Lincoln heroes handed quarter final at Arsenal... or Sutton
FA Cup sixth-round draw also pits League One Millwall against Spurs as Chelsea face Manchester United
Lincoln City's reward for pulling off what their manager described as a "football miracle" and becoming the first non-league club in 103 years to reach the quarter-final of the FA Cup is a away trip to either Sutton United or Arsenal.
Millwall, who also caused an upset in beating Premier League champions Leicester face Tottenham in a mouth-watering London derby at White Hart Lane, while a similar adjective can be used to describe Chelsea clash with Manchester United.
But the eyes of romantics in the next round will be on Lincoln, who stunned Burnley on Saturday with a goal on 89 minutes from Sean Raggett. His looping header was clawed out by Clarets keeper Tom Heaton but the goal was correctly given when goalline technology showed the ball had crossed the line.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
It was a remarkable climax to a bad-tempered match which, for long periods, was dominated by the Premier League side. But for all their possession, Burnley lacked the killer touch in front of goal, allowing Raggett the one opportunity he needed to create history for the club who are 81 places beneath Burnley in the football league pyramid.
"It's crazy. A non-league side in the quarter-finals in modern football, it's unheard of," said Raggett. "Thank god for goalline technology. We don't have it at our level so I'm not sure the goal would have been given in the National League."
The victory means Lincoln are the first non-league team since Queens Park Rangers in 1914 to reach the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, and never before in their 133-year history have Lincoln made it to the last eight of football's oldest club cup competition.
"Football at our level is not romantic and this moment in the limelight is special," said Danny Cowley, who was invited into the Match of the Day studio on Saturday evening. "It was a one in 100 chance and thankfully we got that opportunity. It's a football miracle for a non-league team to be in the last eight."
Lincoln have knocked out four league clubs, including two from the Championship and one from the Premier League, in the competition. "I am immensely proud of the players and they probably do not understand what they have achieved," said Cowley.
Reality kicks in on Tuesday night with Lincoln playing North Ferriby United and Cowley admitted it will be a challenge to refocus on the National League following their cup heroics at Turf Moor in front of 19,000 fans.
"It becomes a harder game on the back on this win," he said, no doubt all the more so following the draw that potentially sends them to the 60,000 capacity Emirates next month. "For us it's a win-win," said Cowley. "We either play Sutton for an opportunity to be in the semi-final of the FA Cup. Or we have a fantastic tie away at Arsenal. It's completely surreal. You feel like you're going to wake up any moment. It's been a great journey. Our players deserve this. They've been incredible, it's them that have carried us, it's been fantastic."
Full FA Cup quarter-final draw:
Chelsea v Manchester United
Middlesbrough v Huddersfield/Manchester City
Tottenham v Millwall
Sutton/Arsenal v Lincoln
Ties to be played March 10-13
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Today's political cartoons - November 2, 2024
Cartoons Saturday's cartoons - anti-fascism, early voter turnout, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Geoff Capes obituary: shot-putter who became the World’s Strongest Man
In the Spotlight The 'mighty figure' was a two-time Commonwealth Champion and world-record holder
By The Week UK Published
-
Israel attacks Iran: a 'limited' retaliation
Talking Point Iran's humiliated leaders must decide how to respond to Netanyahu's measured strike
By The Week UK Published
-
Thomas Tuchel to become next England football manager
Speed Read 'Divisive' German coach hopes to lead the men's team to victory
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
Manchester United and Mason Greenwood: duty of care or double standards?
Talking Point The 21-year-old footballer’s possible return has provoked an outpouring of dismay from supporters
By Jamie Timson Published
-
Liverpool 7 Man Utd 0: ‘welcome to Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool 2.0’
feature Anfield’s ‘new front three’ were on fire in the humbling of their bitter rivals
By Mike Starling Published
-
Man Utd win the Carabao Cup: how Erik ten Hag has ‘transformed’ the Red Devils
feature United lifted their first silverware since 2017 after beating Newcastle at Wembley
By Mike Starling Published
-
Jim Ratcliffe: petrochemical billionaire turned Man Utd bidder
Why Everyone’s Talking About The Ineos owner is the first to publicly bid for the 13-time Premier League winners
By Richard Windsor Published
-
Reactions to Cristiano Ronaldo’s ‘explosive’ interview with Piers Morgan
feature Portugal captain feels ‘betrayed’ by Man Utd and believes he’s being forced out of the club
By Mike Starling Published
-
What next for Cristiano Ronaldo? How the relationship with Man Utd turned sour
Under the Radar Portugal star has ‘almost certainly’ played his last game for United as he is dropped for Chelsea clash
By Mike Starling Published
-
Premier League all-star game: ‘incredibly arrogant’ or natural ‘evolution’?
Talking Point Managers and pundits dismiss US-inspired idea from Chelsea co-owner
By Chas Newkey-Burden Published