it wasn’t to be as the Clarets held their nerve from the spot.
They started brightly too and Nicholls had to tip over a looping Chris Wood header r inside the first 60 seconds.
One of three changes, the 28-year-old Scouser produced an even better save to take the ball off Ashley Barnes’s toe as the striker attempted to round him after beating Dean Lewington to burst through one-on-one from halfway.
A full-length save at his near post kept out Barnes’s powerful volley, before a low stop to his left denied Jack Cork from the edge of the box.
The visitors grabbed the opening goal with their first serious attack
HARD DON BY Russell Martin (right) after being sent to the stands and it was Jerome’s ninth goal in 16 starts since signing in October.
Stephen Walker sent over a flighted cross for Scott Fraser to flick on and the hitman found the bottom corner with a diving header.
Burnley should have levelled soon after, but James Tarkowski scuffed a shot against the post from a yard out.
Keogh’s justified escape arrived as half- time approached as the centre- back inadvertently raised his arm after a shove in the back from Wood near halfway.
Moss brandished red for the denial of a goal-scoring opportunity but, after VAR intervened, he overturned his decision, needlessly issuing another red card accompanied by the gesture to signal innocence.
Burnley frittered away chances. Wood headed wide, an unmarked Robbie Brady volleyed over from 12 yards and Nicholls saved with his fingertips from sub Joel Mumbongo.
But then Brady floated in a freekick which Mumbongo helped on for Vydra to slide in from close range.
Gladwin’s 30-yarder hit the post in extra time before the midfielder was one of two Dons players to fail from 12 yards as his side crashed out.
Burnley manager Sean Dyche said: “We hadn’t given up hope because we’re a side which keeps going right until the end.
“And we eventually came up with the equaliser.”
BURNLEY: Norris 8; Bardsley 7, Tarkowski 5, Mee 6, Pieters 6; Gudmundsson 6 (Glennon 83, 6), Cork 6 (Benson 72, 6), Stephens 6, Brady 6 (Lowton 99, 6); Wood 4 (Vydra 77, 7), Barnes 6 (Mumbongo 83, 7). Unused Subs: Pope, Thomas, Gomez, Nartey. MK DONS: Nicholls 9: Williams 7 (Laird 62, 7), Keogh 8, Lewington 8; Poole 8, Gladwin 7, Sorensen 8, Fraser 8, Harvie 6 (Sorinola 68, 7); Jerome 8 (Johnson 82, 6), Walker 7 (Mason 63, 7). Unused Subs: Fisher, Davies, Jallow, Bailey, Smith. MAN OF THE MATCH: Lee Nicholls. Pulled off some stunning saves in a losing cause. REFEREE: Jonathan Moss 7