Burnley v Lincoln City preview: Clarets seek end to 14-year FA Cup quarter-final absence
Saturday 18 February 2017 12:34, UK
Burnley will look to reach the quarter-finals of the FA Cup for the first time in 14 years they host non-league Lincoln City on Saturday.
The Clarets boast one of the best home records in English football this term - all but one of their 30 Premier League points coming on home soil - and will be keen to extend that against the National League leaders.
Danny Cowley and his Lincoln team will aim to extend their fairytale cup run, which has seen them eliminate Ipswich and Brighton to reach round five for the first time in 115 years, and "achieve the impossible" again when they travel to Turf Moor.
"We've achieved the impossible to get here, we've just got to go and do it again," he said.
"If we're realistic, we'd probably only beat them once in a hundred times but we've to go into the game believing this is that one game, that one opportunity, in a hundred because without belief we have nothing."
Team news
Burnley are without Robbie Brady and Jeff Hendrick for the tie.
Brady is cup-tied having played for Norwich earlier in the competition, while Hendrick serves the second match of a three-game suspension.
Steven Defour (hamstring) is still out and Johann Berg Gudmundsson is fit to return, while Jon Flanagan, James Tarkowski, Tendayi Darikwa, Scott Arfield and Sam Vokes can all expect recalls.
Lincoln, meanwhile, have no fresh injury problems but Lee Beevers remains out with a long-term knee injury.
Having missed the fourth-round tie with parent club Brighton due to ineligibility, Joe Ward is available again but fellow on-loan winger Josh Ginnelly is cup-tied.
Opta stats
Burnley have progressed past Lincoln in all three of their post-war ties, although two of them had to go to replay.
However, Lincoln won the first ever tie between the sides in the FA Cup, an intermediate round replay in the 1904-05 edition of the competition.
The Clarets are unbeaten in their last seven meetings with Lincoln in all competitions (W4 D3).
Lincoln City have reached the fifth round of the FA Cup for the first time since the 1886-87, eventually losing out to Glasgow Rangers.
Burnley have not progressed to the sixth round since 2002-03, losing at the fifth round stage four times since.
The Imps' have lost their FA Cup top goalscorer this season - Theo Robinson (five goals) left to join Southend United on transfer deadline day.
Burnley have lost just three of their last 29 competitive home matches (W20 D6 L3).
Lincoln have won seven of their last eight games in all competitions (L1), winning each of the last four.
Merson's prediction
This will be a hard game for Burnley because Lincoln are a decent, organised side. Burnley have a very good home record, but if they take their eye off it then they will be at risk. Burnley are one of those teams who can afford to have a cup run because they aren't being relegated this season. Sean Dyche has a great opportunity to play his strongest team and have a go in the FA Cup.
PAUL PREDICTS: 3-1 (10/1 with Sky Bet)
Betting
Lincoln are up against odds of 10/1 to claim the scalp of Burnley, who are just 30/100 to progress in 90 minutes while the draw is priced at 9/2. Sean Dyche's men head into the final 16 as 25/1 seventh favourites to lift the trophy while the Imps are the second longest price of those left in the draw at 500/1. Andre Gray and Sam Vokes share favouritism in the first goalscorer betting at 3/1 apiece while Matt Rhead is considered the visitors' main threat at 9/1.
