LINCOLN CITY will be the sole carriers of the Non-League baton in the FA Cup quarter-finals after Sutton United were edged out by Premier League giants Arsenal.
The Imps defied the odds again as a late Sean Raggett header saw Danny Cowley’s men win at Burnley on Saturday, a victory the boss described as a “miracle”.
He said: “We are always realists, I will never ask the players to do something they’re not capable of. But we thought if we could get the game plan right we could compete.
“It’s a football miracle for a Non-League team to be in the last eight. The boys were excellent, playing against a Premier League team.”
While Sutton were unable to cause another miracle on Monday night, they gave Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal an almighty test at Gander Green Lane.
Lucas Perez gave the Gunners the lead in the first-half with a fortunate cross that evaded Theo Walcott and U’s goalkeeper Ross Worner.
Walcott doubled the lead after the break but Sutton continued to push for a way back into the game and Roarie Deacon saw a long-range effort crash back off the crossbar as United’s fantastic run came to an end.
Even substitute goalkeeper Wayne Shaw’s antics on the side of the pitch – which included eating a pie during the second-half – couldn’t overshadow Sutton’s fantastic performance on the 3G pitch.
Arsenal will face Non-League competition again in the last eight as Cowley takes his Lincoln side to the Emirates on Saturday, March 11.
And who would bet against Cowley and his side? We certainly wouldn’t!
