‘It’s mad’ says Lincoln FA Cup upset hero Raggett

BURNLEY (United Kingdom): Goalscorer Sean Raggett summed up as “mad and crazy” his side Lincoln becoming the first non league team in over a century to reach the FA Cup quarter-finals after ousting Premier League side Burnley 1-0 on Saturday.

The 23-year-old central defender -- who headed home in the 89th minute -- said he and his teammates had always believed they were capable of adding Burnley to the scalps of second tier duo Ipswich and Brighton on their extraordinary Cup run.

“I’m lost for words, it’s mad, I can’t believe it,” he told BT Sport.

“The fans were amazing, all through the game.

“They’re a top quality side, drew with Chelsea last week, it’s amazing.

“Belief? Massively, we didn’t come to draw, we came to win the game.

“Crazy, a non-league side in the quarter-finals in modern football, it’s unheard of.”

Lincoln manager Danny Cowley -- whose brother Nicky is his assistant manager -- said the odds had worked in their favour.

“We said it was a one in a 100 chance and thankfully we got that opportunity,” he told BT Sport.

“The last eight of the FA Cup sounds pretty good. We work hard on our corners and our free-kicks and we are mightily proud of the players,” added Cowley, whose side are on course for promotion into the English Football League as they top the National League.

Nicky Cowley, who along with his brother quit their fulltime jobs in the education system last year to focus on football, said the essential ingredient was to believe beating a top tier side was possible no matter how modest ones resources were.

“It is a fantastic day,” Cowley told BT Sport.

“You have to believe and dream big, we had fantastic results against Oldham, Ipswich and Brighton but coming to a Premier League ground was a new challenge and it is unbelievable.

“From the view we had it was difficult to see if it was over the line and you are just willing the referee to point to the centre circle and it was a great moment when it happened.

“We are a humble down to earth group,” added Cowley, who was due to drive him and Danny across country to watch National League side North Ferriby play as Lincoln are due to play them on Tuesday. - AFP