Danny’s in dreamland after latest giantkilling
LINCOLN’S historic FA Cup adventure continued after they stunned Championship leaders Brighton and reached the fifth round for the first time in 130 YEARS.
Imps boss Danny Cowley described beating Ipswich in the previous round as “climbing a mountain” and likened the challenge of repeating the feat against Brighton to “getting to the moon”.
Lincoln won it the hard way, going a goal behind to Richie Towell’s first-half strike.
But Alan Power’s penalty, a Fikayo Tomori own-goal and a late strike from Theo Robinson completed a famous turnaround in the second half and sent Lincoln through.
Former PE teacher Cowley, who only gave up his day job last summer to manager Lincoln full-time, described the whole experience as surreal.
He said. “I’m surprised. It’s not often football surprises me, but today...”
“You always go into games thinking you have a chance, but this is beyond all of my wildest dreams.
“The boys were organised and motivated and I was really pleased that we were able to stay in the game after losing the goal. Half-time gave us a chance to regroup.
“We were brave – we wanted to press high and be committed to our style and what we believe in. I feel we did that.
“It’s surreal, and it’s been surreal for quite a period of time – probably post-Ipswich, to be honest. The first Ipswich game, seeing those 5,000 away supporters and hearing the noise they made, from that moment onwards it’s been crazy – but a good crazy.
“I’m just delighted for everybody. I can’t believe the scenes and the emotion and the support.”
Brighton boss Chris Hughton, twice an FA Cup winner as a player with Tottenham in 1981 and 1982 said: “It’s a result I certainly couldn’t see at half-time.
“I thought in the first half we coped with them. Lincoln are a big strong side with a lot of energy and they play very direct, and we had our moments.” h th