Imps make history with their giant-killing FA cup run to reach quarter-finals
LINCOLN City became the first non-league club in 103 years to reach the FA Cup quarterfinals when Sean Raggett’s late goal secured a 1-0 win at Burnley. The centre-back headed home following an 89th-minute corner kick to knock out Sean Dyche’s Premier League side.
Lincoln manager Danny Cowley said: “It was an incredible feeling really to win the game like we did. I thought we grew in confidence and to score with a set-piece, which we work really hard on, was pretty apt. It just shows, if you’re willing to work hard, what you can achieve.
“Our supporters are Premier League. They deserve this moment. I’m so pleased for them. And our players I thought were outstanding – they played for each other, for their families, and are rightly feeling proud as punch, because they deserve all the back-slapping they are no doubt going to get.”
Lincoln, who are top of the Vanarama National League, almost took the lead inside five minutes when Jack Muldoon shot over the bar from 15 yards. At the other end Joey Barton fired straight at Lincoln goalkeeper Paul Farman while Scott Arfield blazed a half-volley over in first-half stoppage time.
Burnley, who had won seven of their last eight home matches in all competitions, pushed for a winner in the final 10 minutes, but Andre Gray and Ashley Westwood wasted good chances and that was to prove costly. Luke Waterfall nodded Sam Habergham’s corner back across goal for fellow defender Raggett, who headed past Tom Heaton to ensure Lincoln became the first non-league team to reach the last-eight since 1914.
There was another late shock at the Den where 10man Millwall beat Leicester City 1-0 thanks to Shaun Cummings’ last-minute strike. The hosts had Jake Cooper sent off after 52 minutes for a second bookable offence. With one eye on this week’s Champions League trip to Sevilla and the visit of Liverpool the following Monday, Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri made 10 changes to the side which lost at Swansea. The Italian, whose side are a point above the Premier League relegation zone, said: “I want to speak again with the players and say we have to fight every match. ‘Who wants to fight? Tell me’. I need the soldiers, I need the gladiators, because Millwall, with 10 players, showed they are fantastic gladiators.”
Manchester City survived a scare when they were held to a 0-0 draw by Huddersfield at the John Smith’s Stadium.
The Yorkshire side had a first-half strike disallowed for offside and City’s Claudio Bravo was the busier of the two goalkeepers as David Wagner’s men produced a spirited display.
Pep Guardiola made eight changes – City face Monaco in the Champions League on Tuesday – but said: “Huddersfield rotated their players. With this schedule with a lot of games – we played three or four days ago, we had this game, we have the Champions League against Monaco – these players deserved to play.”
Chelsea ended Wolves’ cup run at Molineux, with Pedro and Diego Costa on target as the conquerors of Stoke and Liverpool went down 2-0.
Chelsea academy graduate George Saville hit the post after five minutes for Wolves. An hour later a clinical counterattack concluded with Pedro heading in at the back post. Diego Costa was outplayed by namesake Helder Costa for much of a contest in which Eden Hazard was a peripheral figure. But both had a role in Pedro’s goal and Diego Costa struck his 16th of the season to send Chelsea through.
At the Riverside, Christian Stuani struck a late winner for Middlesbrough who held off a spirited Oxford fightback to win 3-2. Boro were 2-0 up at halftime through a Grant Leadbitter penalty and a Rudy Gestede strike. Oxford drew level with two goals 60 seconds apart after the hour, from Chris Maguire with a free-kick and Antonio Martinez. However, Stuani scored the winner in the 86th minute.